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+--- Thread: Cob building (/showthread.php?tid=12678)
RE: Cob building - Rob Tucker - 11-13-2013
I did indeed notice the lack of foundation. Dirt floor, posts sitting on rocks, looked like the beginnings of a third world shack. Like I said above, I'm willing to be convinced.
Your lack of a permit for the structure (human occupation intended) would appear to indicate you know the plan won't pass. I really have no complaint with people that want to subject themselves to risks in life. As I indicated above my contempt is for people who subject others to the risks they create (and charge money for). Usually someone else owns the property eventually too. None of us live forever and tragedy stalks us all.
RE: Cob building - kalakoa - 11-14-2013
Looks more like an "art installation" to me. I wonder if there's a permit for that?
RE: Cob building - Kaixin - 11-14-2013
Here are some photos of the traditional style hale we built in Kona. Simple ohia frame, dry rock wall foundation, palm fronds and paracord were all that were used to make this natural, permitted structure.
Its funny though how many things that were once just 'practical' quickly turn into 'artful' when a culture changes.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/FlappingLlama/Shared/P8291702.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/FlappingLlama/Shared/P8291703.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/FlappingLlama/Shared/P8291708.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/FlappingLlama/Shared/P8291709.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/FlappingLlama/Shared/P8291701.jpg
RE: Cob building - kalakoa - 11-14-2013
As it turns out: yes, traditional construction techniques are explicitly allowed...
...as long as the structure is an "accessory" to an existing permitted use, and may not include any plumbing or electrical, nor be used for any cooking or sleeping purposes.
The "new" building code includes extensive documentation on the allowable poles (both size and species), approved colors of rope used for lashing the poles, etc.
RE: Cob building - rainyjim - 11-14-2013
" colors of rope "
Really?
lol
RE: Cob building - kalakoa - 11-14-2013
I wish I was kidding... I also wish some clever lawyers would leverage these provisions towards a usable "alternative" building code. Copy-n-paste below; there are numerous other stipulations for size/height/location, setbacks, allowable use, etc.
-----
X201.1 Hale Materials. Hale shall be constructed using only materials grown
and harvested in the State of Hawai`i.
X201.2 Wood Framing Material. The wood members for the hale, such as
posts and rafters, shall be, but not limited to hardwoods of unmilled, straight
sections of trunks or branches of the following species:
(1) Casaurina equisitafolia (ironwood).
(2) Prosopis-allid (kiawe).
(3) Eucalyptus robusta (eucalyptus).
(4) Psidium cattleianum (strawberry guava).
(5) Metrosideros polymorpha (ohia).
(6) Rizophora mangle (mangrove).
Exception: Ardisia elliptica (inkberry) may be used only for roof purlins as an
alternative to specified woods listed in Items 1 through 6.
X201.3 Roofing and Siding. Thatched roofing and siding materials for the hale
may be any grass or leaf material grown and harvested in the State of Hawai`i,
to include but not be limited to pili, kualohia, pueo, kawelu, sugar-cane leaves,
and ti leaves.
X201.4 Cord. Natural or synthetic cord used for lashing structural members of
the hale shall be 400 pound test. Cord used for tying floating purlins and
thatched materials shall be 100 pound test. All cord used on the hale shall be
shades of green, tan, brown or black.
X201.5 Metal Prohibited. Metal shall not be used for the construction of the hale.
RE: Cob building - Rob Tucker - 11-14-2013
The Hawaiian community desired the right to build in traditional ways. I think the fact that the code provides for that is a good thing. Traditional means traditional, not sloppy or slipshod. So the proper cordage makes sense. Hopefully it will keep the amateur wannabes at bay a bit. Those code sections were not written on the mainland.
RE: Cob building - kalakoa - 11-14-2013
Granting the "Hawaiian community" its own special building code is a form of discrimination.
I suspect that the "Hawaiian community" did not lobby for these codes. For that matter, the "true" Hawaiians consider themselves sovereign and therefore outside the scope of Federal/State/County regulation, so have no use for building codes.
In any case ... there's a certain irony: a "traditional" thatched-roof building made of poles tied with cord can actually be 100% legal, but a recycled schoolbus is somehow out of the question -- and you'd better not connect two wires together, or get that big swimming pool from Walmart, because you're obviously not smart enough to avoid hurting yourself and others. Oh, and if you see shoddy workmanship and/or safety issues anywhere in town, that's okay -- it's either permitted work by licensed professionals, or it's grandfathered, don't worry about it.
RE: Cob building - rainyjim - 11-14-2013
And rinse and repeat.
RE: Cob building - kalakoa - 11-14-2013
More like "washing my hands of it". An unenforced system riddled with loopholes is almost worse than no system at all.