Cob: second structure spacing

[Amanda Peck]

Straw bale buildings can be framed or not.  If framed--straw bale 
infill--structurally they don't need to be compressed because they won't be 
holding anything up (although they might settle and need extra insulation 
stuffed in there). I'd think that cob columns are probably a "no" especially 
if you are continuing on the other side of the corner with straw bale.  
Timber, masonry, steel, or even continuing around the corner a bale or two 
before switching materials.  Tie it in WELL. Cob scratch coat with less 
hairy looking finish coat is fine.  Or whatever you're using on the rest of 
the building.

the rest--uphill, downhill make a difference, are you putting any kind of 
solar panels on the roof, doing water catchment (will be affected by smoke 
from a chimney?) air movement in the summer, what's going to look good.  All 
questions to ask yourself.  those of us with land down in a holler figure 
that we do what we can.

............
Thanks for the straw bale tips, though I am not sure I understand it yet. Do 
you use cob columns in place of the timber framing? and Cob around the straw 
bales - or do you just plaster?

  .....In other words, how far do I need to space structures to maintain the 
southern benefits, assuming I build the structures north and south of each 
other?

jill


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