Project by Ridhi Sawhney
This project investigates cob, a clay-based material reinforced with fibers, as a wall system within the dense and noisy context of Brooklyn. Cob’s thickness and fibrous composition make it naturally sound absorbing, while its malleability allows for hand-sculpted surfaces that respond to site conditions and local craft traditions. The cob wall was conceived as a way of building acoustic calm through material slowness. Cob construction is inherently incremental since each lift must dry before the next is placed. Rather than treating this slowness as a limitation, the project reframes it as design logic. The wall becomes a record of time and labor, embedding atmosphere and care directly into its assembly. To reinforce the mix, agricultural fibers and textile waste were sourced through local Brooklyn networks. The same fibers were layered into the floor assembly, producing an interior that is materially continuous and acoustically softened. Etched surface treatments were introduced to the cob walls, enhancing sound absorption while also improving rain durability in New York’s CFA climate zone. The research process extended beyond material testing into site visits, dialogue, and networking. Observing discarded stone slabs and crop cycles for local fibers raised questions of availability, storage, and reuse. Conversations with builders highlighted challenges of skilled labor, prompting strategies for simplifying techniques to support intergenerational or low-skill participation. Ultimately, the cob wall demonstrates how natural, low-tech materials can be reimagined in an urban context, not to eliminate noise entirely but to approximate quieter conditions and offer moments of stillness within the city.“
