GREEN VANCOUVE R
BAMBOO
As we settle into the 21st century it becomes
number of popular labels are looking to use
clear that the global priority for this new mil-
bamboo as a cheaper, more energy efficient
lennium is to try to undo the damage done
and cleaner alternative to cotton.
by centuries of excess burning of fossil fuels,
looking to China when it comes to other uses
ever growing population that demand an ever
of bamboo – specifically architecture – and
increasing quality of life the pressure put on
about time too. China has been using this
the depleting natural resources only grows,
natural building material for centuries and
so as the world looks towards renewable
many buildings in southern China are con-
energy, sustainable produce and environmen-
structed entirely of bamboo. The hard thick
tally sounds materials they look to China – as
bamboo poles can still be seen being on con-
there is one product that ticks all of these
struction sites across the metropolitan capi-
boxes and a lot more, and China has been
tals of Shanghai and Guangzhou being used
using it for thousands of years. Bamboo.
as scaffolding – and with a tensile strength of
Bamboo is actually a grass that grows
BAMBOO As the world looks for answers to climate change, an ancient material offers a new road ahead for the 21st century. Long revered in Asia for its beauty and symbolic values of relief and healing, innovators worldwide are now putting bamboo to the test within construction and design. By Tom Pattinson
28,000 pounds per square inch compared to
at up to 1.5 meters per day and unlike trees,
the 23,000 pounds per square inch of steel,
they can be repeatedly harvested. Bamboo
it’s much safer than it looks.
produces 30 percent more oxygen than most
Whilst China has been creating buildings
trees yet take only five years to grow to matu-
with bamboo for centuries it was at the
rity rather than the 50 it takes for hardwoods
Hannover World Fair of 2000 that brought
to grow. Also because they don’t die when
bamboo into the conscience of the internatio-
harvested, there are none of the soil erosion
nal design community. Columbian architect
problems associated with tree farming – and
Simón Vélez constructed one of the largest
bamboo actively removes toxins from the soil.
buildings ever made entirely of bamboo at
Some scientists have gone so far as to argue
the fair (pictured) and he, along with friend
that if bamboo was planted globally en-masse
and fellow architect Darrel DeBoer, have
then the effects of global warming would be
gone on to be become some of the foremost
reversed in just six years. As well as being the
experts in bamboo construction. DeBoer who
fastest growing, highest oxygen producing
is currently writing a book “Bamboo Building
natural material in the world, the 1,500 types
Essentials: The 12 Basic Principles” has wor-
of bamboo are unparalleled in their versati-
ked with bamboo for decades and with other
lity.Pandas aren’t the only ones whose diet
experts such as Velez and Marcelo Villegas
is made up of bamboo shoots. In China, and
continues to discover new treatments and
many other areas of Asia, almost every part
innovative methods to make building with
of the grass is used either in the cooking pro-
bamboo easier and more cost effective.
cess or for actually eating. The crunchy white
“[Bamboo is] something that grows four
roots are thrown into many stir fried dishes,
feet in a day, has more strength than steel
the large leaves are used when making the
(pound for pound) and can grow in a small
traditional festival treats the zongzi and the
enough area that a local builder can essen-
large hollow tubes are filled with rice and
tially own a hardware store in his back yard,”
steamed in many areas of south west China.
says DeBoer. “No other material can compete
As well as on the plate, bamboo has for
with its ability to benefit local people by pro-
centuries been used for clothing. The silky
viding a livelihood not beholden to anyone,”
fibers are antibacterial, hypoallergenic, mois-
says DeBoer.
ture wicking and highly absorbent as well
DeBoer goes on to say that the world’s
as being powerfully insulating and naturally
most common bamboo (bambusa vulagaris
UV protecting – the perfect material for use
vittata) is terrible to build with. “It has bad
in warm subtropical environments. But what
fiber structure and high sugar content but all
was once the preserve of rural farm workers
the local people built with it when they were
or Western Earth Mothers has, in recent years
kids and had bad experiences, so they think
hit the high streets. JUZD is one of the first
all bamboo is bad.” However the correct type
designer fashion labels to exclusively use
of bamboo, used properly and treated in the
bamboo fibers in its clothing. Founded in
correct way, by any criteria, DeBoer argues,
2007 by Guangzhou-born Jing Liu the Cana-
“there is no better structural building mate-
dian brand is now worn by celebrities such as
rial.”
Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas. An increasingly
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However the 21st century planet is also
over farming and forest depletion. With an
After China’s most devastating eart
Bamboosk8 skateboard deck developed using a patent-protected process of intense pressure to create responsive, resilient, splinterfree skateboards.
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