Pioneering low-carbon home built of centuries-old ‘cob’
CobBauge House is the result of a visionary collaboration between our specialist Norfolk building team and sustainable design experts Hudson Architects. This exciting project is a UK first, using ancient building techniques to solve 21st century problems.
CobBauge House
When Hudson Architects needed a partner to transform their groundbreaking European Union research into reality, they found themselves unable to break ground. Recognising the extraordinary potential of this sustainable construction method, we provided a plot of land in Fakenham and committed our expertise to bringing this vision to life. The result is the world's first Building Regulation compliant cob building - a three-bedroom contemporary bungalow constructed from natural earth-based materials.
Ancient techniques for modern living.
The construction process required extensive preparation and training. Our team invested significant time and resources investigating the CobBauge technique, conducting careful testing of the clay, straw and hemp to be used. The CobBauge elements were mixed in skips and buckets before being poured into pre-constructed wooden shuttering and rammed down with hand tools. The process was completed in 200mm layers, alternating between structural and insulated layers as the walls rose.
Forming solid walls made entirely from earth, natural fibres and water, CobBauge offers impressively low embodied carbon and minimal transport costs. The depth of the walls and material properties provide excellent thermal mass which naturally regulates internal temperatures, while the organic materials create a fully breathable construction for a healthy living environment.
Beyond the innovative wall construction, sustainable principles define every element of the property - from the breathable lime render and sedum roof to the triple glazed south-facing windows and air source heat pump.
Home comfort without compromise.
Despite using materials literally dug from the ground, the finished home demonstrates that sustainable construction need not compromise on quality or aesthetics. Inside, our sister-company Arcadia Home & Living have installed sleek SeiMatic kitchen units and high-tech Gaggenau appliances to create a space truly designed for modern living.
Deep eaves protect the wall construction while large windows maximise natural sunlight, proving that earth building can achieve sophisticated contemporary design.
Learning from challenge.
Taking the CobBauge technique onto a live site presented unique complexities that required constant adaptation. These challenges faced collaboratively have provided valuable learning opportunities that will inform future projects using this revolutionary technique.
“We enjoy the learning process involved in delivering unconventional projects. I hope CobBauge House encourages more people to consider sustainable construction alternatives.” DANIEL GROCOTT, DIRECTOR
“It’s been such a collaborative process. I am extremely proud that we have managed to build it and show that it can be done. There were hurdles along the way, as in any research project, but we now have the knowledge that the material works and the system is very low cost.” ANTHONY HUDSON, ARCHITECT
At CobBauge House, ancient wisdom became cutting-edge sustainable construction in this exploration of new techniques for environmentally conscious building.
