Hudson Architects’ CobBauge House in Fakenham marks a milestone as the UK’s first building-regulation-compliant cob home. This two-storey residence uses a blend of hemp, earth, and water, ancient cob materials, cast within a timber formwork system to create thermally efficient walls up to 600 mm thick.

Combining a structural inner layer with insulating exterior hemp cob, the house achieves high performance without conventional concrete, resulting in low embodied carbon and natural thermal mass that reduces heating needs. Triple-glazed south-facing windows and deep eaves enhance passive solar gain, while an air-source heat pump supports modern comfort needs.

Opening in 2024, the project emerged from EU-funded research aimed at bridging traditional natural building methods with contemporary regulations, positioning cob as a viable contemporary material. The design process also involved extensive prototyping and engagement. Hudson Architects collaborated with Grocott & Murfit to refine drying times, mix ratios, and slip-form techniques—actively documenting learnings through open-site events and technical tours

Image Credit: Joakin Borén