Trellick Tower Farm the City– Cob oven
WHO
Trellick Tower Farm the City– Cob oven set into raised flower bed of a Sensory Garden
THE BRIEF
The sensory garden is a newly developed piece of land opposite the famous Trellick Tower. Farm the City Participants learned how to:
• Make foundations using recycled crushed concrete found onsite.
• Make clay mortars and build a brick plinth.
• Build an arch using engineering bricks
• Identify different bricks and their uses in construction
• Make insulating layers using recycled materials such as sawdust
• Make cob
• Build an oven
• Make clay based renders
• Make clay based renders
• Sculpt using cob
THE OUTCOMES
The oven was sited to attract attention to the community space and whilst this was being built, we attracted residents and passers by to the area. The project saved on costs and materials by not building a full sized plinth, but setting a mini plinth into an existing structure.
TECHNICAL
A drainage trench was incorporated around the oven plinth made of three brick lifts to bring the plinth above ground height.
Trellick Tower Farm the City– Cob oven set into raised flower bed of a Sensory Garden
THE BRIEF
The sensory garden is a newly developed piece of land opposite the famous Trellick Tower. Farm the City Participants learned how to:
• Make foundations using recycled crushed concrete found onsite.
• Make clay mortars and build a brick plinth.
• Build an arch using engineering bricks
• Identify different bricks and their uses in construction
• Make insulating layers using recycled materials such as sawdust
• Make cob
• Build an oven
• Make clay based renders
• Make clay based renders
• Sculpt using cob
THE OUTCOMES
The oven was sited to attract attention to the community space and whilst this was being built, we attracted residents and passers by to the area. The project saved on costs and materials by not building a full sized plinth, but setting a mini plinth into an existing structure.
TECHNICAL
A drainage trench was incorporated around the oven plinth made of three brick lifts to bring the plinth above ground height.
Robin Hood Community Garden – Cob oven
WHO
Robin Hood Community Garden – Cob oven
THE BRIEF
An area of the garden was cleared of brambles to create a social space to encourage more users and create a safe cooking space for local gardeners and residents.
Participants learned how to:
• Make foundations using recycled crushed concrete found onsite.
• Make clay mortars and build a brick plinth.
• Build an arch using engineering bricks
• Identify different bricks and their uses in construction
• Make insulating layers using recycled materials such as sawdust
• Make cob
• Build an oven
• Make clay based renders
• Fire and cook in a cob oven
Robin Hood Community Garden – Cob oven
THE BRIEF
An area of the garden was cleared of brambles to create a social space to encourage more users and create a safe cooking space for local gardeners and residents.
Participants learned how to:
• Make foundations using recycled crushed concrete found onsite.
• Make clay mortars and build a brick plinth.
• Build an arch using engineering bricks
• Identify different bricks and their uses in construction
• Make insulating layers using recycled materials such as sawdust
• Make cob
• Build an oven
• Make clay based renders
• Fire and cook in a cob oven
Telegraph Hill – Cob oven
WHO
Telegraph Hill – Cob oven
THE BRIEF
Participants learned how to:
• Make foundations using recycled crushed concrete found onsite.
• Make clay mortars and build a brick plinth.
• Build an arch using engineering bricks.
• Identify different bricks and their uses in construction.
• Make insulating layers using recycled materials such as sawdust.
• make cob.
• Build an oven.
• Make clay based renders.
• Sculpt using cob.
Cob in the Community were invited back to run a demon on how to fire, heat and cook (pizza) in a cob oven.
Telegraph Hill – Cob oven
THE BRIEF
Participants learned how to:
• Make foundations using recycled crushed concrete found onsite.
• Make clay mortars and build a brick plinth.
• Build an arch using engineering bricks.
• Identify different bricks and their uses in construction.
• Make insulating layers using recycled materials such as sawdust.
• make cob.
• Build an oven.
• Make clay based renders.
• Sculpt using cob.
Cob in the Community were invited back to run a demon on how to fire, heat and cook (pizza) in a cob oven.
Meadow Orchard – Community Centre
WHO
Meadow Orchard Project- Community Build, Crouch End
THE BRIEF
Community Centre 25m2 hybrid cob and straw bale build single story structure with reciprocal roof located in a meadow in north London.
Cob in the Community were engaged to manage the cob building and rammed earth tyre stem wall aspects of this build.
THE OUTCOME
The community participants, and the site benefitted from deep participation in the design, creation of materials build of the community centre. The choice of natural materials – in the case of cob sourced directly from the foundations dug for the building itself, were supportive of protecting this space – a rare, beautiful meadow.
The meadow is conveniently sited alongside a local medical centre on NHS land and will offer a long lasting contribution to all as healing space.
• Engaged wider community to engage with the space and with low impact natural recycled materials.
• Targeted specific community users including those with special needs (referrals).
• Over 270 people learned how to make cob, how to build with cob and take part in making their community centre.
• We ran a series of workshops on cob building including: mud and mindfulness
mud and music
family build days
youth volunteering days
• Ran a weekend on how to make rammed earth tires enlisting rammed earth tire expert from Brighton Permaculture.
• Promoted and gave talks about the build at London ‘eco / green’ fairs.
Meadow Orchard Project- Community Build, Crouch End
THE BRIEF
Community Centre 25m2 hybrid cob and straw bale build single story structure with reciprocal roof located in a meadow in north London.
Cob in the Community were engaged to manage the cob building and rammed earth tyre stem wall aspects of this build.
THE OUTCOME
The community participants, and the site benefitted from deep participation in the design, creation of materials build of the community centre. The choice of natural materials – in the case of cob sourced directly from the foundations dug for the building itself, were supportive of protecting this space – a rare, beautiful meadow.
The meadow is conveniently sited alongside a local medical centre on NHS land and will offer a long lasting contribution to all as healing space.
• Engaged wider community to engage with the space and with low impact natural recycled materials.
• Targeted specific community users including those with special needs (referrals).
• Over 270 people learned how to make cob, how to build with cob and take part in making their community centre.
• We ran a series of workshops on cob building including: mud and mindfulness
mud and music
family build days
youth volunteering days
• Ran a weekend on how to make rammed earth tires enlisting rammed earth tire expert from Brighton Permaculture.
• Promoted and gave talks about the build at London ‘eco / green’ fairs.
Ground Works London – The Links Thamesmead – Cob Oven
WHO
Ground Works London – The Links – Community Oven
THE BRIEF
We were approached by Ground Works London to build a cob oven at The Links, a community hub in Thamesmead.
THE OUTCOME
Participants gained first hand learning and practical experience of core principles of our popular cob oven courses, as outlined (see Robin Hood build).
In addition to cooking food, the role of the oven is to facilitate community positive engagement in an otherwise unconnected spaces. The community centre garden faces outward to series of estates, and the oven was sited to encourage engagement from diverse cultures, as well as allow the centre to offer cooking courses to their service users.
Ground Works London – The Links – Community Oven
THE BRIEF
We were approached by Ground Works London to build a cob oven at The Links, a community hub in Thamesmead.
THE OUTCOME
Participants gained first hand learning and practical experience of core principles of our popular cob oven courses, as outlined (see Robin Hood build).
In addition to cooking food, the role of the oven is to facilitate community positive engagement in an otherwise unconnected spaces. The community centre garden faces outward to series of estates, and the oven was sited to encourage engagement from diverse cultures, as well as allow the centre to offer cooking courses to their service users.
St. Josephs African Cob Hut & Oven
WHO
St Josephs School
THE BRIEF
A sculpted cob story telling space and oven, built with local recycled material and by parents and children from infant to (key stage 1-4) primary school.
THE OUTCOME
The structure opened up dialogue with pupils about recycled car tires, earthen architecture, similarities between ancient UK dwellings and building techniques and African huts, the use of clay in sculpture, building and renders.
Children gained new skills from making and working with cob. They created sculptures, participated in the work to complete the walls and children really enjoyed the experience of working with parents at school to complete the cob oven.
Parents involved in the cob build found the process very rewarding. One parent said “My contribution in building the oven at the school made my kids really proud. It gave me a sense of connection. I am now coming back on a regular basis to cook bread, pizzas and foraged food in our oven.”
We helped clear a disused area of the school by using unwanted bricks and wood in the build.
Recycled cob bricks left over from “Grand Designs Exhibition” exhibitor Mike Wye Associates were also used to build the wall minimizing the costs to the school.
CIC were invited back to do a one-day talk on cob.
TECHNICAL
A third party company supplied the African Hut - a thatched roof and roof supports.
St Josephs School
THE BRIEF
A sculpted cob story telling space and oven, built with local recycled material and by parents and children from infant to (key stage 1-4) primary school.
THE OUTCOME
The structure opened up dialogue with pupils about recycled car tires, earthen architecture, similarities between ancient UK dwellings and building techniques and African huts, the use of clay in sculpture, building and renders.
Children gained new skills from making and working with cob. They created sculptures, participated in the work to complete the walls and children really enjoyed the experience of working with parents at school to complete the cob oven.
Parents involved in the cob build found the process very rewarding. One parent said “My contribution in building the oven at the school made my kids really proud. It gave me a sense of connection. I am now coming back on a regular basis to cook bread, pizzas and foraged food in our oven.”
We helped clear a disused area of the school by using unwanted bricks and wood in the build.
Recycled cob bricks left over from “Grand Designs Exhibition” exhibitor Mike Wye Associates were also used to build the wall minimizing the costs to the school.
CIC were invited back to do a one-day talk on cob.
TECHNICAL
A third party company supplied the African Hut - a thatched roof and roof supports.
Ground Works London – Play, Sew & Grow – Cob Oven
WHO
Ground Works London - Play Sew Grow – Community Oven
THE BRIEF
We were approached by Groundworks London to build a cob oven at a the Three Mills Estate, Stratford community garden space called Play Sew and Grow, to work with Accenture, volunteers from the Garden and site staff to produce a cob oven.
THE OUTCOME
The site was cleared and unwanted rubble was collected and used for use in the plinth. A local resident had a quantity of unwanted used bricks which we collected and used for the plinth. These activities benefitted all site users and increased the area available to play to children and to the chickens on site.
Over 20 participants gained first hand learning and practical experience of core principles of our popular cob oven courses, as outlined (see Robin Hood build).
When in use, the oven will, when lit be used by cooking staff to feed and sell food to and volunteers, visitors on open days, help in towards fundraising activities of this community. Cooking in the oven will give a natural opportunity for diverse ethnicities represented in the neighbourhood to come together, cook together and share food. There was already talk of their running teaching courses to the local youth unemployed, especially boys who they wanted to encourage from the estate to use the space.
Ground Works London - Play Sew Grow – Community Oven
THE BRIEF
We were approached by Groundworks London to build a cob oven at a the Three Mills Estate, Stratford community garden space called Play Sew and Grow, to work with Accenture, volunteers from the Garden and site staff to produce a cob oven.
THE OUTCOME
The site was cleared and unwanted rubble was collected and used for use in the plinth. A local resident had a quantity of unwanted used bricks which we collected and used for the plinth. These activities benefitted all site users and increased the area available to play to children and to the chickens on site.
Over 20 participants gained first hand learning and practical experience of core principles of our popular cob oven courses, as outlined (see Robin Hood build).
When in use, the oven will, when lit be used by cooking staff to feed and sell food to and volunteers, visitors on open days, help in towards fundraising activities of this community. Cooking in the oven will give a natural opportunity for diverse ethnicities represented in the neighbourhood to come together, cook together and share food. There was already talk of their running teaching courses to the local youth unemployed, especially boys who they wanted to encourage from the estate to use the space.
Meadow Orchard – Cob Oven
WHO
Meadow Orchard Cob oven
THE BRIEF
In addition to learning best practice how to make cob and make a cob oven (as listed under “Crown Lane” case study) with the Meadow Orchard volunteers, achieved the following:
THE OUTCOME
• Created an additional reason for new people to visit the site whilst creating a new activity to entice existing members who had not engaged with the site
• Encourage more people to get involved with the building of the community centre
• Feed volunteers to the garden and to the building teams
• Fundraise at open days and special events
Meadow Orchard Cob oven
THE BRIEF
In addition to learning best practice how to make cob and make a cob oven (as listed under “Crown Lane” case study) with the Meadow Orchard volunteers, achieved the following:
THE OUTCOME
• Created an additional reason for new people to visit the site whilst creating a new activity to entice existing members who had not engaged with the site
• Encourage more people to get involved with the building of the community centre
• Feed volunteers to the garden and to the building teams
• Fundraise at open days and special events
John Donne School – Cob Oven
WHO
John Donne School
THE BRIEF
In addition to learning best practice how to make cob and make a cob oven (as listed under “Crown Lane” case study) with primary school children, we worked with the school to achieve the following:
THE OUTCOME
• Worked towards goals outlined to achieve Green Flag status.
• Worked with appointed representatives from each year “Green Ambassadors to identify what was important about their role and how that would be achieved through the build and communicated back to their class. This enabled us to work with them to agree learning point, identify priorities and clearly identify what to report back about this project – the importance to them, to the school and to the environment.
• Worked with the Education Officer to align our cob teaching with highlights of the curriculum.
John Donne School
THE BRIEF
In addition to learning best practice how to make cob and make a cob oven (as listed under “Crown Lane” case study) with primary school children, we worked with the school to achieve the following:
THE OUTCOME
• Worked towards goals outlined to achieve Green Flag status.
• Worked with appointed representatives from each year “Green Ambassadors to identify what was important about their role and how that would be achieved through the build and communicated back to their class. This enabled us to work with them to agree learning point, identify priorities and clearly identify what to report back about this project – the importance to them, to the school and to the environment.
• Worked with the Education Officer to align our cob teaching with highlights of the curriculum.
Forty Hall Community Vineyard – cob oven
WHO
Forty Hall Community Vineyard – cob oven
THE BRIEF
A community oven built using natural building materials over two days and with the involvement of orchard volunteers. The oven was to be sited on their organic site and used for making food at their events.
We met gardeners from Forty Hall Community Vineyard at a previous cob build (Meadow Orchard Project) and they approached us to build outdoor wood oven.
Soil samples were taken from the site and immediate vicinity but revealed high silt, low clay content when separation test. As excessive silt makes for a weak cob mix (because silt particles are too small to be of use as a structural aggregate) we looked elsewhere. Samples taken from a site 5 miles away that revealed very high clay and this was used for the oven.
THE OUTCOME
15 participants benefitted from learning the core training provided by us (see Robin Hood Garden oven) and the oven will, when lit be used to encourage and feed vineyard staff and volunteers, its visitors on open days and help in towards fundraising activities of this charity (part of Capel Manor)
Forty Hall Community Vineyard – cob oven
THE BRIEF
A community oven built using natural building materials over two days and with the involvement of orchard volunteers. The oven was to be sited on their organic site and used for making food at their events.
We met gardeners from Forty Hall Community Vineyard at a previous cob build (Meadow Orchard Project) and they approached us to build outdoor wood oven.
Soil samples were taken from the site and immediate vicinity but revealed high silt, low clay content when separation test. As excessive silt makes for a weak cob mix (because silt particles are too small to be of use as a structural aggregate) we looked elsewhere. Samples taken from a site 5 miles away that revealed very high clay and this was used for the oven.
THE OUTCOME
15 participants benefitted from learning the core training provided by us (see Robin Hood Garden oven) and the oven will, when lit be used to encourage and feed vineyard staff and volunteers, its visitors on open days and help in towards fundraising activities of this charity (part of Capel Manor)
