New ways to build with earth: practical notes from a historic study
A concise guide to cob and rammed-earth walls, drawn from the Building Research Board’s 1922 collection. This edition gathers observations on how earth walls have been used, evaluated, and improved in real projects.
This book presents a balanced view of traditional cob and modern pise de terre, showing what works, where limits appear, and how simple tools can make earth construction practical. It emphasizes only what can be done with local materials, careful planning, and straightforward methods, without claiming a single universal solution.
- How cob and rammed-earth walls are formed, from raw earth to finished surface
- Key materials and mixes, tested by simple, repeatable procedures
- Real-world applications, from small cottages to large projects in varied climates
- Practical notes on foundations, damp protection, vermin control, and durability
Ideal for readers of historical building techniques, affordable housing strategies, and engineers or architects exploring sustainable, local-material construction.