[Cob] Strange Idea yes or no?

[Amanda Peck]

Nah, no gaps to speak of,  just a little less dense along the outside.  The 
woman who wrote the British straw-bale book has a long section on how to 
deform a bale to form a curve (she's joking--I hope).  Then put it up.  
Don't remember exactly what she recommended, but kicks and knees both work.  
I think it might be better to put the curve in so that the strings are on 
top.  That means that the hollow straws are in/out rather than up/down.  
Up/down gives you a bit more insulation.  In/out might breathe better.   And 
the strings aren't visible, so it's easier to cut channels etc.

Beth wrote:

One more thing - since it is round, you'll have a lot of gaps on the outside 
edge which you will need to pack tightly either with plain straw or straw 
dipped in clay slip.  Be sure to minimise these gaps by curving the bales 
slightly which is easiest to do with bales laying string-side up in the 
wall.  This also makes better adhesion for the plaster, but also loses some 
insulation value because the hollow straw is conducting between inside and 
out.