CORDWOOD

Cordwood is another construction strategy which utilizes ample local resources to develop a strong, long lasting, and durable structure. This strategy is found across the globe, much like Wattle and Daub, but with various adaptations and evolutions; it is primarily found throughout Europe, parts of Asia, Central America, North America, and South Africa.075 The most recognized and studied cordwood strategies are found in Poland, the United States, and Canada.076 Construction of a cordwood structure involves laying pieces of wood, either split or logs, crosswise and infilled with a mortar often consisting of lime and clay. This construction method has many variations: one style of construction lays logs or wood “bricks” perpendicular to the face of the wall; another method installs log spacers parallel to the wall face between perpendicular layers of wood “brick.” Often these walls are plastered over to protect the materials from environmental damage.077 Polish cordwood construction was usually plastered over with a smooth finish while U.S. and Canadian cordwood construction often had the debarked log protruding about an inch from the exterior plaster finish. Once coated with plaster, cordwood walls are extremely thick, ranging 20 to 25 inches.078

045 | Split Log Cordwood Construction Strategy As Szewezyk denotes in their article, cordwood is an indigenous vernacular heritage strategy, pre-dating World War II.079 There is something mystical and beautiful regarding the aging of this strategy, although more research is needed regarding the metaphysical impact this strategy has on the surrounding societal landscape: specifically, how can cordwood construction positively develop a philosophy of sustainability and environmental stewardship?

Overall, cordwood construction has major benefits by utilizing local renewable resources such as wood and clay. The insulative properties all rely on the available clay or cob, species of wood, and the thickness or length of the logs used.080 These benefits need to be more vernacularized in modern society to redevelop and encourage sustainable heritage. Additionally, this construction method - referring to the linear perpendicular components in a matrix of mortar - can easily be reformatted with new building materials with better insulative and water resistant properties, allowing the mass populace to not rely solely on biomass.

CREATED SHELTER

SHARED SPACE VIA CIRCULAR FORMATION