Portugal Intensive Cob Workshop
1st to 10th of May, 2026
Grândola, Portugal
Join us for a theoretical and hands-on workshop focusing on earthen building through the techniques of cob and adobe. In this 10-day intensive workshop, we will build a complete cob oven with a built-in grill and working table, as well as a full adobe mass heater inside an ongoing Earthship project.
In this certified workshop, you'll learn how to analyze and stabilize clay-soil mixtures for earthen building, exploring the principles of adobe and cob as building techniques. Through this hands-on experience, you will build a full cob oven—from foundations to finish plasters—and a thermal mass heater, from preparing the adobe bricks all the way to completion.
The aim is to equip students with the knowledge and tools to test and analyze clay soils, and to understand each step involved in building a cob oven and a thermal mass heater. We will have 70% hands-on practice and 30% theoretical learning, diving into different natural building techniques, everything about cob ovens, stone-foundation principles, the benefits of earthen building, how to prepare and apply earthen plasters, how to sculpt with cob, and much more!
Once the workshop is completed, you will have the skills to build your own cob oven and/or thermal mass heater, and you will also be able to begin building your own earthen walls for your projects.
Join us for this intensive experience and become part of the TIERRAMIGO community, gaining access to the community chat to connect with others, learn about additional trainings with discounts, and get the Earthen Hands book for a special price!
THE PLACE
Ricardo, Deborah, and their
two children will host us at their project site in Alentejo. Their 7000 square meter property is part of a larger effort to rehabilitate degraded soil through
agroforestry—they've planted more than 2000 trees to create a food-producing
ecosystem. After establishing the forest, they started building a prototype
self-sustainable house based on Earthship principles, with some modifications
like a green roof. This prototype is legal in Portugal, making it a pioneering
model for sustainable and natural building within the framework of local
regulations.
During the workshop, we'll be building a cob oven outside and a thermal mass heater inside the Earthship!
Just 10 km away from the site is the beautiful Praia de Galé, a perfect place to visit between learning sessions.
COURSE DETAILS
What is a cob oven?
It is a traditional oven built with a mixture of clay, sand, straw, and water. Its operation is based on the retention and gradual release of heat by its thick earthen walls. These ovens are known for their high heat-retention efficiency, reaching very high temperatures, where the heat cooks food through three physical mechanisms: radiation – heat from the fire and the hot walls toward the food, convection – hot air circulating inside the oven, and conduction – the direct transfer of heat from the hot surface to the food (the oven floor).
Thus, these ovens are capable of gradually retaining heat for hours, making them very practical and versatile for cooking different foods: from instant pizzas to stews, meats, vegetables, and even—at the end, using the residual heat—for fermenting yogurt, dehydrating foods, and proofing bread.
Cob is a very inclusive, organic, and creative earth-building technique that allows us to shape walls freely, working with curves very easily. In this way, we can sculpt around the oven and its bench, turning it into a collective work of art.
What is an adobe thermal mass heater?
The principle behind this stove is thermal mass: since it is built with adobe bricks, they are able to store the heat from combustion and retain it for a longer time, gradually releasing it into the environment.
The stove features double combustion, making the burning of firewood more efficient and making better use of the resource. Secondary combustion allows for cleaner burning and better utilization of the wood. This is achieved by introducing more air in a second stage. It enables a more efficient use of the fuel, minimizing the toxic effects generated by burning wood.
The 10-days intensive workshop will be divided into 3 modules, starting the 1st with a welcome dinner and the workshop introduction.
MODULE 1 - Intro to Natural Building + Adobe Intensive 1st to 3rd of May (weekend)
The first weekend we will dive into the principles of earthen building, introducing different natural building techniques and exploring clay soil as the main component for earthen construction. We will test and analyze different soils so you can learn how to perform your own soil tests. Then, we will learn how to prepare adobe bricks from scratch, mix cob, and prepare all the components needed for the adobe thermal mass heater. These adobe bricks can also be used to build a wall!
The main goal of this module is for you to learn the basics of earthen building—understanding different natural building techniques, the benefits of building with earth, how to analyze and stabilize clay soil for use as cob or adobe, and how to prepare the mix to create the blocks we will later use to build a thermal mass heater or a wall.
MODULE 2 - Cob Oven + Grill Intensive
4th to 8th of May (week days)
The second module will be all about cob ovens. You will learn how to build your own oven using clay soil and other natural materials - from the foundation to the finish plasters. You will sculpt with cob to give your oven a beautiful shape, making it a unique piece! You will also learn the principles of cob and stone foundations, along with all the details of earthen and lime plasters, applying everything directly to a real project.
You will get to truly feel the technique and take with you valuable theoretical and practical knowledge, empowering you to experiment and build your own cob oven, walls, benches, garden structures, or even a small cob cabin! This is the perfect first dive into cob building, with a project that you can start and complete in less than a week while gaining solid principles to continue exploring.
MODULE 3 - Adobe Thermal Mass Heater
9th and 10th of May (weekend)
In the last module, we will dive into thermal mass heaters, where you will learn - by doing - how to build an adobe thermal mass heater. We will be building the SARA prototype, designed to be highly efficient in terms of wood burning and heat retention. This prototype is similar to Russian-style thermal mass heaters. You will learn step-by-step how to build it and take home all the building plans so you can make your own! Once the heater is complete, you will sculpt it to make it unique and finish it with beautiful earthen plasters.
CONTENT
- Understanding clay and its properties
- How to test and assess clay soil for building
- Introduction to other natural building techniques
- Benefits of earth as a building material
- How to prepare adobe, from the forms to final sun-dried brick
- Cob oven steps and how to design and build your own
- Adobe mass heater steps and how to design and build your own
- Stone foundation principles
- Earthen plasters: how to test, stabilize and apply fine plasters
- Lime plasters and lime cycle
- Sculpting with cob
Feel free to ask questions throughout - we are here to help!
All course materials will
be provided digitally after the workshop, and you will have a special discount for our book Earthen Hands: a practical guide to natural building
DAILY SCHEDULE
The daily schedule may be subject to weather conditions or slight modifications.
07:45 to 08:30 - Breakfast
08:30 to 13:00 - Morning Session
13:00 to 14:30 - Lunch
14:30 to 17:30 - Afternoon Session
19:00 to 20:00 - Dinner
Some mornings or afternoons we will have lectures related to the topics we are working on. On certain evenings, we will also have video nights or presentations connected to the workshop themes, serving as a complement to the learning experience.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Be prepared for physical work, so please bring suitable clothing, closed-toe shoes, flip flops and rubber gloves. Don't forget a hat, water bottle, and a notebook - anything you need to feel comfortable!
We also encourage you to bring a sample of your own soil for testing and analysis during the course.
This workshop will be taught in English, with real-time translation into Portuguese and Spanish if needed.
CAMPING AND MEALS
Camping is included. You need to bring your own gear to stay comfortable. If you have any special requirements, let us know in advance.
There are local accommodations available nearby. If you prefer to stay in a hostel or similar lodging, you can contact us and we will help you find a place close to the workshop site.
All meals are included during the workshop: breakfast, snack, lunch, and dinner.
Meals will be balanced and nutritious to keep you energized. If you have any dietary restrictions, please notify us beforehand.
TRANSPORTATION
You can reach Grândola by train or bus from Lisbon, about 1.5 hours south. From Grândola, it's a 10-minute drive to the workshop site, and taxis may be available. If you're part of a group of four arriving together, the host can arrange to pick you up from the station. If you're driving and have extra seats, let us know so we can organize ride-sharing.
REGISTRATION AND FEES
You can choose from different options: take just one module or all three!
Module 1 - Intro to Natural Building + Adobe Intensive
€140 (regular rate)
Module 2 - Cob Oven + Grill Intensive
€350 (regular rate)
Module 3 - Adobe Thermal Mass Heater
€180 (regular rate)
10-day Intensive - Modules 1, 2 and 3!
€490 EARLY BIRD (until February 1st)
€570 (regular rate)
The price includes free camping and three hearty meals per day.
The workshop is limited to a maximum of 12 participants. To register, fill out the form or contact Nico at tierramigo@gmail.com or via WhatsApp at +569 9089 7292.
To save your spot for an individual module, full payment is required. For the 10-day intensive, you can reserve your place with a 50% deposit and pay the remaining 50% by April 1st.
Payments can be made via bank transfer (IBAN), Wise, PayPal or credit card with a +5% processing fee.
There are 3 work-trade positions available for participants of the 10-day intensive. Each work-trade offers a €60 discount in exchange for 1 hour of work per day—one position for site preparation and two positions for breakfast preparation. Feel free to ask about or propose another type of exchange if you wish to participate in this experience!
Members of the TIERRAMIGO community receive a 10% discount.
THE INSTRUCTOR
Nico Pimentel is a Chilean architect and natural builder founder of Tierramigo.
He is also the co-founder of PIWA, an architecture and design studio based in Chile, focused on housing and hospitality projects in rural areas, with a strong sensitivity to the landscape, the use of natural materials, and passive solar design techniques.
Since 2017, Nico has explored earthen building techniques and facilitated international workshops in various formats: from full builds to mid- and short-term trainings, working throughout Latin America and Europe.
He co-founded Jungla Peumayen, a wildlife and ecosystem conservation reserve in southern Chile, and Kalina, a creative hub and workspace located in the forests of northern Patagonia, where he is developing a Summer School and Fellowship program.
CANCELLATION POLICY
If you need to cancel after registering, please notify us by March 1st to receive a 90% refund. The 10% retention covers administrative fees.
Cancellations made after March 1st will receive a 75% refund, and cancellations made after April 10th will receive a 50% refund, with 50% retained due to organizational costs. This retained amount will be kept as a credit for a future workshop.
If the workshop is cancelled by the organizers, you will receive a full refund.