The House That Cob Built

You may remember the Three Little Pigs. Poor Pig No. 1’s house of straw was no match for his foe, The Big Bad Wolf. If only he’d also used sand and clay when making his humble abode — he’d have had himself a sturdy cob house, and the B.B.W. would have huffed and puffed and still not have been able to blow his house down.

Cob — a mixture of sand, clay and straw — has been used for construction since ancient times. In places like Devon and Cornwall in England and Brittany in France, cob homes dating back 500 years are still inhabited. In the past 20 years, rising lumber costs and growing interest in sustainable living have resulted in a revival of sorts for this time-tested technique, most notably in Britain and Pacific Northwest.

Want to see what the fuss is about? A company in British Columbia is offering prospective homeowners and the otherwise curious the chance to experience life in a cob house for themselves. Cobworks, a builder of “beautiful, affordable structures with natural and local material in a spirit of cooperation and social responsibility,” offers two cob cottages for rent by the weekend, week or month (see photos). Each cabin is unique and was built by Cobworks owner Patrick Hennebery and a Cobworks crew on Mayne Island, located midway between Vancouver and Victoria.

From the outside, the cozy, rustic cabins have an undeniably Hobbit-agreeable appearance with their low, rough-hewn roof, rounded openings and natural earthy tones (in an idyllic forested surrounding, natch). Inside, the cabins offer all the comforts of home. The original cob cabin ($80 per night with a two-night minimum) is a fully self-contained, 240-sq.-ft. space with a queen-size bed, large day bed, a propane top stove, running cold water, wood stove and fireplace. The toilet is outdoor and composting with a spring-fed wood-fired shower. Leave the hair-dryer at home though — there’s no electricity at this cabin.

For those who prefer to be plugged in, Cobworks also has a second, Garden cob cabin ($120 per night) available for rent. This 500 sq. ft. cottage is fully wired and plumbed, with hot and cold running water, wireless internet, a wood-burning rocket stove for heat, gas stove, electric fridge, and an outdoor shower and bathtub with an inside bucket toilet and an outdoor toilet. Like the original cob, you have your pick of a queen-size bed and separate day bed to tuck into at night.

Since Cobworks began renting in 2000, the cottages have both surprised and delighted visitors.  Henneberry tells Lifestyle:

“The greatest amount of feedback from visitors usually has to do with how quiet and peaceful it feels sleeping in a cob. Most of our guests are coming from the city with a good deal of noise and light pollution, as well as cell phone EMFs [electromagnetic fields]. The thick walls of the cob stop the EMFs and absorb noise to create a quiet environment. Mayne Island does not have streetlights, so the light of night is dependent on the cycle of the moon. Guests are surprised by how deeply they sleep.

Another comment often heard is that the curved walls feel like an embrace. I remember one guest saying that they felt like they were ‘living inside a hug.’ It always amazes us how visitors talk about how they feel the energy of the many hands that have worked on the cob houses. There are many unique details and sculptural elements created by workshop participants and we can remember each person who made them, but that embodied energy, so to speak, is also felt by our renters.” 

Cob houses will also appeal to the eco-supporter in all of us. In general, they are made mostly from materials that are unprocessed and natural, or recycled, with a minimal use of wood and no synthetic materials such as paint or fiberglass insulation. Cob houses are also energy efficient because they provide a large amount of thermal mass, which helps keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer. A comfy home that also goes easy on the environment? Now that’s something even pigs and wolves could agree on.

— Eva Lam