The Hand-Sculpted House: A Practical and Philosophical Guide to Building a Cob Cottage

by Ianto Evans, Michael G. Smith, and Linda Smiley. Chelsea Green Publishing Company, White River Junction, VT, 2002. Paperback, 346 pages, $35

This book is a guide to the new-old-fashioned art of building with cob, a composite of earth, straw, and water. Although medieval cob houses remain standing in Yemen and Devon, England, and the practice still prevails in much of the world, cob had been all but forgotten in North America until the late 1980s’ revival of natural building techniques. Cob has been gaining popularity ever since, largely due to the enthusiasm of Ianto Evans, Michael G. Smith, and Linda Smiley, the natural building experts behind the Cob Cottage Company and authors of The Hand-Sculpted House. While we don’t expect cob construction to extend much beyond the owner-builder market, the practice is inspiring.

Part I addresses “Philosophy, Background, and Design,” including “creative economics,” siting for passive solar gain, and the case for curved spaces. Part II gets into the nitty-gritty of building with cob, coaching would-be cobbers through foundations, floors, drainage, and roofs. The smaller final section considers the “builder as artist,” extolling intuitive design and mud dancing. The appendices are especially practical, covering topics such as the most common errors in cob construction, areas where more research is needed, and a breakdown of codes and permits (including advice on quietly skirting them).

The text is generously adorned with delightful illustrations and photographs. Written with a personal and honest pen, The Hand-Sculpted House is approachable and fun to read—even for those with no intention of building a cob cottage.

– JB