While a hardwood tree takes decades to cultivate, bamboo shoots one metre a day, maturing within five years requiring little maintenance. They absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide and release more oxygen than the average tree.

Dubbed as ‘green steel of the 21st century’ by Vietnamese architect Vo Trong Nghia, bamboo outperforms steel in tensile strength but is lightweight, flexible and does not require heavy machinery to handle.

Such qualities have made the wild grass ideal for building resorts in exotic destinations or disaster-prone areas.

What about the viability of bamboo in urban and suburban contexts?

This was a topic of interest at the Kuala Lumpur Architectural Festival 2019 themed ‘Tomorrow’. Sharing their knowledge and experiences, architects Eleena Jamil and Low Ewe Jin believe that there is still untapped potential when it comes to bamboo architecture.

Eleena Jamil

As a relatively young industry, a lot of research, 3D-modelling and testing need to be undertaken for successful results. This was the case for Jamil’s work on the Bamboo Playhouse, the first formal bamboo structure in Malaysia, completed in 2015.

Jamil relied on meticulous sampling and loading tests to ensure structural safety as no engineer was willing to vouch for the project; the help of the native people who went into the forest to scour for the ideal bamboo, as well as craftsmen from Indonesia. The public pavilion, originally submitted as a temporary installation, continues to be a space for people to meet, play and rest today.

Despite the obvious benefits and abundant supply, bamboo is not aspirational, partly due to its association to impoverished circumstances and ability to attract insects, if poorly treated and designed.

Challenging that perspective, Jamil’s eponymous studio has been working on bamboo terrace houses that are appealing and affordable to urban and suburban dwellers, perceiving bamboo as an “everyday construction material”, like steel, concrete or bricks.

Low Ewe Jin, previously a lead architect at Bali-based bamboo architectural firm Ibuku, shared valuable know-how of working with the material, explaining the various species, treatments and how bamboo can be drilled, tied, weaved, bundled, bent or fanned out.

Low Ewe Jin

He believes that bamboo architecture can go as tall as ten storeys and last a lifetime if harvested, treated, designed and built well. Raising bamboo structures off the ground and opting for overhanging roofs to protect the material from the elements are examples of best practices.

When asked about the lack of bamboo in urban spaces, Low explains: “The main issue with bamboo now is compliance. There is nothing [about bamboo] in the building code,” he says.

Images courtesy of KLAF 2019 and Eleena Jamil Architects.