7 replies to this topic

[FamilyTreeClimber]

Bali is replacing concrete and steel constructed buildings with bamboo.  They say bamboo is a far more sustainable material to build with.  Homes, schools, and businesses are being built out of the easy to grow material.

Some of the photos in this article remind me of those toothpick sculptures we used to do in elementary school.

http://phys.org/news...een-bamboo.html

I wonder how bamboo holds up in extreme weather like rain and wind.

Do you think bamboo is a good material to build with?

[still learning]

FamilyTreeClimber, on 12 June 2012 - 05:58 PM, said:

http://phys.org/news...een-bamboo.html
I wonder how bamboo holds up in extreme weather like rain and wind.

Quotng from the article you linked to:
"Without intensive treatment, it is prone to rotting after exposure to water. It also catches fire relatively easily, which is why many countries limit bamboo structures to just a few storeys."

Bamboo is a traditionally used material in tropical countries, can be really useful stuff.  Not all bamboo is the same though, stuff I've seen growing in the nontropical US doesn't seem durable or strong enough to be useful.

What works well as a building material in Bali, in the tropics, might not work well in a temperate climate.

[FamilyTreeClimber]

I wondered if bamboo might be suited to certain regions.  Seeing that it is susceptible to rotting from water doesn't make it seem like it would be a good material for Bali, does it?  Don't they have problems with flooding?

[zararina]

There are some houses here that uses bamboo as its main material but it's quite new to me that it can be used for buildings.
And based on the photos in the link, lots of bamboos are to be used and there is/are proper techniques how it should be done to  make it really strong for the structure. And limited only to few stories,

[joeldgreat]

I don't think it can be used as building materials. Bamboo is easily damaged when exposed to harsh weather especially with water. I've seen bamboo structured house easily broken weathered and even damaged by termites. I would prefer it to be used as materials for home decorations.

[FamilyTreeClimber]

If you look at the photos in the articles, they have built some formidable buildings.  It makes me wonder if bamboo is so easily rotted and destroyed are they treating the bamboo with something that makes it a much sturdier material?

[Shortpoet-GTD]

In many areas of the world, it gives people shelter when nothing else is available either from being cost
prohibitive, shipping issues, construction expertise-etc.
http://worldbamboo.n...evolves-update/

[meowcow]

It is a good material to build with, but I think it is very limited in terms of application. If it were as good as concrete, then all buildings will be made with bamboo. It just isn't that feasible for an industrial fast paced world. Personally, I also find it not as aesthetically pleasing as structures built with different materials. It was still a very interesting read though and I thank you for sharing it with us. :) Good day!