Durability of Cob Houses & Memento Mori

No.037 — Read old posts on Tinyfarmlab.com
Reading Time 3 minutes

“ Are Cob houses durable? What happens when it rains? “

Another most frequently asked question.

Before we talk about our fetish with permanence as Humans, let’s address the elephant in the room.

The simple answer is yes.

An old English is saying that goes, “ Give a cob house a good pair of boots and a good hat and she'll last forever. ”

Hat = Roof

Boot = Foundation

For thousands of years, people worldwide have lived in mud houses that have withstood the test of time. According to some experts, the oldest cob houses date back at least 10,000 years.

The structure's durability depends on the construction quality and the design of the house - good architectural design, wide eaves, and raised foundations.

Applying a protective layer of plaster or coating made from lime can protect it from driven rain and further increase its life.

Cob houses are also suitable for cold, rainy climates, provided they receive some sun and are not in a flood plane.

Memento Mori

Memento Mori Memento mori is a Latin phrase meaning 'remember you must die'. We need to make use of this idiom both in architecture and life. This has been emphasized in the book “ Buildings Must Die. “

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t build durable structures, but we should plan for their entire lifecycle, including their end.

Generally, most conventional residential buildings are designed to last at least 50 years, but many are demolished within 30 years to make way for newer structures. This is driven by changing building laws and economic factors.

Using renewable or second-hand materials can help ensure our structures don’t become a burden for future generations.

When discussing longevity, we often focus on physical and economic aspects. However, we should also consider how buildings perform socially.

Buildings should speak the language of the people and the place, reflecting their culture and needs.

Nature designs everything to degrade over time.

This can be after 1,000 years or just 40 years.

Remember, buildings, too, are children of Earth and the Sun, with bones, muscles, skin, and blood. They need to be touched, cared for, whispered to. Only then do they give their blessings and endure.

If neglected, even the strongest buildings deteriorate.

Love,

Raghav and Ansh

What you can watch - Architects Are Using Mud to Build Sustainable Homes

In this episode of the ecological alarm clock that is Extinction Update, they travel to Mosorin, Serbia to meet Dragana Kojičić, an architect who for the past 10 years has been developing the Centre for Earth Architecture, a group reviving these ancient traditionally male-dominated techniques and teaching younger generations of women the earth built method.

What you can listen to - Regenerative Skills Podcast

Regenerative Skills is based on the pursuit of a regenerative life. A lifestyle centered on stewardship of the natural world, strong connections to the community, and the daily habits that bring us closer to those goals.

What You Can Read - "We're living through an epidemic of boringness" says Thomas Heatherwick

"My hope is that we stop building 40-year buildings and we start building 1,000-year buildings."

P.S. - Whenever you are ready, here are 3 ways we can help you-

#1: Book a free discovery call if you have questions regarding moving to the countryside or building your mud house.

#2: Have you seen our ​YouTube Channel​​? We are putting a ton of energy into creating heaps of valuable content that we think you'll like. ​​Come check out our latest videos​​, and give us a like and subscribe.

#3: Connect with us on LinkedIn and Instagram where we share nuggets from our daily life.

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