Cob House in Stanley Park Officially Opens

September 13, 2004 (No. 70) - The public is invited to join the Stanley Park Ecology Society (SPES) and the Vancouver Park Board to celebrate the official opening of Stanley Park's first earthen architecture building or cob house. Popcorn, prizes and entertainment will be part of the festivities.

1:00 to 3:00 pm
Saturday, September 18, 2004
Miniature Railway Plaza
Stanley Park
Rain or Shine

Stanley Park's cob house, built by a team of youth and community volunteers led by experienced cob builders Ian Marcuse and Steve Lay of Down To Earth Building Bee, will be the new home of the SPES popcorn stand. Cob is a building material made of clay, sand and straw which has been used around the world to create beautiful buildings that stand the test of time and use materials that are natural and ecologically sustainable. This project was built from locally available materials and features sculpted windows, reclaimed foundation, floor and wood materials, and a living green roof that will be planted with native vegetation.

The structure's foundation was constructed of 3 tonnes of granite reclaimed from a church that burned down at 10th Avenue and Quebec Street earlier this year and donated by Impact Demolition. An added bonus was the discovery of a seam of clay near Queen Elizabeth Park at Nat Bailey Stadium Park where the Millennium Sport Facility is currently under construction. This material was moved to the cob house construction site as one of the project's central building components.

The Park Board contributed $20,000 to the cob house project from their Corporate Sponsorship Fund. The building will be used to generate revenue for the Stanley Park Ecology Society, a non-profit organization which offers environmental education programs. With the generous support of Capers Community Markets, SPES can sell certified organic popcorn at the cob house. Funds from popcorn sales support SPES educational and environmental initiatives.

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For more information, contact Kristi Tatebe, Cob Project Leader, SPES, at 604-681-7099

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation maintains 200 parks and 40 major facilities throughout the City of Vancouver. The Park Board's mission is to provide, preserve and advocate for parks and recreation services to benefit people, communities and the environment.

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