2017-2023: Cross-border European project contributing to the development and improvement of earth construction using cob.

The CobBauge project (a merging of the English and French words for the technique) will run until June 2023 and has received a total budget of €4,127,365.09 with total ERDF funding of € 2,827,181.91 (69%) from the Interreg VA France (Channel) England Programme, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

2 YEARS OF FRENCH-ENGLISH WORK

CobBauge, co-piloted by BUILDERS École d'ingénieurs and the University of Plymouth was selected under the Interreg VA France (Channel) / England programme and brings together 6 partners in England and France: Earth Building UK and Ireland (EBUKI), BUILDERS École d'ingénieurs , HUDSONArchitects, Parc naturel régional des Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin (PnrMCB), University of Caen Normandy - LUSAC Laboratory, University of Plymouth.

The different teams have been working on a traditional construction technique: Cob.

Widely used for construction on both sides of the Channel, this technique needed to be modernised to meet current energy requirements. 

The first phase of the CobBauge project has therefore updated this building material, which is made up of a mixture of earth, natural fibres and water. 

COB: AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT MATERIAL

This international project, funded by the Interreg programme, is developed in the framework the environmentally friendly construction. 

The use of cob reduces CO₂ emissions and waste production. This project is directly in line with the European Union's actions to reduce CO₂ emissions in the Channel area by 20% by 2020.

The materials life cycle and more particularly the issue of waste is a recurring problem in the construction sector. 

PHASE 1: DEVELOPING A NEW VERSION OF THE COB (2017 - 2019)

In England and France, the first phase focused on creating a new cob mix to optimise its thermal performance. 

For functional purposes, 2 formulas have been created. A lighter one with increased thermal properties and a denser one with structural proprieties. 

PHASE 2: THE FULL-SCALE COB (2019 - 2023)

As this first phase of the project was a real success, Interreg renewed its financial support.

The kick-off meeting of the second phase took place on September, 3th 2019, in London. 

After the development of a cob formula meeting current energy requirements, the aim is now to build demonstration buildings. 

In France and England, constructions will be built which will enable researchers to study the energy performance of cob in "real conditions". 

Priority areas of work have been defined: 

• Environmental design of the 2 buildings 
• Material life cycle assessment
• Training for market players 
• Communication of results

Check the project presentation brochure

COMPLEMENTARY PARTNERS