Method Development
Since 2010 we have been designing and making structures with bamboo (Guadua angustifolia).
In 2010 we made a design for a 4-story building with 6 apartments in Rio de Janeiro, made with bamboo and laminated bamboo.
In April 2016 a strong earthquake shook Ecuador. Many people in the coastal zone of Ecuador lost their houses, made of concrete and blocks. These structures did not resist the forces of the earthquake. Bamboo structures resisted these great forces of nature much better.
In 2016 we made a design for 12 bamboo houses for families in the Comuna Libertador Bolívar who lost their home. The families had to build their new bamboo house under our supervision. They had no experience with bamboo, so the construction had to be simple, so that inexperienced people could do the work.
The design had a reinforced concrete foundation, a bamboo structure, cane walls partially plastered on the inner side, galvanized steel plates for the roofs. The houses were 42 m2, with a living room/kitchen/dining room, 1 bathroom and 2 or 3 bedrooms.
Most people were able to get the job done and build their new house under our supervision. Most of the families had people who worked as carpenter or craftsman. These families were able to build their new bamboo house. Families without these workers had problems building their new house.
Designing the structure in 3D
The design for the bamboo structure was made on the computer. We made a design with a lot of symmetry and repeated measurements of 1 meter for the position of the bamboo colums of the structure. These measurements correspond to the measurements of the foundation reinforcement, to facilitate the location of the anchors for the bamboo columns.
Structural bolted joints
In the structural part of the house we did not want to use handcrafted joints (we had doubts about the structural quality of these joints, it is also difficult to make them), we only wanted to use joints made with threaded rod, rings and nuts (better structural quality, easy to make them). These structural bolts are set to fixed measurements.
Bamboo cutting scheme
For each house we had 85 preserved bamboos available. First the workers started by cutting only the components for part of the structure. Working like this creates a lot of waste. The first house used 25% more bamboos than were available for each house. We needed to think of a more efficient way to avoid having problems with the rest of the houses. The computer design generated a list of all the components of the structure, with exact measurements including angles of cuts. We made a cutting scheme so that we could make all the components outoff the 85 available bamboos. This cutting scheme worked well. We were able to reduce waste and managed to make the next houses with 85 bamboos.
The foundation work did not cause any problems. People used to work with concrete.
No nails
People wanted to use common building practices with concrete and blocks for the bamboo structure. But:
- Nails may not be used, neither to temporarily fix part of the structure nor to make joints. A nail damages the bamboo, a nail has no structural characteristics in bamboo.
- Bamboo cannot be positioned like wood or concrete because of it´s conic form and irregularity.
Bolts through the axis of the bamboo
The solution: well-placed bolts. If the components are cut right and the bolts are located exactly as designed, the bamboo structure will not only be plumb, but also square, without the need to use straps and nails to temporarily secure the frame.
For the location of the bolts, the central axis of the bamboo needs to be used. Question of measuring, marking and controlling. The result of a bamboo structure made in this way is much better than working in the traditional way, using strips, lead, a long drill, etc. Common construction workers were able to do this precise job.
High-quality technical drawings
Before the pandemia we made drawings of the structures and explained the matter on site. Due to the pandemia, we were unable to go to the job site and had to make higher quality technical drawings that do not need explanation on site. To resolve this issue, we made sections of all axes of the structure. To visualize all the bamboo components of the structure and all the bolts, with exact measurements. With these new technical plans, the structure can be built, without the need for explanations on site. The bamboo house in Dos Mangas is made during the pandemia with this new technical plans without on-site supervision.
The last 5 years we made different constructions in bamboo. From a self-supporting cabaña that can be removed to a two-story house with a bamboo structure that supports the concrete slab of the second floor. All our bamboo structures have the same principle: structural joints made with bolts, located exactly along the axis of the bamboo.
Stabilizing the structure
For the stability of the bamboo structure, we use different techniques:
- joints between three rods with bolts in three directions (x, y, z), to reduce the free movement of the structure;
- rigid walls, e.g. concrete block, reinforced with threaded rod, or sandwich panels (with Plywood or OSB boards);
- crosses made of bamboo latillas between the bolts of two columns. With these crosses part of the structure can be stabilized during the construction fase. This prevents the use of nails and strips. Another advantage of the crosses: the colums are positioned exactly vertical and the beams exactly horizontal;
- bamboo diagonals to make triangles in the structure.
Standard materials
We use standard materials and tools that are available throughout the country. Materials and tools that workers know and are available everywhere.
Guadua angustifolia
We only use Guadua. Because it is stronger than Bambú gigante, has less cracking problems, and more natural brillance.
Construction method
- Generates high-quality, strong, precise, professional bamboo structures.
- It facilitates the use of traditional workers (masons, carpenters) without the need to use many specialists.
- It makes it possible to prefabricate bamboo structures and assemble them on site or export bamboo structures to other countries.
Animation of a construction
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