SUPPORTIVE BAMBOO

Bamboo is becoming more popular as a building material but it has primarily been applied to interior applications and not structural in the United States.039 Structures in other countries such as the Haus Tambaran or “Spirit House,” Vernacular Dwellings, and Yam Houses in New Guinea make use of bamboo as a structural element, in addition to local wood and other grasses. This strategy has been used for generations and takes full advantage of the strong, flexible, and fast growing material. In addition to structural uses, bamboo is also stripped and woven to create semi-permeable cladding for many structures.040 Implementation of bamboo as a structural material in the United States does have many opportunities, however it is combated by building codes with specific insulation requirements.041 To employ this strategy in the United States, bamboo should be used to create outdoor shelters. The flexibility of the material allows many forms and shapes to be achieved while also developing ample shade for various activities. However, one of the primary issues with bamboo’s use in the U.S. is the embodied carbon from transportation. One may wonder if bamboo agriculture is a feasible industry in the United States, or if rivercane can be used in a similar manner that employed by Foundational Strategies. 021 | Spirit House, Papua New Guinea