Structuring Earth
Mention the word design and most of us associate it with innovation and high-tech solutions: something slick, fast, foolish, bright, shiny or new looking - stylish lifestyle accessories that we see advertised in glossy magazines. But there is more to design, another quieter, humbler and mature side.
It is design as a result of evolution over thousands of years and whose underlying principles have not changed for countless generations.
It is present in objects so archaic, simple and beautiful that they are not even recognised as being designed.
It is design that is also revolving, being applied over and over again.
It is design that has shaped our culture and civilisation and helped us to become what we are. It will remain with us as a way of determining our world in the future.
It is design that sets examples of environmental sustainability, and reminds us of our responsibility to provide caring stewardship for nature.
It shows us how we can produce objects in a way that is economically and socially sustainable.
It is design of being here and now, relying on a regional rather than global infrastructure. It is a bearer of local identity, its tactile textures, patterns and shapes are familiar to both users and makers.
Moreover, it is design that does not pretend to be perfect and infallible; it can be mended, repaired and patched up. Like ourselves it can grow old with grace, gain character and still remain beautiful. It reflects humanity. Cob is exactly that. A humble material that has been used efficiently and successfully since thousands of years. Its ingredients are abundant and inexpensive: clay, sand and straw. And it is versatile, being used for making moulds for casting to bread ovens and large buildings. Having used the material for making bronze casting moulds, Holger began investigating other uses of cob. He subsequently used it in making bread ovens such as the one to the right.