Gobs of cob.

One of my current aspirations in life is to build a cob home. Cob is a method of building that consists of mixing together straw and clay. Walls are approximately 1-2' thick, keeping the home cool in the summer and warm in the winter, requiring minimal heating. Cob can be beautiful and is more organic in form than standard building; walls do not have to be straight, but can be shaped and molded in a natural way. Windows can be all different shapes and sizes and nooks can be carved out.

Cob building is cheap and can accommodate modern plumbing and electrical wiring (preferably done by a professional, of course). I'd love to get my hands dirty at some point and give it a try. Here are a couple examples of beautiful, beautiful cob homes.

This cob home is located in South Africa, built by an artist. I am especially in love with the bedroom, with its window-speckled wall and the metal stars suspended from the high, fabric-covered ceiling. Magic!!





The New York Times featured this cob home in Texas. Scroll through the slideshow. It is inspiring that something this beautiful can be built by an ordinary person with no construction training, and at such a low cost.