What are the best ways to use bales? Laying the bales flat is most common for several reasons. The strings of the bales in the flat orientation allows up to 6" of notching and curving and nichos. The bales flat are more stable as the wall rises, and less dependent on extra stiffeners.
The bales on-edge may save space, but with the strings thus exposed on the surface, notching is not viable, cutting (or burning) the strings more likely, and pinning is tougher. Bales on edge have far less load bearing capacity, and are often used in non-load-bearing, post and beam in-fill projects.
"For me, good, abundant, sustainable design flows directly out of local ecology, climate, geology, materials, and culture of the particular site."
