[Strawbale] corner detail problem

[Andrew Webb]

Hi all,

I've been asked to help resolve some problems on an SB house 'designed' 
by someone unfamiliar with the material.  It will be built on steel 
posts with a timber floor structure.  The footings for the posts are 
already poured and the draughtsman has the 75mm (3") square columns 
positioned in the middle of the bales.  That's fine along the length but 
he also has the columns centred on both walls at the corners; ie. right 
in the middle of the intersection.  Therefore, whether or not you cut 
recesses in the bales, you will have a sort of reverse quoin effect at 
the corner that needs to be filled in (it would be too flimsy to cut the 
column 260mm (10") into the bale to avoid this).  I can do a sketch if 
this is unclear. 

Any suggestions on how to fill this in reliably?  Is it enough to just 
fill in the gaps with biscuits sewn through to the bales, and wrap the 
corner with mesh?  I'm concerned that this solution is placing too much 
reliance on the wires/twine to hold the biscuits in place and that it 
could sag & crack the render over time.  Other than that, perhaps build 
a timber corner frame to hold the biscuits, similar to a widow reveal?  
Or, bite the bullet and widen out one wall or the other (and adjust the 
floor bearer detail - not yet built) so the column is aligned with the 
inside of one of the walls and so only cut into one wall of bales?

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

All the best,
Andrew