This week we will discuss another alternative building material, which grows more widely in southeast Asia. Nonetheless, bamboo is becoming a viable alternative to traditional hardwoods here in the United States. It has an application in structural design, and its beauty also lends it to being utilized in interior design as well. 

In interior design, the materials and style which one chooses reflects upon their values. When one's long-term goal is sustainability and living in harmony with nature, then a choice material both looks great and is long-lasting. Bamboo fits both of these needs. 

Bamboo has various applications in interior design. Chairs and table made of bamboo can be used in a dining area or lounge room to create a tropical theme. Bamboo floors will provide an aesthetic uniqueness and will be long-lasting and durable. These floors can be made to look similar to traditional wood floors or be given a unique design to stand out. 

Bamboo fencing is an alternative way to cover your walls with a natural material. It is generally used outdoors on patio or in the yard. However, it can also be used as an accent wall or an adornment bringing the tropical style into the home. Complementary pieces can also be made of bamboo such as rugs, window blinds, light fixtures, and furniture. 

What makes it a viable alternative to traditional hardwoods?

Bamboo is technically a grass. It grows very rapidly, some species can grow up to a yard or more each day. Once it is harvested, it again begins growing without being re-cultivated. It takes trees decades to reach maturity, and once harvested it will take decades more for that wood to again be available. Therefore, replacing the usage of traditional hardwoods with bamboo can significantly cut down on deforestation. Bamboo has a tensile strength greater than many types of steel; it can bend without breaking. Bamboo timber is resistant to warping or cupping due to changes in humidity. Bamboo timber can make virtually anything that hardwood makes. Due to these factors, bamboo is a more environmentally responsible building option than traditional hardwoods.

The following facts prove that bamboo can effectively replace traditional hardwood. On average, it takes an acre of hardwood forest to build a traditional American house. That forest takes at least forty years to regenerate. The same home can be built with a quarter of an acre of bamboo, and it takes that quarter of an acre about a year to regenerate. "In April 1991, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Costa Rica. The epicenter of the quake was directly under 20 bamboo homes that had been constructed as a test project for the Costa Rican government which was taking a fresh look at bamboo as a sustainable building material. The earthquake leveled scores of homes and hotels that had been constructed with concrete and rebar but the 20 bamboo homes in the test project suffered no structural damage. This incident not only vindicated the Costa Rican government's decision to fund the project but also helped bamboo houses gain popularity in other regions where bamboo was not a traditional building material."

This instance illustrates the resilient, long-lasting nature of bamboo as applied in the field of construction. Bamboo is a light material, but it is very strong. It is resilient to environmental forces such as earthquakes and hurricanes. Once it is harvested it grows back rapidly. Modern technologies have also made bamboo more resilient to water, insects, and funguses which can compromise its structural integrity.

What are some applications for bamboo in the construction field?

Bamboo has just recently begun to be implemented in the construction field. The tensile strength of compressed bamboo is stronger than steel. Once compressed, it can be used for heavy lifting and transport. The compression process involves steaming the bamboo cane in an oven, then molding the fibers with a special resin. After steaming, the cane is baked in an oven at high temperatures. The resulting beam is 95 percent fiber and 5 percent resin, a very strong piece of lumber.

Beams of bamboo can increase a structure's durability. Bamboo lumber is oftentimes much stronger than hardwoods. This makes it ideal for usage as support beams for a structure. They can be used as rafters to support the ceiling, or support beams in the walls. Along with growing rapidly, the cost of making bamboo beams is often far less than that of a metal support beam, making it an intriguing, environmentally safe and sustainable option.

https://www.bamboogrove.com/bamboo-architecture.html