Cob: frost free shallow foundation & Gabions

[Chris Holmes]

Would the rock foundation work with the idea of taking Gabions,(Wire cages used in highway 
work), filled with rock, or even better recycled concrete chunks, and burying them down 
four feet min, this could form the base for the wall, and a concrete slab could be poured 
on grade. Then a cob wall could be built off of this, or any other wall for that matter. 
Does this make sense??
Would there need to be a mechanical connection between this foundation and the wall above, 
what would it be??? 
Would this meet code requirements??

Take a look at www.swarch.co.uk to see a project that uses straw bale, gabion filled 
footings, as well as fabric and other interesting materials.

On Jan 04, Howard <ecoarchitech at directvinternet.com> wrote:
> 
> So what you need is a foundation that goes down 4 feet or so to get below the frost
> line.  Typically a rigid foundation stem wall is built on a concrete footing below
> the frost line, "4 feet or so."  Wright used "structural fill," sharp gravel, under
> his footing to drain any water away that might freeze and heave the foundation.  If
> you take this structural fill down, the width of the footing, below the frost line
> you have structure, you have a foundation that will not heave in the freeze/ thaw.
> You also have a foundation that will fare better in an earthquake.
> 
> Howard Switzer
> 
> sarah kercheval wrote:
> 
> > Does anyone know a great deal on the subject of Frank lloyd Wright's shallow
> > frost free foundation?
> > I'm in the Arctic of Minnesota, so keep in mind that normal frost footings
> > go down about 4 feet or so.
> > thanks
> > sarah
> >
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