Thinking of building a cob home?

Could you legally build a cob house in Seattle?

Probably. But be prepared to make the city planners your new best friends.

Steve Pfeiffer, engineering and technical codes manager for Seattle's Department of Planning and Development, said cob falls outside the building code, so planners would want documentation of how the adobelike material performs.

"In a sense, there's no material that couldn't possibly be used," Pfeiffer said, "but we have earthquakes here, so that would have to be addressed. We have an energy code; that would have to be addressed."

University of British Columbia engineers tested cob's earthquake resistance and, according to one account, the test structure survived a simulated 7.4 quake with only minor cracks, even after prior shaking.

Jack Stephens of the Natural Building Network has this advice: "Hire a structural engineer. Any plan for a building that has the stamp of a structural engineer is going to make its way through the approval process very quickly."

-- Cecelia Goodnow

TO LEARN MORE

Cobcottage.com: The Cob Cottage Co. in Coquille, Ore., offers workshops around the globe.

Jayson Boreen: Based on San Juan Island, Boreen does cob building and consulting; contact him at earthenculture@yahoo.com.

Cobworks.com: Based on Mayne Island, B.C., Cobworks has hands-on workshops in various locales.

Elkecole.com: Elke Cole in Victoria, B.C., designs, consults and teaches cob building.

Naturalbuildingschool.org: Situated on Whidbey Island, the Ancient Earth School of Natural Building offers summer workshops. Consulting services available.

Naturalbuildingnetwork.org: Oregon-based non-profit with members around the globe who promote natural building methods.

"The Hand-Sculpted House: A Practical and Philosophical Guide to Building a Cob Cottage," by Ianto Evans, Michael G. Smith and Linda Smiley (Chelsea Green, $35)