Bamboo as a sustainable building materia

1. BAMBOO AS
SUSTAINABLE
BUILDING
MATERIAL
By , S.DIVYA

3. INTRODUCTION
 Bamboo has a long and well-established
tradition as a building material through out
the world’s tropical and sub-tropical
regions.
 It is widely used for many forms of
construction.
 It is estimated that there are 1200 species
growing in about 14.5 million hectares
area. Most of them grow in Asia, Africa
and Latin America.
 Bamboo is the world’s fastest growing
woody plant. It grows approximately 7.5 to
40cm a day, with world record being 1.2m
in 24 hours in Japan. Bamboo grows three
times faster than most other species.
 Bamboo also excels in biomass
production.
 It has been used successfully to
rehabilitate soil ravage by brick making .
STRUCTURE
 Bamboo is primarily a type of giant grass with woody stems.
 The stems are called “shoots” when the plant is young and “culms”
when the plant is mature.
 Each bamboo plant consists of two parts – the “Culm”/stem that
grows above the ground and the underground “rhizome” that bears
the roots of the plant.
 “A single bamboo clump can produce up to 15 kilometers of usable
pole (up to 30 cm in diameter) in its lifetime.”

4. PROPERTIES OF BAMBOO
 Tensile strength
 Shrinking
 Fire resistance
 Strength Compressive
 Elastical modulus
 Flexural (bending) strength
 Shearing strength
WORKING OF BAMBOO
 Bamboo can be worked with the simplest tools which must
be especially sharp because of the highly silicified outer
zone. Tool wear is considerably high.
 Splitting: very easy as long as you work along the cane
axis. The cane is split in halves and quarters and the
driven apart by a wedge. It can also be split with a knife
frame into four or eight segments cutting with a machete-
type or knife used for cutting.
 Shaping: Bamboo which grows in a box gets a square
shape. So it can be better used for connections.
 Bending: Freshly cut, bamboo can be bent and will keep
this shape after drying. When heated above 150° C,
bamboo keeps its shape after it goes cold.

5. PRESERVATION AND TREATMENT
 As bamboo has less natural durability it requires chemical treatment for longer life.
 Bamboos have low natural durability (1 to 3 years) against attacks by fungi and insects.
 They are very difficult to be treated by normal preservative methods in dry condition since their outer and to some
extent inner membranes are impermeable to liquids.
 The treatment of bamboo is, therefore, best carried out in green conditions.
TYPES OF PREVENTION
 Coal Tar Creosote: This is a fraction of
coal tar distillate with a boiling point range
above 200°C and is widely used admixed
with fuel oil in the ratio of 50:50.
 • The fuel oil ensures stability to
creosote against evaporation and bleeding
from the treated bamboos.
 • Creosote has high performance; it is
non-corrosive and provides good protection
from termites.
 Boric Acid Borax: This has been used
successfully against lyctus borers. A
mixture of 2:5 percent of each is found
more suitable.
METHODS OF
TREATMENT
 • Surface Application: this
is done by brushing,
spraying or dipping of
timber in preservative
solution for the required
period.
 • Soaking process: the
debarked timber is
submerged in the
preservative solution for
sufficient period till the
desired absorption is
obtained.

6.  BAMBOO FOOTINGS For use as foundation, the bamboo poles are directly driven into
the ground. They have to, however, be pre-treated for protection from rot and fungi.
 BAMBOO TRUSSES For the spanning larger distances in public utility buildings like
schools, storage areas, commercial buildings, bamboo is utilized as a truss member.
Bamboo has a high strength /weight ratio and hence is a good alternative for roof
framing. Fig4: Bamboo Truss
 BAMBOO WALLS Bamboo walls are constructed by nailing a thin bamboo mat to
either sides of a braced timber frame. Fig4: Bamboo Walls
 BAMBOO SCAFFOLDING Since ancient times, bamboo poles have been tied together
and used as scaffolding. The properties of bamboo such as resilience, shape and
strength make it an ideal material for the purpose. The working platforms for masons
can also be built of bamboo. Fig5: Bamboo Scaffolding
 BAMBOO TILE ROOFING • This is the simplest form of bamboo roofing. The culms
are split into halves, the diaphragms scooped out and these run full length from eave
to ridge. • The first layer of bamboo splits are layed concave side up and the
second layer interlock over the first with convex side up. Though a very simple
method, it can be completely watertight. The minimum pitch of the roof should be
30°. Fig6: Bamboo Tile Roofing
 BAMBOO REINFORCEMENT Besides the use of bamboo as a building material, there
have been proposals to use bamboo as reinforcement in RC columns, beams and
slabs. One of the examples is a silo made of bamboo-reinforced concrete. This is the
avenue for further research in the process of combining the ancient of bamboo building
with modern materials like concrete.
USE OF BAMBOOO

7.  The Mivka hotel in Slovenia is another
example of a hotel and resort that is
completely made from bamboo
APPLICATIONS
The Tang Palace in Hangzhou is a
restaurant with interwoven bamboo
from the ceiling to the walls giving
making it another example of how
bamboo can be used for creating
great designs

8.  The Nato High
School in the
Philippines is
made from
bamboo and
was primarily
designed
keeping in mind
the strong
tropical winds
that sweep this
area of the
Philippines
 The Green School in Bali is
the school with no walls. It’s
one of the green schools in
the world where education is
taught in the laps of
environment.

9. Cafe in Vietnam
Iduku
Bamboo,Bamboo
Architecture’Bridg
e in Elora Hardy World Expo 2015 In Milan.

10. 10
Bamboo bridge in
the Amsterdam
Woods
Bamboo theatre
during the Festival
of Vision, Berlin,
2000
Bamboo
scaffolding at the
top of a new high-
rise building in
Hong kong

11.  Bamboo is an extremely strong natural fiber. The strongest part of a
bamboo stalk is its node, where branching occurs.
 Bamboo is an exceptionally versatilematerial. It is used in a myriad of ways
for building, such as for scaffolding, roofing, flooring, concrete
reinforcement, walls and piping. It may be used structurally and as a
decorative element.
 Bamboo is extremely flexible. During its growth, it may be trained to grow
in unconventional shapes. After harvest, it may be bent and utilized in
archways and other curved areas. It has a great capacity for shock
absorption, which makes it particularly useful in earthquake-prone areas.
 Bamboo is extremely lightweight as compared with hardwoods.
Consequently, building with bamboo can be accomplished faster than
building with other materials. Cranes and other heavy machinery are rarely
required.
 Bamboo is considered to be a sustainable and renewable alternative to
hardwoods, foremost because it regenerates at exceptionally fast rates.
 Bamboo is cost-effective. Transporting lightweight bamboo is less costly
than transporting its heavier alternatives.
 Construction using bamboo ordinarily does not require machinery and can
be accomplished with simple tools.
 Bamboo is as long-lasting as its wooden correlates, when properly
harvested and maintained.
ADVANTAGES OF BAMBOO

12.  Bamboo does not contain cross fibers and is, consequently, not designed to
bear weight width-wise, with the exception of the points at the nodes. Bamboo
is prone to splitting, especially when standard construction fasteners, such as
bolts, screws and nails, are inserted. Special fastening techniques are required
when joining pieces of bamboo.
 Bamboo does not lend itself to being painted because of its natural waxy
coating. Excessive dying or bleaching of bamboo may diminish its structural
integrity.
 Bamboo is prone to insect invasion, especially when not treated properly after
harvest. Hazardous pesticides are used on some bamboo, including DDT.
 Untreated bamboo is prone to breaking down if it comes in contact with excess
moisture.
 Bamboo that has been harvested prematurely cannot bear as much weight as
its more mature counterparts.
 Natural variations in species and handling mean that it may be difficult for
installers to accurately gauge the quality of bamboo material.
 Designing and constructing with bamboo requires a special skill set that the
average contractor may not possess.
DISADVANTAGES OF BAMBOO

13. INSPECTION
 Concrete should be regularly inspected for cracking when untreated bamboo has been used as
reinforcement. Bamboo can potentially absorb and release moisture from the concrete, causing it to
expand and contract, which could rupture the concrete.
 Bamboo should be inspected regularly for signs of insect and fungal infestation.
 Fresh, green bamboo should never be used for building, as this is a sign of underdevelopment and,
therefore, diminished strength. Only mature bamboo that is five to six years old should be used for
building. Mature bamboo typically has a light tan to brown coloring.
 Special attention should be paid to joints where nails have been used, since the nails may cause the
bamboo to split.
 Bamboo columns should always start and end with a node to ensure vertical strength. Bamboo poles
that do not are prone to cracking and splitting, which jeopardizes their load-bearing capability.
 Joints should be placed as close as possible to nodes. A brace should be installed in order to spread
out the load between the nodes when joining near a node is not possible.
 Only the straightest bamboo columns should be utilized to bear weight in a structure.
 Bamboo poles laid horizontally should not bear substantial weight.
 Bamboo surfaces should be kept as dry as possible to prolong their life expectancy.

14. ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY
 The most important quality of bamboo is its environmentally friendly quality.
 It is renewable and bamboo forests can be grown in a few years.
 Its naturally waxy surface does not require painting; making it safe from health hazards caused
by paints (they contain toxic substances).
 Bamboo can be smoked in its own resin making its surface impenetrable to insects thereby
protecting it from insect infestation.
 Bamboo can be grown in a variety of climates and houses made of bamboo do not require use
of other materials like concrete, steel etc.
 Pesticides and other chemicals need not be used while cultivating bamboo making it more eco
friendly.
 Pollution is also reduced with bamboo cultivation as the plants reduce upto 35% carbon di oxide
in the atmosphere and produce more oxygen.
 Studies have shown that of all the building materials that are used in construction bamboo is the
least hazardous in terms of waste as it can be recycled and does not have disposal problems.
 The roots in bamboo help control soil erosion as it creates a water barrier.
 Developing countries use bamboo to protect their crops and villages from washing away.
 Bamboo consumes high quantities of nitrogen and this can help reduce water pollution.
 Hence, it is good to grow bamboo alongside industrial areas where it converts waste water into
nutrients for its own growth. Bamboo is also known to desalinate sea water.

15. CONCLUSIONS
 Bamboo is lighter in weight than bird but is stronger than steel.
 It takes carbon dioxide in and releases 30% more oxygen than
tree.
 It grows a meter in one year and is mature in almost 3 years.
 Houses constructed using this bamboo are cool in summer and
stays warm in winter and more over it can withstand
earthquakes and can stand forever.
 The environmental and financial comparison demonstrates that
bamboo can compete with building material.
 Bamboo is a natural product and will therefore always have
some extent of irregularity.
 It is therefore suggested that the bamboo culm should be used
in functions were the measurement requirements are not entirely
precise or fixed, as in temporary buildings (e.g., pavilions and
tents) or small civil projects.
 Furthermore, bamboo can play a role as a nonsupporting or
finishing material.

16. CASE STUDY

17.  Architects : Manasaram Architects
 Location : Venkateshpura, 1st Stage, HBR Layout,
Bengaluru, Karnataka 560084, India
 Architect in Charge : Neelam Manjunath
 Area : 210.0 sqm
The Bamboo Symphony, Bangalore,
Manasaram Architects

18.  Bamboo Symphony is the office of
Manasaram Architects. Hence, the basic
requirement of the Project was to embody
all their Design and other Philosophies in
the building along with other requirements
of Space and Services.
 The office was built adjacent to the
principal architect’s residence on a very
tight budget.
 All the waste wood, bamboo, stone
boulders and debris from house
construction and mud were used with
Bamboo as the main construction material
in the most innovative manner. The office
is a Zero Energy Development, with closed
loop systems for Building materials,
Processes and Technologies.
INTRODUCTION

19. Architecture

23. STRUCTURE
 The project is a result of intense 2 years of research project, resulting in a
Bamboo reinforced slab supported on round bamboo columns and beams, in
an economic and innovative manner. A light structure supporting a heavy roof!
The use of bamboo fibre reinforced concrete was a novelty as an experiment
which rendered positive results.
 The columns in Bamboo Symphony though look haphazardly placed, have
definite size ,position and inclinations i.e. they are 100% structurally relevant,
just like the highly evolved technological logic we find in nature.
 The inclinations in the column members utilize the inherent tensile strength of
bamboo.
 The unique roof is a Bamboo Reinforced Slab with Bamboo fibre reinforced
concrete (BFRC) (Chicken mesh + Bamboo split mat at 150mm c/c + 6 mm
reinforcement bars at 300mm c/c + Water proofing layer). Appropriate amount
of Bamboo fibres was mixed in concrete for better bonding and reducing
surface cracks. This also reduced the weight of the slab while maintaining the
effective depth and increased its structural integrity and tensile strength many
times.
 They allowed the roof to define its own shape as per the flow of the forces
naturally, like a stretched fabric over the supports. The freeform shell roof gets
its shape by the neutralization of forces within the slab, so it poses fewer
complexities, with efficient use of materials. Roof was allowed to take a natural
shape over the bamboo supports – no formwork used for shaping the roof.

24. CONSTRUCTION
 Construction was carried out by unskilled workers, with labour training
given during construction.
 Use of locally available materials for construction: Bamboo from local
bamboo market, Mud excavated from the site, locally available stone for
masonry walls and recycled materials namely Fly ash, recycled wood,
scraps metal, stone, debris, plastic bottles, PVC pipes has proved quite
cost effective.
 Recycled doors were used from the old office building.
 The Windows are made from Mild steel sections.
 Flooring:
 Combination of Yellow oxide and terrazzo with bamboo rings and
waste marble pieces has been used in most of the places.
 Conference hall has Bamboo flooring.
 Finishes:
 Lime wash for Mud block walls
 Touchwood coating for Bamboos
 Silicon Waterproof coating for Stone masonry and interior of
bathroom and pantry walls

25. SUSTAINABLE FEATURES
 Building orientation and roof form allow for strong North-East and South-West
winds to blow over the structure, without any strong drafts inside the building
despite it being FULLY open on the South side. Thus the building interiors
remain comfortable at all times during the year.
 Natural Ventilation: 100% Night Time Ventilation.
 Natural Thermal transmission of building envelope: High Utilization of building
mass as thermal storage as part of heat strategy achieved via passive cooling.
 Solar energy System: Envisaged for 100% energy requirement with grid
connectivity as stand by eventually.
 Day Lighting: All areas are naturally lit during normal office hours all through the
year. We have introduced light pipes made from 6"PVC plumbing pipes in the
slab for areas deeper than 3m for natural Light. All light Fixtures are made from
waste Bamboo sticks, splits, butter sheets and polycarbonate pieces. Garden
lights Bollards are made of waste pet bottles and Bamboos with LEDs.
 Water Efficiency: Special water conserving installation: water conserving
fixtures, recycling and treatment treated water for flushing, washing, gardening
etc.
 Rainwater Harvesting System: Extensive with 50,000 liters capacity RW
harvesting pond landscaped with a rich variety of locally available water plants
and lilies. The overflow goes to the recharge well of the Bore well. All water
bodies and features created from collected rain water or Recycled water.

26. BAMBOO –THE-FUTURE BUILDING MATERIAL
 The engineering qualities of Bamboo and its intrinsic structure
anticipate the principles of many high-tech materials, making it
economically efficient, with its attractive appearance an added
bonus.
 Since tensegrity and synergetic structures require light and highly
tensile basic elements, Bamboo was used as the main material in
this building.
 Bamboo Reinforced Concrete, with bamboo fibers, (BFRC) –
bamboo splits as reinforcement, and bamboo fibers added to
concrete to reduce weight, improve bonding (thus preventing
shrinkage cracks) and thermal insulation.
 Apart from Bamboo, Stabilized Earth Blocks, Stabilized mud plaster,
Stone, Stone dust, Waste and Recycled materials were used in the
construction. The interplay of these natural materials along with the
water bodies resulted in a harmonious structure that connects to the
natural elements, ie the Panchmahabhutas.

27. THANK YOU