<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class="">Hello Bohdan - good question!</div><div class="">Here are some thoughts off the top of my head</div><div class=""><br class=""></div>Improvements:<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">1) We designed the layout of the studs at 24” on center, into which an unmanipulated bale fits nicely. Despite a note on the plan, only about 1/3 of the bays are actually built this way. This added a lot of time in “ripping” the bales (and inventing the ripping jig). Approve a stud layout in advance? </div><div class="">2) We interrupted the bale wall at a few large window bays, and I wouldn’t do that again - the stopping and starting of details is more challenging than continuous details, even though it is more surface area. </div><div class="">3) The cap of the bales at the ceiling plane needed better attention (we added plywood), and ideally plaster, but it is a sequencing issue. </div><div class="">4) Getting the large volume of bales on the 2nd/3rd floor was a challenge- needs to be designed into the process!</div><div class="">5) The GRK screw with plywood strip attachment worked well, but they are expensive, and we would of course prefer to have a non-metal solution.</div><div class="">6) Plan better to get bales in earlier in the year - took the plaster forever to dry in the damp autumn of the Pacific Northwest.</div><div class="">7) Test density before purchasing bales - 2 string bales that were purchased (see #1 above) had to be rejected. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Good things:</div><div class="">1) Fire rating: thankfully, we have flame spread rating information (required for commercial buildings in the US) - attached below.</div><div class="">2) “Chair rail” for electrical/data runs and to prevent damage to the plaster from, um, chairs. </div><div class="">3) Clay paint finish in most offices was an important cost/time savings measure. </div><div class="">4) Having a expert straw-bale builder/ designer on the ground and part of the process was a god-send. Many thanks to Erica Ann Bush of One World Design, as well as the invaluable help of Jim Reiland of Many Hands Builders who helped lead the workshops. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">best</div><div class="">Anni </div><div class=""><div class="">
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-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Skia; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;" class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#D8792A" style="font-size: 10px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Copperplate" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">Arkin Tilt Architects<font class="Apple-style-span" face="Copperplate-Light"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></font></span></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#D8792A" size="1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 9px;">E</span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#D8792A" size="1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 9px;">cological Planning & Design</span></font><div style="font-size: 10px;" class=""><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#D8792A" size="1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 9px;">1101 8th Street, #180</span></font></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#D8792A" size="1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 9px;">Berkeley, CA 94710</span></font></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#D8792A" size="1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 9px;">510.528.9830</span></font></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span></span></span><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#D8792A" size="1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 9px;">510.528.0206 fax</span></font></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#D8792A" size="1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 9px;"><a href="http://www.arkintilt.com" class="">www.arkintilt.com</a></span></font></div><div class=""><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#D8792A" size="1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 9px;"><br class=""></span></font></div></div></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); 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