arch vaults?

[lb <lbeaten@pipcom.com>]

Hello 

I'm new to the list, so if this question has come up already, you'll
have to forgive me.

My partner and I are going to build a 1 1/2 storey loadbearing SB house
and we'd been tossing roofing ideas around when I came across mention of
this SB arch vault possibility. Has anyone actually built a house using
this method, and would it work with the abovementioned house design?
The idea of a house made completely with straw (and plaster) sounds
great, particularly as we live in a northern climate where the high
insulation value of straw in the roof (a large surface area in a 1 1/2
storey) would go a long way toward combatting -30C weather. And of
course arches are such aesthetically pleasing space shapers.

I'd be grateful for any help on this.


Thanks. You're a lively and interesting bunch. It's been fun and
informative reading.

Kristina

P.S.  My partner says that here in Ontario (Canada) there are at least
minus thirty reasons for not building in adobe. Indeed.