Summary Reader Response Draft 4: Building with Bamboo

 

In the article, “An Architect’s Guide to Building with Bamboo”, Vadot (n.d) develops the idea of using bamboo as a sustainable material for the future of construction. He mentions that bamboo can mature fast with little maintenance and is being harvested in various places around the world. Being a lightweight material, bamboo is available at a low cost in these areas and is easy to transport. He also notes that while bamboo is often referred to as an alternative for steel, it is quite fragile and requires treatment and protection from various natural circumstances. He concludes that it is hard to normalise bamboo as construction material as it is impossible to classify the 1,200 species under a standardised civil building code. However, standards have been made locally in Colombia. While Vadot (n.d) mentions the advantages of using bamboo, he fails to elaborate sufficiently about the disadvantages. 

Firstly, Vadot (n.d) only briefly mentions that bamboo requires treatment and protection from various "natural circumstances". He fails to elaborate on the kind of natural circumstances and how it affects the use of bamboo. Elemental Green (n.d) mentions that bamboo is highly susceptible to deterioration. If harvested bamboo is not cut, treated and stored properly, insects, fungus, rot and flame can easily take advantage of it due to its high starch content. Some manufacturers treat it using harmful chemicals like formaldehyde and arsenic even though there are other natural ways such as air drying and heating. Jasondreamwork (2016) further adds on by stating that the lifespan of bamboo can be increase by treating it. This allows it to be resistant to fungi, bacteria and insect attacks. Vadot (n.d) should have specify more on the treatment process of bamboo and how it protects it from “natural circumstances”

Secondly, Vadot (n.d) indicates that bamboo can be grown from various places around the world. He fails to specify on how only bamboo that is grown in specific places and conditions has the strength relative to steel. Lara and Espinosa (2019) stated that bamboo structural behavior varies depending on the place where it is planted and its growing conditions. Elemental Green (n.d) further elaborates on the issue and how the transportation of bamboo becomes a concern. He noted that only bamboo that is grown in places with favorable conditions has the same strength as steel. Bamboo would have to be imported to countries such as the United Stated, which do not meet the required conditions. This leads to the problem of tarnishing bamboo’s eco cred as fossil fuels are burned in the process of transporting it to those countries. However, Minke (2012) explains that only a small amount of energy is required to transport bamboo using a boat as it is a lightweight material. Vadot (n.d) should have emphasised on how the growth condition of the bamboo can affects its quality.

Thirdly, Vadot (n.d) does not elaborate sufficiently when he mentions that it is hard to normalise bamboo as a construction material. Lara and Espinosa (2019) indicated that there is no uniform or extended legislation for bamboo universally. This poses a challenge for the local construction authority in obtaining the permits and structural calculations. Elemental Green (n.d) further adds that since there are very few regulations for bamboo, the quality of it may not be easily differentiated. The longevity and quality of the bamboo structure is affected as there is insufficient data on it as a construction material. Vadot (n.d) should have explained why it was hard to normalise bamboo as a construction material.

Even though there are many advantages to using bamboo as a construction material, there are disadvantages as well. Vadot (n.d) should have stated and elaborated on both the advantages and disadvantages sufficiently so that readers are able to weigh the pros and cons before considering whether bamboo is suitable or not for construction.


References:
Elemental Green. (n.d). The Pros and Cons of Bamboo in Green Building. 
https://elemental.green/the-pros-and-cons-of-bamboo-in-green-building/ 

Jasondreamwork. (2016, May 21). Disadvantage of Bamboo as a Construction Material. Wordpress.
https://jasondreamwork.wordpress.com/2016/05/21/disadvantage-of-bamboo/ 

Lara, R & Espinosa, R. (2019, July). Bamboo: Alternative sustainable tourism for community development. Researchgate.
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Advantages-and-disadvantages-of-bamboo-in-construction_fig10_334375828 

Minke, G. (2012, July 18). Building with Bamboo: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture. Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Building-Bamboo-Gernot-Minke/dp/3034607482 

Vadot, C. (n.d) An Architect’s Guide to Building with Bamboo. Architizer. https://architizer.com/blog/practice/details/how-to-bamboo/    



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