Site Visits

ECOWEEK includes site visits as an integral part of the ECOWEEK International Conference and Workshops exprience and a tangible way to see solutions as they are implemented 'in the real world'.. Read...


ECOWEEK 2010 site visit theme: COB CONSTRUCTION what is cob? | Registration

PROGRAM:

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Depature from Syntagma Square at 8:00 (8:00 am) (metro stop: Syntagma)
Arrival in Larisa at approx. 12:00 noon (12:00 pm)
Tour and presentation by Cob Architects of a show case house near Larisa. Also tour to an old building that Cob was used.
Presentation about Cob (by Cob Architects)
Lunch
Workshop tutorial & brief preparation on how to make your own cob wall or element.
Dinner on your own

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Workshop all day hands-on workshop on making a cob wall or element (open air). The participants will be divided into small groups and they will construct an architectural element on 1:1 scale during the workshop session. Cob achitects will be guiding and supporting the work of the groups on site. All materials are provided on site by the Cob Architects.
Please note that the workshops will take place in the open air. Bring hat or other protection from sun.
Bring work-clothes and shoes that may be affected by working with Cob, water, mud, etc. and bring clothes to change after the workshop.
Lunch break during the workshop.

Departure from Larisa at approx. 18:00 (6pm)
Arrival in Athens at approx. 22:00 (10:00 pm)


REGISTRATION

Registration to the COB Visit and Workshops in Larisa includes trasport to and from Larisa, tranport around Larisa when in group, one-night hotel room with breakfast, seminar, visits and the hands-on workshop by Cob architects.

CLOTHES

> The workshops will take place in the open air. Bring hat or other protection from sun.
> Bring work-clothes and shoes that may be affected by working with Cob, water, mud, etc. and bring clothes to change after the workshop.



ECOWEEK GUIDED SITE VISITS

ECOWEEK 2005 & 2006 & 2007 included guided site visits to passive solar and ecological houses with architects Alexandros Tombazis and Kostas Tsipiras in Aegina island.

ECOWEEK 2008 included a special site visit to the New Acropolis Museum in Athens, immediately after its completion, and one year before it was officially opened to the public. The site visit was guided by architect Michael Photiadis, who, together with architect Bernard Tchumi, designed the new museum.

ECOWEEK 2009 included a number of special guided tours to the former international airport of Athens at Hellinikon guided by Landscape Architect Thomas Doxiadis; to the new recycling factory by Envitec SA at A. Liosia; a guided tour to the passive-solar offices of Meletitiki with award-winning architect Alexandros Tombazis; a guided tour and lecture about the first energy autonomous building in Greece courtesy of Sol Energy Hellas; a tour at a windfarm in Attica guided by Vestas SA - manufacturer of the wind turbines; a guided visit to the methane biogas factoray at A. Liosia courtesy of BEAL SA; and a visit to one of the first green roofs of Athens, on top of the OSE building in the center of Athens, courtesy of Landco SA.


WHAT IS COB?

Cob is a very old method of building with earth and straw or other fibers. Cob is fireproof, resistant to seismic activity, and inexpensive. It can be used to create artistic, sculptural forms and has been revived in recent years. Because of all the straw, cob material can be insulating too. Light straw walls could be useful for interior partitions and even exterior walls if it is thick enough. Such walls would be quite a bit more insulating than cob, but they require a timber frame of some sort because the straw itself is not load bearing.


WHO ARE COB ARCHITECTS?
Cob Architects is a group of architects and construction specialists based in Larisa, Greece who have undertaken to improve the alternative construction method of cob. Cob Architects offer workshops and seminars to students, architects and the public, in order to introduce some sustainable and environmentally friendly methods of construction, especially the cob. For more information visit www.cob.gr