[Cob] Cob vs Adobe Question (was Long, long list of earthen building links.)

[Amanda Peck]

The answers to all three might be "Cob." Although there are certainly 
centuries old versions of both around.  Rammed earth of one sort or another 
too.  and I'd expect proponents of some of the others to weigh in here.

The straw is designed to 1) add some strength because of the long fibers.  
2) add some insulation because it's NOT earth.  As for 3) there may be more 
skill in putting up dry adobe block than in putting up rolls of cob that can 
be manipulated some after they go on the wall.

The Minke is good about siting a building on a steep slope, even if you are 
not building in a seismic zone.
........................
Deborah asks:
My question for the list is:
Comparing adobe brick to cob,
which is
1-stronger/more stable/heavier load bearing
2-warmer/higher R value (I understand that the thicker the wall the higher 
the Thermal Mass)
3-easier to construct for someone with no experience (but I am a potter so 
understand from that angle)

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