Bamboo: The Material of Sustainability, Resilience and Philosophy

By Carroll Luk

In this age of rapid development, sustainability has risen to become one of the major concerns of humanity, and it is no exception for architecture. So how may we find a resilient, economical, aesthetic and sustainable method of construction in response to the fast-growing population? Bamboo provides a 9500-year-old answer to this, with the first known construction using bamboo found in Africa.

The Arc by Ibuku

Bamboo’s fast-growing property and tolerance for marginal land allows it to become one of the candidates in our search for a solution to afforestation, carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. In addition to its extraordinary oxygen production and carbon absorption qualities as a plant, the entire process of planting and harvesting bamboo involves no chemical pesticides, appearing to be the perfect material for architecture that aims to foster a healthy and sustainable lifestyle for the user. With a high strength-to-weight ratio, densified bamboo is a building material that offers a 100% eco-friendly solution to architectural materialism by having good dimensional stability as well as excellent mechanical and service properties: water-proof and fire-proof while maintaining its strength. Processed bamboo therefore offers a renewable, and resilient option for construction. In 2018, following the earthquake strike in Lombok, Indonesia, a group of architects and engineers produced a quake-resilient housing solution by the use of strengthened bamboo as a measure for rebuilding the region after the disaster.

The Hardelot Theatre by Studio Andrew Todd

Apart from its benefits in both the physical and sustainable aspects of architecture, bamboo is also a material consisting of aesthetic and philosophical qualities. Similar to timber and other types of wood, bamboo allows for architecture to blend in with nature while intrinsically adding texture and layering to the appearance of the building. Uniform or organic, bamboo is capable of providing an alternate choice for diverse architectural designs. Moreover, the philosophical and metaphorical elements embedded in bamboo structures serve as a teaching in life. From finding wisdom in emptiness to being flexible yet firmly rooted, bamboo is an analogy to life in Chinese and Japanese cultures. There is so much that we can learn from the mesmerising plant.

The ZCB Bamboo Pavilion by Prof. Kristof Crolla and Prof. Adam Fingrut

In Hong Kong, the construction industry recognizes the benefits of bamboo by using it as a primary scaffolding material for architectural projects, where workers perform at mile-high bamboo structures around the city. Architect Kengo Kuma describes bamboo as the ‘material of the future’, where he advocated the use of bamboo in his project for the London Design Festival 2019, where he successfully combined bamboo with carbon fibre for creating a highly durable and self-supporting artwork. The Arch by Ibuku and the Hardelot Theatre by Studio Andrew Todd are other of many examples relating to the successful usage of bamboo in architectural projects.

Great (Bamboo) Wall by Kengo Kuma

Urban Park Micro Renovation by Atelier cnS and the School of Architecture at South China University of Technology

“Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind,” as martial artist, producer and philosopher Bruce Lee describes his appreciation for bamboo. Bamboo, as a symbol of strength, flexibility and health, withholds philosophical significance while acting as a versatile, sustainable and aesthetic construction material loved by many architects in the world.

References: