This document provides information on bamboo construction and architecture. It discusses why bamboo is a sustainable building material as it is fast-growing, sequesters carbon, and has other environmental benefits. Bamboo is also described as being safe, earthquake proof, and economically beneficial if locally produced. The document outlines different bamboo species and properties, traditional and modern bamboo architecture examples, and processes for selecting, harvesting, treating and working with bamboo for construction purposes. Design principles for bamboo structures are also presented.
2. why bamboo building? Sustainable?
• co2 sequestering
• reduction soil erosion
• temperature reduction
• water regulation
• (dry/wet seasons)
• fast growing time
• low use of nutrients
• low primary energy
Source:
Minke,
G.
(2012)
3. why bamboo building? Safe?
• earthquake proof
• build light
• relative high strengh
Source:
Minke,
G.
(2012)
4. why bamboo building? economic?
• low cost (if localy produced)
• creation of local jobs
• (extra) income for farmers
Source:
Kant,
Shashi,
and
Marian
Chiu,
2000
7. bamboo architecture
Simón Vélez
The ‘temporary’ Cathedral in structural bamboo (‘guadua’) at Pereira, Colombia, 1999Expo 2000 pavilion Hanover for the ZERI. First constructed in Colombia.
13. what is bamboo?
• main properties
• plant composition
• types of roots
• fibers
• where is bamboo?
• types of bamboo
• mechanical properties
• bamboo and wood
• uses of bamboo
15. plant composition
• three elements:
• nodes
• internodes
• wall
• fibres only in one direction
• light
• strongest natural fibre in
the world
• Silica in outer layer
(silicium dioxide)
Nelli Silva et al., 2006
Illustration: Sylvia Machgeels, BAMBÚ SOCIAL (2014)
16. a bamboo plant
reproduces by it’s
roots in 3 classes:
1. in a bunch
2. 1-3 meters seperated (guadua)
3. ‘runners’ – large seperations
types of roots
18. where is bamboo?
37 million hectares
Illustration: Sylvia Machgeels, BAMBÚ SOCIAL (2014)
19. types of bamboo
More than 1300 species
Illustration: Sylvia Machgeels, BAMBÚ SOCIAL (2014)
20. Guadua Angustifolia Kunth
Most used for construction in Colombia:
• The king of bamboo
• Thick walls, strong fibers
• Not very conical
• Protected by spines
• New shoots 3m from mother culm
• Flowering in Nicaragua
21. mechanical properties ‘Guadua’
PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
OF ‘GUADUA’
MINIMUM
VALUE
AVERAGE
VALUE
MAXIMUM
VALUE
Basic density outside [kg/m3] - 581 -
Density dried outside [kg/m3] - 522 -
Compression parallel to fibre [N/mm2] 20.7 43.9 83.7
Tension parallel to fibre [N/mm2] 35.2 53.5 170
Flexion [N/mm2] 4.9 37.5 110.5
Modulus of elasticity longtudinal compression
[N/mm2]
1080 2190 9080
For ‘Guadua’ a lot of information is available, but for th evast majority of bamboo species there is no systematic information available. We advise you to test the local bamboo specie.
23. bamboo and wood
vs
family: grass Wood (Oak)
fibres: 1 direction 2 directions
time to grow: 3-7 years 50 – 100 years
regeneration: grows itself back replant
24. bamboo and wood ‘shrinking’
Bamboo shrinks more then wood when it loses water. The canes
can tear apart the nodes. Bamboo shrinks in the cross section
ca. 10-16%. In the wall thickness ca. 15-17%. The longitudinal
shrinkage is much less.
source: www.bambusnewengreportsbuildingmaterialbuildingmaterial.html
25. the mystery of flowering
Small species: every 3-4 years
and they live after the flowering
Large species: every
20/30/80/120 years, all the
plants in a region flower
together and the culms die off
after the flowering. This is
called: ‘Gregorian Flowering’
71. references
Books/Articles/Reports:
• Guaduabamboo (2014). The reality about building with bamboo. http://www.guaduabamboo.com/blog/the-realityabout-building-with-bamboo.
• Jules Janssen, designing and building with bamboo: http://www.inbar.int/publications/?did=58
• Gaviria Moreno, J.C., et. al. (2015), BAMBÚ SOCIAL, un manual de construcción sostenible con bambú.
• Minke, G. (2012). Building with Bamboo: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture.
• van Lengen, J (1981). Barefoot Architect. Mexico.
• Liese et al. (2002). Preservation of bamboo for the construction of houses for low income people. Universität Hamburg, Duitsland.
• van der Lugt, P. (2003). Bamboe als alternatief bouwmateriaal in West-Europa?. Delft.
• Shortsighted Architecture (2013). Projectplan Shortsighted El Rama. Delft.
• Nienhuys, S. (2012). Thin Bamboo Culms or Trusses–Use of Two and Three Culms in Composite Beams.
• Kant, Shashi, and Marian Chiu. "Bamboo sector reforms and the local economy of Linan County, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China."Forest
Policy and Economics 1.3 (2000): 283-299
Websites:
• www.bambus-conbam.de
• www.abari.org
• www.bamboocentral.org
• www.inbar.int (free technical reports)
• www.guaduabamboo.com !
• www.bambus.rwth-aachen.de/eng/index.htm l
• www.tibarose.com
• www.pindorama.org