Cofferwork

nounStandard termBuilding

A traditional masonry wall construction consisting of a rubble core faced with cut stone.

A historic method of building thick masonry walls where the outer faces are constructed of dressed stone or brick, and the interior cavity is filled with loose rubble, fieldstone, and mortar. The outer wythes act as permanent formwork for the structural core.

Heard on the job

The demolition crew found that the retaining wall was solid cofferwork once they broke through the ashlar facing.

Also heard as

  • rubble masonry