Bamboo as Housing Construction in Disaster Prone Areas

A Continuation to a Previous Report on Bamboo

Bamboo - aesthetic, practical, and full of cultural symbolism. It has partaken in evolution?s many aspects, but why has it been looked down upon by many citizens from around the globe?

Due to industrialization and modernization taking over modern day society, the use of machines to process and assemble bamboo with other components is crude and imprecise due to the shape of bamboo. Therefore, manual measures are taken to process, the results are usually looked upon as undeveloped and something made for those in poverty. The ones that are manufactured mechanically however, loses its strength and certainly its centuries of culture.

In focus to the many benefits mentioned in the previous ambassador report, the economic suitability of the costs is ideal. A bamboo house with room at approximately 200 square feet and a roof could cost up to 80 dollars with the bamboo being treated (traditional - soaking in water and letting it dry, or chemical preservatives). Bamboo treatment is also another important aspect to target and educate to those who are looking to construct housing with the material. Though treatment may be 25% of the cost of an untreated bamboo house, using it can increase the lifespan of bamboo by 100% (up to several centuries). Other aspects to look upon and have been used with great success are keeping the direct house dry. Extended roof eaves would achieve the desired result and gutters would too. Keeping the structure elevated would be favourable to prevent damage from flooding and termites. The use of already risen ground, bricks, or concrete stumps could be implemented. Ventilation would be the final design feature to enforce for better airflow. This could be done by exposing roof space from the actual house and having suitable dimensions for windows.

As bamboo material housing is primarily in rural areas and also in use of disaster relief programs, more has to be done to expand the range. Modernization shouldn?t oppose the target, but instead solve the issue. Design while following the trend of western architecture will be covered. Dimensions should be taken into account and this would be the initial step as to face the difficulties. After this has been made, strengthening the idea of bamboo?s use in modern and industrialized areas would need to be done. As more and more houses are built, then the true identity of bamboo - culturally, environmentally, and in a community - that true identity shall be built.

Image Reference: Oki, Hiroyuki. From Day-to-day Asia: Transforming to Seek the Possibility of the World's. Digital image. JDN. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2016. <http://event.japandesign.ne.jp/2015/09/8363/>.