Bamboo is an evergreen, perennial plant in the grass family with significant economic and cultural importance in Asia, valued for its strength and versatility as a construction material. It requires careful preservation and skilled construction techniques due to its susceptibility to moisture and pests, making various joint methods and processing techniques crucial for effective use. Bamboo scaffolding has been historically important in construction, with multiple benefits over traditional materials including strength, sustainability, and lower environmental impact.

1. BBAMBOO

2. INTRODUCTION
• THE BAMBOOS ARE EVERGREEN PERENNIAL FLOWERING PLANTS IN THE SUBFAMILY OF
GRASS FAMILY POACEAE. IN BAMBOO, AS IN OTHER GRASSES, THE INTERNODAL REGIONS OF
THE STEM ARE USUALLY HOLLOW AND THE VASCULAR BUNDLES IN THE CROSS SECTION ARE
SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE STEM INSTEAD OF IN A CYLINDRICAL ARRANGEMENT.
• GIANT BAMBOOS ARE THE LARGEST MEMBERS OF THE GRASS FAMILY. BAMBOOS ARE OF
NOTABLE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE IN SOUTH ASIA, SOUTHEAST ASIA AND
EAST ASIA, BEING USED FOR BUILDING MATERIALS, AS A FOOD SOURCE, AND AS A VERSATILE
RAW PRODUCT. BAMBOO HAS A HIGHER SPECIFIC COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH THAN WOOD,
BRICK, OR CONCRETE AND A SPECIFIC TENSILE STRENGTH THAT RIVALS STEEL.

3. BAMBOO PRESERVATION
NEED : DUE TO MOISTURE CONTENT, BAMBOO RISKS INSECT ATTACK.
METHODS OF PRESERVATION ARE CLASSIFIED AS :
PASSIVE METHODS
A. LIFTING UP OF BAMBOO PILES AND AIR-DRYING THEM
ACTIVE METHODS
A. SMOKING
B. HEATING/BOILING
C. IMMERSING IN RUNNING WATER STREAMS
D. COATING WITH CHEMICALS (BORAX)

5. JOINT BY TIDING
THE TRADITIONAL METHODS OF LASHING BAMBOO TOGETHER IS NOT
EFFECTIVE AS A LITTLE PREDICTABILITY IN THE CONNECTION FOR THE
QUALITY IS HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON THE LABORER AND QUALITY
CONTROL IS DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN.
THESE LASHED CONNECTIONS ALSO DON’T FULLY UTILIZE THE FULL
STRENGTH OF BAMBOO MEMBER., BECAUSE THEY RELY SOLELY ON
FRICTION.
BOLTED JOINT:
THE BOLTED CONNECTION CREATED BY SHOEI YOH. THESE
CONNECTIONS SOLVE THE ISSUES OF COMPLEX GEOMETRIES BY
JOINING THE MEMBERS AT A CENTRAL HUB.
THESE CONNECTIONS REQUIRE PUNCTURE OF THE BAMBOO WALLS.
SINCE ALL FIBERS IN A BAMBOO CULM RUN PARALLEL ONCE A BOLT IS
PLACED THROUGH IT AND THE CONNECTION LOADED IN TENSION,
THE BOLT ACTS LIKE A WEDGE AND SPLITS THE BAMBOO. ALSO THE
PUNCTURE ALLOWS MOISTURE TO ENTER THE CULM AND
ACCELERATE DECAY.

6. STEEL WIRE CONNECTION:
A CONNECTION HAS BEEN USED BY SIMÓN VELEZ. THIS CONNECTION
REQUIRES FILLING SEVERAL HOLLOW CELLS OF THE BAMBOO WITH
CONCRETE AND EMBEDDING A THREADED ROD .
WITH THIS CONNECTION VELEZ HAS OBTAINED SPANS UP TO 30 METERS IN
SOME OF HIS STRUCTURES .
THIS REQUIRES A HIGH DEGREE OF SKILLED LABOR THROUGHOUT THE
BUILDING OF THE TRUSSES, THUS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO UTILIZE LOCAL
LABOR ON PROJECTS IN REMOTE VILLAGES.
SPLICED JOINT:
TWO CULMS ARE JOINED IN A LOINE TO FORM LONGER MEMBERS. SPLICING
IS USUALLY CARRIED OUT IN ONE OF TWO WAYS:
• FULL LAPPING
• HALF LAPPING

7. CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE
SPLITTING - BAMBOO IS GENERALLY SPLIT INTO HALVES, QUARTERS OR ‘8-PARTS’.
SHAPING - BAMBOO TAKES THE SHAPE OF THE FRAME IT IS GROWN IN.
BENDING - BAMBOO BENDS AT 150°C AND RETAINS ITS SHAPE AND TOUGHNESS AFTER
COOLING.

9. FOUNDATION
REINFORCEMENT
WALLS
COLUMNS
BEAMS
ROOFS
INTERIORS & EXTERIOR
SCAFFOLDINGS
EXAMPLES

12. CONSTRUCTION
Treated split
bamboo strips
Coconut coir
strands wrapped
with jute
75-80mm
diameter
35-40mm
GI wire
6mm diameter holes
Piles at 2m spacingUSES

13. Treated split
bamboo strips
Coconut coir
strands
wrapped with
jute
75-80mm
diameter
35-40mm
GI wire
6mm diameter holes

15. REINFORCED CONCRETE REINFORCED WALL
REINFORCED COUNTER SLAB(KITCHEN) REINFORCED SLAB

19. BAMBOO COLUMN
PREFABRICATED COLUMN LEAN ON TRUSS
BAMBOO COLUMN SIMPLE BAMBOO STRUCTURE

21. PREFABRICATED BEAM
BAMBOO BEAM
PROCESSED BAMBOO BEAM AND I SECTION BAMBOO REINFORCED BEAM

23. BAMBOO TRUSSED ROOF HAND-WOVEN ROOF
SLICED BAMBOO ROOF MODERN PROCESSED BAMBOO ROOF

25. BOILING PROCESS:
THIS PROCESS REMOVES SUGARS AND
STARCHES FROM THE BAMBOO STRIPS.
IT REDUCES THE BAMBOO’S APPEAL TO
TERMITES AND MAKES THE MATERIAL
LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXPANSION AND
CONTRACTION FROM MOISTURE
CHANGES.
No starch = no food for termites
Prevents expansion and contraction from
humidity
CARBONISATION:
ONCE BOILED, THE BAMBOO CAN
BE DARKENED VIA A STEAM
PRESSURED CARBONIZATION
PROCESS.
NOTE:
SKIPPING THIS STEP MEANS THE BAMBOO RETAINS ITS
NATURAL COLOR OR CAN BE STAINED.

26. KILN DRYING:
BAMBOO STRIPS ARE INSPECTED FOR
QUALITY AND THEN KILN DRIED TO
REMOVE MOISTURE.
MANUFACTURING:
THE DRIED STRIPS ARE THEN GLUED TOGETHER
INTO ONE OF THREE STYLES.
HORIZONTAL PLANKS:
MADE BY GLUING THE WIDER
SURFACES TOGETHER FACE UP.
VERTICAL PLANKS:
THE NARROW EDGES OF
SEVERAL STRIPS OF BAMBOO
ARE GLUED.
STRAND WOVEN:
BAMBOO FIBER
REMNANTS ARE
INTRICATELY WOVEN AND
COMPRESSED TOGETHER.

27. FINISHING:
PLANKS ARE MILLED WITH A
TONGUE AND GROOVE
INSTALLATION SYSTEM FOR A
FLAT SURFACE AND A SNUG FIT. A
CLEAR COATING OF ALUMINUM
OXIDE IS APPLIED FOR MORE
PROTECTION AGAINST WEAR AND
DAMAGE.

29. TABLE AND CHAIRS CHANDELIER BED
STACKED BED STAIRS

30. FENCE GATE SWING
GAZEBOSWING CHAIR

32. • SCAFFOLDING, ALSO CALLED SCAFFOLD OR
STAGING, IS A TEMPORARY STRUCTURE USED TO
SUPPORT A WORK CREW AND MATERIALS TO AID IN
THE CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR
OF BUILDINGS, BRIDGES AND ALL OTHER MAN
MADE STRUCTURES. SCAFFOLDING IS ALSO USED
IN ADAPTED FORMS FOR FORMWORK AND
SHORING, GRANDSTAND SEATING, CONCERT
STAGES, ACCESS/VIEWING TOWERS, EXHIBITION
STANDS, SKI RAMPS, HALF PIPES AND ART
PROJECTS.
SCAFFOLDING
SCAFFOLDING
• BAMBOO SCAFFOLDING IS A TYPE
OF SCAFFOLDING MADE FROM BAMBOO AND
WIDELY USED IN CONSTRUCTION WORK FOR
CENTURIES. MANY FAMOUS LANDMARKS,
NOTABLY THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA, WERE
BUILT USING BAMBOO SCAFFOLDING
BAMBOO SCAFFOLDING

33. DOUBLE-LAYERED BAMBOO
SCAFFOLDS
INNER LAYER
OUTER LAYER
TRUSS-OUT BAMBOO
SCAFFOLDS

35. COMPARISONS
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
CONVENTIONAL
CONCRETE
BAMBOO REINFORCED
CONCRETE
COST
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
RATE/SQ.FT.
CONCRETE
BAMBOO
ENERGY CONSUMPTION DURING
CONSTRUCTION
0
2
4
6
8
10
CONCRETE WOOD BAMBOO

36. BAMBOO WOOD
AS STRONG AS MILD STEEL
WITH THE COMPRESSION
STRENGTH OF CONCRETE.1
INCH OF BAMBOO CAN HOLD
UP TO 7.5 TONS OF WEIGHT.
SOFTWOODS CANT MATCH
BAMBOO’S COMPRESSION AND
TENSILE STRENGTH.
TERMITES REFUSE TO EAT
EVEN UNTREATED BAMBOO.
TERMITES CONTINUE TO CAUSE
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO WOOD
HOMES REQUIRING CONTINUED
TREATMENT WITH CHEMICALS.
BAMBOO BENDS INSTEAD OF
BREAKING.
CRACKS ARE DEVELOPED.
BAMBOO CAN BE HARVESTED
EVERY 3-6 YEARS.
A TREE I REQUIRED TO BE
PROCESSED AFTER AT LEAST 30
YEARS.

38. TENSILE STRENGTH OF BAMBOO > TENSILE
STRENGTH OF STEEL – MAKES BAMBOO DURABLE.
ELASTICITY – MAKES IT RESISTANT TO
EARTHQUAKES.
HARVESTED WITHIN 4 YEARS.
EASY TO CLEAN.
THE NATURAL SURFACE OF THE BAMBOO IS
SMOOTH, CLEAN, WITH AN ATTRACTIVE COLOR
WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE PAINTING, SCRAPING
OR POLISHING.

39. LIGHTWEIGHT – MAKES IT EASY TO LIFT, STORE
AND/OR TRANSPORT.
BAMBOO IS NON-POLLUTING AND DOES NOT HAVE
CRUSTS OR PARTS THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED
WASTE
THE COMPOSITION OF THE FIBERS IN THE WALLS OF
THE BAMBOO ALLOWS IT TO BE CUT LENGTH-WISE
OR CROSS CUT IN PIECES OF ANY LENGTH,
USING SIMPLE MANUAL TOOLS LIKE THE MACHETE.

41. ONCE CUT,INSECTS MAY ATTACK BAMBOO.
ONCE CUT GO IMMEDIATELY THROUGH A
SPECIAL IMMUNISATION AND DRYING PROCESS.
BAMBOO IN PERMANENT CONTACT WITH SOIL.
FOR THAT REASON, WE DISCOURAGE BAMBOO
AND SOIL CONTACT.
BAMBOO IS FLAMMABLE. BAMBOO CAN BE
TREATED WITH A FIRE-RESISTANT SUBSTANCE.
BAMBOO DOES NOT HAVE AN EQUAL
DIAMETER OVER ALL ITS LENGTH. THE THICKNESS
OF THE INTERNAL WALLS ALSO VARIES.

42. THE DIAMETER OF THE
BAMBOO DIMINISHES WHEN DRYING. IF NOT DRIED
COMPLETELY IN ADVANCE OF CONSTRUCTION, THIS
HAS IMPLICATIONS.
QUALITY BAMBOO CONSTRUCTION REQUIRES
SPECIAL TECHNIQUES FOR JOINTS AND TERMINALS.
INEXPERIENCED BUILDERS ATTEMPT TO DRIVE
NAILS INTO BAMBOO WHICH COULD RESULT IN
SPLITTING THE BAMBOO. EXPERIENCED BUILDERS
USE FINE NAILS THAT DO NOT SPLIT BAMBOO.
WHEN USING THICK NAILS, SIMPLE PRE-DRILLING
PREVENTS
FOR FLOORING PURPOSES, THE PULP IS TREATED
WITH CYANIDE COMPOUNDS, WHOSE ECOLOGICAL
IMPACT IS MUCH WORSE THAN TREATING SIMPLE
WOOD

44. BAMBOO FLOORING
RS 350 / sq. ft RS 90/sq. ft RS 300/sq. ft
BAMBOO ROOF BAMBOO DECKING
RS 190/Sq. Ft RS 4,500 / Piece
WOODEN WALL PANEL
RS 500 / sq. ft

45. ASSAM BAMBOO
RS 18 / PIECE
BAMBOO STICKS
RS 105 / KILOGRAM
CONSTRUCTION BAMBOO POLES
RS 90/Sq. Ft
BAMBOO FURNITURE
RS 7,700 / PIECE RS 3,200/PIECE
BAMBOO MATS
RS 300/PIECE

48. IBUKU

49. iIBUKU
NIGHT VIEW
BEDROOM
STAIRCASE
KITCHEN
LOUNGE

50. BAMBOO BLOSSOM GATE MIMICS CHINESE
CALLIGRAPHY BRUSH STROKES IN HUBEI

51. cCONCEPT

52. BBLOSSOM
GATE
MODEL
GATHERING AREA
FRONT
TRUSSES
RENDERED VIEW