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.

1. bamboo construction
practical experience with natural buidling
Juan Carlos Gaviria Moreno & Max Verhoeven

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

5. bamboo architecture
traditional

6. bamboo architecture
traditional

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.

8. bamboo architecture
24H – architecture
24H-architecture, Bamboo Manta Ray, Koh Kood, Thailand

9. bamboo architecture
24H – architecture
24H-architecture, Bamboo Manta Ray, Koh Kood, Thailand

10. bamboo architecture
Agora Architects
Temporary dormitories for Mae Tao Clinic, Mae Sot, Thailand

11. bamboo architecture
Andrea Fitrianto
Andrea Fitrianto

12. bamboo architecture
BAMBÚ SOCIAL

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

14. main properties
• grass
• grows appr. 60 cm/day
• more than 1300 spices
Source:
McClure,
1966

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

17. fibres
1 year old 12 years old

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.

22. safety of bamboo
Illustration: Sylvia Machgeels, BAMBÚ SOCIAL (2014)

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’

26. uses of bamboo
Illustration: Sylvia Machgeels, BAMBÚ SOCIAL (2014)

27. Before building
• is (the right) bamboo available locally?
• is the bamboo accessable?
• facilities for a method of treatment.

28. Before building
• Selection of species
• Planting and harvesting (startup 7 yrs)
• Cutting (when and how)
• Treatment (natural/chemical)
• Dry (2-3 months)
• Processing (f.e. laminated bamboo)

29. selecting bamboo

30. which bamboo to choose?

31. cutting bamboo

32. cutting bamboo
wrong right

33. cleaning bamboo

34. treating bamboo

35. drying bamboo
Image right: 24H architecture

36. processing bamboo

37. Building with bamboo
• Principles
• design principles
• gathering information
• location
• fundation
• columns
• prefabricated elements
• assemblage
• details
• finishing

38. design with bamboo
like a mexican to protect
the bamboo from:
• rain
• sun
• termites
Illustration: Sylvia Machgeels, BAMBÚ SOCIAL (2014)

39. no hat nor boots

40. gathering information

41. design

42. location

43. foundation details

44. foundation

45. foundation

46. columns

47. columns

48. prefabricated elements

49. prefabricated elements

50. assemblage

51. assemblage

52. connections

53. details

54. details

55. details

56. details

57. details

58. the roof

59. the roof

60. the roof

61. finishing

62. finishing

63. finishing

64. finishing

65. end results

66. end results

68. thank you

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

72. architects
Simón Vélez
24H-architecture
Gernot Minke
Shigeru Ban
TYIN tegnestue Architects
Agora Architects
Ibuku
Vo Trong Nghia Architects