Statement

Cob—made of clay, sand, and straw—is beautiful in its simplicity and used for the purposes of connecting the past to present, providing a rich sensory experience, and exploring methods of making. Oftentimes the buildings we spend time in are made of synthetic and mass-produced materials where efficiency is the primary goal. This leaves us with spaces that are often void of rich sensory experiences and lack creativity, exploration, and experimentation. 

Paolo Soleri, in “The Urban Ideal,” says, “The danger of efficiency is that it’s taken as one independent branch of life. It is very dangerous that people tend to make an idol out of efficiency. Then efficiency becomes the aim instead of remaining a means.” 

I’m interested in design that is generated via a haptic process with material engagement and exploration at the scale of building, and diverse approaches to tectonics and production of space. If cob, a sustainable material, contributes to a highly sensory, grounding, and experiential space, does it not deserve a seat at the table in architectural discourse?