Cottage Building in Cob, Pisé, Chalk and Clay: A Renaissance (2nd edition)

"Cottage Building in Cob, Pisé, Chalk and Clay: A Renaissance (2nd edition)" by Clough Williams-Ellis is a handbook from the early 1900s that looks at using different building materials in home construction. It talks about the need for cheaper houses when typical supplies were hard to get after World War I. The main idea is about building cottages with natural stuff found nearby, like cob and Pisé. It especially focuses on Pisé, a rammed earth method, as a unique way to solve building problems today. The text starts off explaining how much people needed cottages because of the housing problem made worse by a lack of building materials. Williams-Ellis gives an overview of Pisé de terre, a rammed earth style that's becoming more well-known. He shares his first experiences using Pisé, like the challenges and wins he had using this old method, which became popular because it was affordable and green. The writer also mentions new studies and progress in Pisé building, hinting at a renewed interest in these old ways to meet today's needs.