Cob Workshop

Summer 2014
Cob Bench Workshop June 27
th
, 28
th
, and 29
th

Cob Oven Workshop August 15
th
, 16
th
, and 17
th


PERMAFORMING WORKSHOP
ELEMENT

ACADEMIC CURRICULUM






























Program Overview
Cob or Monolithic Adobe is a natural building material made of earth, sand, and straw.
The buildings made of cob are beautiful, efficient, comfortable, and have little or no
negative environmental impacts. Cob can be used almost everywhere, and can last
hundreds of years if maintained properly. In this workshop, you will learn how to assess
the site conditions for cob building, mix materials, and construct with cob to create a
beautiful and useful element of a home. In the process, you will learn the basics of cob
building which can be applied to many elements in your own endeavors or projects.

Permaform Institute for Sustainability Arts
PISA was founded by dreamers in an endeavor to create our goals of defining an
alternative to conventional capitalistic based development models founded on
unsustainable and devastatingly harmful development through educational formats in
natural development sciences and practical skill development.
Asia was specifically chosen as our educational venue due to its cultural relativity to
current permaforming impacts. The lack of industrial development is a benefit when
applying alternative development ideologies, concepts, and technologies, as lacking
industrialized developments open the potential for initial development which is more
conducive to sustainability of non-industrialized regions environment, economic
stability, and social structures.
PISA is committed to social, environmental, and economically equity. One of our
primary goals is to train entry level professionals in the field of Permaforming which
impacts rural communities with increased employment opportunities, decreased
environmental impacts from activities of development, and professional skill
development which can easily be transferred to local communities through workshop
participant initiation.









Cob Workshop
Program: Cob Workshop
PISA Faculty: Jennifer Shurley (USA)
Semester: Summer 2014
Workshop Description
This is a mixed academic and practically oriented workshop that provides background
theory and science with skills and techniques for cob works. The workshop is taught
through both theoretical lessons in the classroom and hands-on experiences in the
basic cob uses.

Workshop Objectives
Participants will be able to analyze the specific conditions of a particular natural
building project and make cob materials from what is available onsite, combined
with what ever needs to be brought to the site on a minimal level.
Participants will gain practical knowledge and experience in the mixing and
application of cob in construction.
Participants will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to construct simple
natural structures using local, naturally abundant, low-energy and non-toxic
materials.
Participants will be prepared to begin cob building in their own personal projects.

Learning Modalities
The instructor teaching this workshop uses lectures, and hands on workshops as key
strategies to allow each student to develop mastery of workshop content, and develop
the skills necessary to confidently begin cobbing in their own home construction,
businesses, or through community developments.

Workshop Outline
The following is the order in which students will develop mastery of workshop content
and cobbing principles.

Day 1: Seminar-
Introduction to cob, materials
Workshop-
Mixing and foundation digging
Day 2: Workshop-
Mixing, stone foundation, and cob
Day 3: Workshop-
Cob and sculpting, plaster

Note: This outline is subject to change both before and during the workshop based on student learning
goals, weather, and other factors.


Workshop Requirements
Workshop participants must have basic English proficiency, and be physically capable
of working outside, in the summer conditions of Nepal.

Grading
In this workshop, grades are not applicable, and workshop participants completing the
program receive letters of reference from the instructor for their workshop activities.

An educational program dedicated to the art of cob.
25 Program Hours + Hands-On Projects + Comprehensive Curriculum + Top Notch Instructor.
20 Positions are Available. Apply Soon.
DATES
June 27-29, 2014 to construct a cob bench
And
August 15-17 to construct a cob oven
Three days each, 9am 5pm


LOCATION
Pokhara, Nepal. The cob workshop is being hosted on a private residence.

LEARN
Through hands-on activities, workshops, classes and seminars, participants will gain a comprehensive
understanding of how to build using locally-sourced clay, sand, and straw.
About Nepal
Nepal is a charming, ancient country seeped in legend, culture, and fantastic architecture. This little
country is wedged between China and India, is home to the second largest natural water reserves on the
planet, and is one of the least developed countries of the world. Political instability, lack of ocean
access, and socio-economic inequality continue to impact the development of the people, economy, and
threaten the environment.
INSTRUCTOR
Jennifer Shurley is an equity engineer specializing in triple bottom line business, structural, project,
educational programming, community development, and systems development. She has 15 years of
permaforming experience, beginning with the development of her own home in Hawaii based on the
principles of passive design, and has designed and built many alternative structures ranging from
temporary settlements, to intentionally designed cities. Her experience has lead her around the world
working for individuals, businesses, INGOs, and personal projects internationally oriented in Africa,
America, India, Nepal, and Mexico. She is the founder and creator of the Permaforming program, as
well as the primary instructor of workshop activities.

FEE
The total fee of the full program is 15,000 NPR for the 3 day workshop. Tuition can be paid in full, or
you may choose to partake in the payment plan.
Payment plans require 50% of fees paid at registration, with the remaining balance paid in monthly
increments split into three months.
Program Payment Plan - 7,500 NPR paid at time of registration, 7,500 NPR paid on the first day
of workshops
If you would like tips on how to seek sponsorship/financial support, contact us.
Please note: The fee includes 3 days of workshops + all materials. Lodging, food, travel, visa, and flight
arrangements are not included. Students will need to supply their own work cloths, gloves, and sturdy
work shoes.
REGISTRATION
We have 20 available positions. Registration is first come, first served. To register, follow these steps:
1) Copy/paste and send the program application to alohajeni@gmail.com.
2) We will get back to you within three days to confirm availability.
3) Once confirmed, a deposit will reserve your place. You can either send payment in full or, if you
prefer, choose the payment plan option. If you select the payment plan option, please send one
envelope with your deposit, plus your post-dated check (dated for the first day of the program)
CANCELLATION
All deposits, payments and payment installments are 100% NON-REFUNDABLE. If you are on a payment
plan and do not complete the program, your remaining checks WILL be deposited and we expect this
non-refundable policy to be respected and implemented. If cancellation notification is given prior to 72
hours before the beginning of a scheduled workshop, your fee (minus a non-transferable/non-
refundable 2,500 NPR) will be transferable to another program within 12 months of notification.