Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on earth and is used as a building material where it is found in abundance in Southeast Asia and South America. Its light weight and high tensile strength make it an ideal building material to use with concrete, and in the construction of frames, walls, floors, and roofs.
The various advantages of bamboo are as mentioned below:
Bamboos come with their own set of drawbacks such as:
Bamboo can be treated with Borax or Boric acid, a natural salt, to preserve it and protect it against insects and rot. Using this technique it will last a lifetime.
Bamboo is 2-3 times stronger than steel and can regrow up to 3 or feet a day without being replanted. As the plant grows it releases up to 35% more oxygen and absorbs up to 35% more carbon dioxide than most trees.
For many parts of the world it is the perfect renewable building resource and building material and its versatility is limited only by ones imagination.
A picture of some giant bamboo I took in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
The stunning bamboo homes built by Elora Hardy and her team in Bali twist, curve, and surprise at every turn. They defy convention because the bamboo itself is so enigmatic. No two poles of bamboo are alike, so every home, bridge and bathroom is exquisitely unique.
In this TED talk, she shares the potential of bamboo, as both a sustainable resource and a spark for the imagination. "We have had to invent our own rules," she says.
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