[Cob] National Park Service earthbag construction

[Amanda Peck]

I do see what you mean.  That one bag going up around a window form looks 
pretty bad, bag flapping at the corner, doesn't look like it's tied in well. 
  I'd think that the forms should be left in until that area is completely 
covered--with layers of wire over the top?  I'd be very very happy to be 
seeing that wrong, and it's really fine.

(this picture:  http://www.calearth.org/cvillage/DlxArch.htm )

I wondered about the vaults too.  Figured that it probably had something to 
do with LEAKS! or possibly that the vaults in the Ceramic House book are 
made of bricks, not something floppy like the earth bags, and it was "don't 
do this at home" time to make longish vaults out of earthbags.
..................
Sarah wrote (heavily snipped):


I wonder why it doesn't say who the "two skilled earthbag builders 
contracted from Moab, Utah" are? They are Kaki Hunter and Doni Kiffmeyer 
(authors of the article Elizabeth just posted a link to, and very fun, 
energetic people) and have a website at:

After their visit to CalEarth some years ago, they took Khalili's technique 
and ran with it. To be honest, I've been a lot more impressed with their 
work (in terms of details, quality, little construction tricks) than what 
I've seen of people who had spent years at CalEarth (not that there was 
anything wrong with the latter). There doesn't seem to be anything on their 
website about the "how to" manual they mention at the end of that article 
but I HOPE it is available. I have a spiral-bound draft from a few years ago 
and would highly recommend it to anyone considering using earthbags, even in 
unpolished form.


And, as for vaults...! They seem to be starting with reinforced concrete 
vaults, but I couldn't find any explanation of why or how they are building 
them-



_______________________________________________
Coblist mailing list
Coblist at deatech.com
http://www.deatech.com/mailman/listinfo/coblist

_________________________________________________________________
Take off on a romantic weekend or a family adventure to these great U.S. 
locations. http://special.msn.com/local/hotdestinations.armx