{"id":49548,"date":"2023-01-30T10:23:04","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T09:23:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/?p=49548"},"modified":"2024-07-13T14:45:04","modified_gmt":"2024-07-13T12:45:04","slug":"cob-houses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/2023\/01\/cob-houses\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Cob Houses are so Amazing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cob houses are amazing and sustainable: Victor Jacquet of the Architecture Naturelle association explains it to us in this interview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cob houses<\/strong> are homes constructed using a mixture of clay, sand, straw, and water. This traditional building technique dates back centuries and has recently gained popularity as a sustainable<\/strong> and environmentally friendly<\/strong> alternative to conventional homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cob houses are known for their unique and natural appearance<\/strong>, as the mixture of materials creates a texture that is both organic and visually appealing. They are also energy efficient, as the thick walls provide insulation and help regulate temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another advantage of cob houses is their durability<\/strong>. Cob is a strong and fire-resistant material that can withstand natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes. Additionally, cob houses can be designed to integrate with the surrounding environment<\/strong> and to make use of renewable energy sources such as solar power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest benefits of cob houses is their environmental impact<\/strong>. Cob is a natural and locally sourced material<\/a><\/strong> that requires minimal processing and transportation<\/strong>, reducing the carbon footprint of the building process. Additionally, cob houses are often designed with sustainable features such as green roofs, rainwater harvesting systems, and composting toilets, making them a truly eco-friendly choice<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Construction
Construction of a Cob Houses<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We interviewed a cob house expert, Victor Jacquet<\/strong>, of Architecture Naturelle<\/strong>, a French association that promotes clay for the construction of sustainable and welcoming architectures with soft and harmonious shapes. Here’s what he told us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did your Artistic Cob Houses project come up and why?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve discovered natural buildings in Brittany during my childhood. Since then I\u2019ve been involved as a helper, a volunteer in different types of projects. A passion was born, I discovered a work that I loved, with ethics, meanings and beauty. It was also a good way to get involve in a new way of being in society, ecologically, collectively and economically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From this point, I created an association \u201cvivre avec la nature<\/em>\u201d: live with nature<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea was to promote a way of being aware of life that surrounds us (humans seems to be very anthropocentric) and so of letting it be itself without controlling or destroying it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To come back to the building aspect, my field of action is about natural architecture<\/strong>. Natural architecture blends with the natural environment, using sustainable materials and techniques. It creates structures that are energy-efficient and harmonious with the earth. It is a beautiful balance of form and function. In our case, we are specialised in sculpting artistic shapes with clay<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nowadays, we are buildings in different places, people contact us to build any types of projects: it goes to tourism, office, a studio, a cave, artistic project, to a house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"cob
cob house, interior<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What are the advantages of using clay as a building material?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Clay<\/strong> is wonderful and really incredible, it was the main material used since millennia. However, even if it is still used worldly, in many countries concrete and bricks has become more popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. It can last for hundreds of years when properly maintained and can be reused many times.<\/li>
  2. Clay is a natural resource<\/strong> that is abundant and renewable<\/strong>. It is also energy-efficient to produce, as it requires less energy to manufacture than other building materials.<\/li>
  3. Also, it has a high thermal mass<\/strong> (it can regulate the heat during along the season): it makes it more energy-efficient.<\/li>
  4. Clay is resistant to fire.<\/li>
  5. Clay is generally less expensive than other building materials, such as brick or stone.<\/li>
  6. Walls floors and roofs. It can also be molded into almost any shape, which allows for a lot of design flexibility.<\/li>
  7. Clay has a natural, warm appearance that is pleasing to the eye. It can also be glazed or painted to add color and interest to a building.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"cob<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    What are the main difficulties to face in building this kind of house?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    There are a few challenges that may arise with clay:<\/p>\n\n\n\n