Week 14: A STRATEGY FOR ADVANCE BUILDING TECHNOLOGY

To what extent is architecture a derivation of technology in contemporary times?

Architecture is an art of practice of designing and constructing buildings. An art of practice of designing determines its form, language, symbolism and identity that affects a natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one’s circumstances, mood or relationship with others. On the other hand, creating these senses need technologies to construct into three dimensional forms.

Part One: Post Occupancy

Environmental Determinism

Cathedral                                                     Restaurant

Memorial

This is the idea that architecture determines how people behave in spaces called environmental determinism. The idea plays no role but having its subjectivity, individualism and experiential or other mental constructs as dominant. For example, cathedrals were likely intended to induce a certain level of fear along with awe; some may feel nostalgia triggered by space and its age; a memorial make people sentimental; institutions create atmosphere for learning; restaurants that are relaxing; stores make people want to spend money. There are also studies showing the levels of day light intensity, building materials, scale and articulation of spaces contribute to human’s feeling. 

Furthermore, these emotional factors, acting as a design generator; is also another solution towards the environmental issues. For instance; use place making concept to increase amount of people walking within or around the area. These are the initial stages of architecture before turning it into three dimensional forms.

Building Technology

The process will then continue with identifying technologies in order to create the expected outcomes mentioned above (environmental determinism); as each individual’s experience of the built environment is wholly a result of how the brain is organized by genetic and developmental factors. Using multiple technologies; a sum of its parts; from site orientation, building materials, HVAC equipment, windows, plumbing and builder practices are all a part of using technologies to ensure higher durability, lower environmental impact and increased comfort in order to achieve the outcome of environmental determinism. Technologies that covers the construction issues such as indoor air quality, water conservation, waste management, electricity production, day lighting and energy efficiency; generate the strengths and trait of character inherent in the technology to overcome issues at hand; uniting the utility and satisfactory of people. Appropriate technology is one among the aspects, along with the environmental aspects, social contents, end-users’ needs, programmatic analysis and planning permission; generating a three dimensional architecture built environment.

MVRDV’s Design Concept

Utilizing my previous readings on MVRDV as the pioneering technology assisted buildings; they have explored and configure projects through statistical spatial data relating to contexts and constraints; generating an environmental determinism. MVRDV focus on the contents available within spaces, occupants’ visual, activities, circulation; visualise and narrate architectural within an urban space and improve quality of life for generations to come. In the same token, MVRDV analysed into design principles towards the establishment of design strategy of technology in architecture. In addition to that, MVRDV also pay particular attention in creating focal point that hits the eye and mind of people through large structural blocks; and being accompanied with cantilevered platforms.

Case Study: Markhtal Rotterdam

Using the Markhtal Rotterdam as one of its project, it focuses on privately owned spaces for public use; providing the opportunity to create interior urbanism; cooperating the interior spaces as the exterior public space. With these design principles making priority to the role of interiors; creating a visible façade for interaction between indoor and outdoor using a huge glass and cable net materials; utilizing technology to open and close glass facade at both ends for rain and wind protection. On top of that, apartments facing towards the market place utilize triple glazed window technology to avoid sound and smell into the living space above; having a private and open public spaces within a block. 

Lastly, the entire huge horse shoe arched form; without having any structural systems in the middle, distinguished its unique identity; creating a contrast within the city area. The construction of wall and roof are connected towards the ground; with a curve was chosen to allow the construction to be efficient; thus having the load to be able to transfer down towards the basement without having any structural systems in between; adding spaces for more activities and programs to be allocated, as well as the visual connectivity throughout the entire building block.

SummaryTo conclude the first section of architecture derivation through contemporary times, it is stated clearly about the process from identifying contextual issues; human needs and behavior, followed by constructing through technology. On the other hand, a new direction of architecture derivation is suggested by technology; where form is the main constant that is being adapted by people, functions and activities in the surroundings. The development of form configuration derived from setting parameters using technologies such as Grasshopper and Rhino, creating Architecture Parametricism. 

Part Two: Computation

Parametricism

Parametricism has its roots in the digital animation techniques. But in the contemporary times, its latest refinements are based on the advanced parametric design systems and scripting techniques. Parametric is relating to a process or steps obtained through tools or data called parameters; having these steps being repeated; develop a unique style; particularly suited to large-scale urbanism called Parametricism. 

Parametricism creates a mature style; relating its style towards a sense of seamless, fluidity and akin to natural system. These façade and form development having each element bringing its own dynamic; taking into consideration of the spaces within the building as well as how it relates to other building and to the topography of the space. An overall sense of continuity is being achieved to correlate the conspicuous build-up of height with the lateral width of the overall field; widening and narrowing the urban rhythm throughout the city.

  

It can be done using maya hair-dynamic to simulate path network and generate into a digital woolthread model; set up the parameters of incoming streets and roads containing building blocks depending on its size, proportion and orientation.

Scriptism

Scriptism incorporates with specific software such as Grasshopper; creates varied surfaces, component design with influences though writing command operations. It is able to create architecture that is responsive to sunlight, wind, views, program and context. These explorations are usually remain as installations or building facades; the ability to develop the research into an effect building is promising.

Subdivisionism

Subdivisionism is a category of design frequently described as either ‘rounded’ curvaceous or aerodynamic. Most example of this type of architecture is well-intentioned, and utilizes an analytical knowledge of circulation, environment or program to produce responsive geometries; frequently combining with programs and activities. Often these programs reference movement and create futuristic shapes that are fluid and elegant. The resulting forms are sinuous, and allow shapes to blend into one another. Simple curvaceous forms are simpler, employing shapes with useful geometries, resulting building to be visible and useful to navigation.

Vernacular Parametricism

The outlook of my research regarding underground cities has created Architecture Parametricism through patterns and arrangements of modular habitable spaces. Vernacular plays a role with the usage of natural material such as sand; using technology to create a chemical process of solidification of sand dues to formulate these habitable spaces; repeating the process to set up parameters that generate path networks that contain these habitable spaces; varies in scale; depending on programs and activities. These modular habitable spaces are created in an open network, increasing the amount of modular system as density increases. Parametricism involves the conceptual shift from part-to-whole relationships to component-system relationships and system-to-system relationships. It is an open system that always remains incomplete; as density increases, components will associate into a multiple systems.

SummaryOne word to summarise the statement of Parametricism is complexity. The future and contemporary architecture is creating multifaceted spaces which resemble our ever more complex way of living and working. Working on alignment of diversities and simplifying environment no longer apply to our contemporary times. Therefore parametricism rejects repetition; having different elements every time; different views from each angle. 

Part Three: Thesis Design

Street Complex

Presenting an opportunity to create a new centre for the locals as well as a new entrance for the city through the ‘Communities of a Single Roof’ design, remaining largely undeveloped in the urban city centre and considering the relative lack of public space and facilities as well, the proposal of Street Complex introduces new spatial configurations to the city centre, opening the street area to public access and use; extending the square and market inside the Street Complex and enlarge the space devoted to culture and leisure in order to strengthen the sense of community and centrality. 

Its justification can be found, apart from the apparent economical argument, in the term of density. A dense city is a live, vibrant city. Multiplicity of people, events and spaces makes a city. And high quality density is what some of the cities are lacking of.

Spatial System

With a key concept for the Street Complex proposal, it creates a core as a strong living icon; creating an opportunity to develop a new transit point that enhances new urban routines by having the mixed-use morphology of the construction ring, breaking it down in several pieces that enables the intervention to be phased for a full potential of gathering spot and sets the right urban scale. It involves the understanding of the urban morphology thus enhancing its qualities through the mixed-use cultural street and a park as the grounding principles.

The Street Complex concept focuses on the system on creating a new urban value for new social interaction with the presence of its heritage memory. The old culture are still able to adapt with the new cultural blocks and stands out in the contrast offering new outdoor spaces.

Network System

An integration of these activities; fulfilling a wider area; turning it into a pedestrian street; allowing tramways and connectivity towards public spaces; making the street and market across it overlaid with trees. Ground-scrapers containing offices, provide access to the platform, creating the connectivity network, allowing the connection towards other skyscrapers that can functions as a hotel or residential apartments.

Two or more sets of panoramic elevators in the park present an additional connection with the platform; having the stairways and cargo lifts spread across the site. A network of pedestrian pathways spread across the park connects the site with all the surrounding streets.

Micro Programs (Activities)

Therefore, Street Complex concept is a mixed-use proposal to guide the site’s redevelopment. With an additional link extending the axis of the micro programs; extending the micro programs on the plaza; creating porosity for visual and physical connectivity; the courtyards of each micro program create a gradation of conditions between public and private. 

Scattered micro program is being organized together with a combination of passages, courtyards, squares and terraces along the public space; linking all together the main public spaces of the new building; will also be the pillar to support the roof construction; creating a platform for the spaces above ground. It unifies the plaza and provides a huge shelter to the public expressions; under a colorful high ceiling, street life can spread and flourish; thus creating architecture of a Street Complex.

Building Technology

A green core that can be lived with pedestrian walkthroughs within streets creates a sustainability solution to minimize its carbon footprint by offsetting it with a large number of newly planted trees. Having a large flat roof of the platform presents a great potential for placement of solar panels and rainwater collectors, having a composite glazing material to allow visual connectivity yet reduce heat and glare penetration within programs; having ramps and elevators for network connectivity within streets; uses several basic building elements to form a complex architecture as a whole. Without the technology or features available, architecture cannot be seen.

Summary

This urban design adopts two strategies to transform Street Complex structure, first preserving its quality features – the clear street façade definition that allows the creation of a boundary for privacy (based on post occupants); 

secondly add more permeability through densifying the inside through a strategic placement of smaller programs arranged in an apparent disordered composition with different heights (based on computation of parametricism), creating an unexpected street life and land marks in the city skylines.

Week 13: THE BADEL BLOCK

Case Study

The project begins with making a direct link between the former building and the preserved façade. Treating several façade as a gateway, the plan pulls in the existing context of an active street market into the heart of a site cut-off from the city for decades while avoiding direct replication of the area’s pervasive perimeter block.

Based on the case study from a Badel Block Complex proposal by Luka Anic, Danko Balog, Tamara Baresic and Srdan Gajic, the Badel Block is surrounded by a steel space-frame grid rising to the top floor of the existing block structure. Spaces beneath the space-frame grid contain the existing building and several additional new blocks. It is closed with an invisible façade from the raised grid, extrude of small sky and ground scrapers. Leaving holes in the raised grid unfilled, making the space underneath it a park. The park functions as a large open public space covered partially with a large roof, networked by a system of paths linking the wider area; ground-scraper landings make for small sunken public plazas. The existing building with its heritage protected façade remain as charming; becomes a focal point of the park, a pavilion; acting as a gateway to the park. The variation of buildings and public spaces all together; forms a huge block.

An integration of these activities; fulfilling a wider area; turning it into a pedestrian street; allowing tramways and connectivity towards public spaces; making the street and market across it overlaid with trees, connecting these spaces to the green public park and adding volume to the exposed market, integrated with the position of high rise, considering the existing building blocks, leaving them as much isolation and free space as possible.

The platform is then filled with shops, galleries, restaurants, cafes and community spaces. Ground-scrapers containing offices, provide access to the platform, creating the connectivity network, allowing the connection towards other skyscrapers that can functions as a hotel or residential apartments. Two or more sets of panoramic elevators in the park present an additional connection with the platform; having the stairways and cargo lifts spread across the site. A network of pedestrian pathways spread across the park connects the site with all the surrounding streets.

Therefore, Badel Block concept is a mixed-use proposal to guide the site’s redevelopment. With an additional link extending the axis of the micro blocks; extending the micro blocks on the plaza; creating porosity for visual and physical connectivity. This subdivision makes more street level surface area for new retail and restaurant program. While the courtyards of each micro block create a gradation of conditions between public and private. The new covered public plaza where various facilities will be shuffled together providing a large selection of opportunities of interactions. Scattered micro blocks is being organized together with a combination of passages, courtyards, squares and terraces along the public space; linking all together the main public spaces of the new building; will also be the pillar to support the roof construction; creating a platform for the spaces above ground. It unifies the plaza and provides a huge shelter to the public expressions. Under a colourful high ceiling, street life can spread and flourish.

The overall form is only a recommended maximum envelope. Like rocks, we imagine the massing can be carved. The micro blocks can be interpreted in various ways, in various combinations: as maximized envelopes where the sloped surfaces imply internal voids suggesting shares uses as finely stepped ‘ziggurats’ creating a maximum of roof gardens; or as an aggregate made over time with multiple owners with different financial motives and tastes, similar to Zagre’s flexible precedent, the Endowwmnet Block from the 1930s. The design ultimately works to secure durable urban conditions supporting negotiation and participation

Generous volumes into the roof allow the plaza to continue inside the building and facing the cityscape, as a stage being seen, giving to see unprecedented views at the very top of the building. Structure structurally, the platform consists of a system of horizontal and diagonal steel beam and steel pillars in the 16 meter grid. The structure of the high-rises is a steel-frame construction, formed by steel pillars filled with concrete, set at a distance of 16 meters, with diagonal and horizontal steel beams connecting the pillars. The platform is supported by the seven high-rises, positioned across the site. Both the platform’s and the high-rises’ facades are clad is glass. The underground garage is supported by concrete pillars in an 8x8 grid. There are two garage entrances on each of these three levels, containing 157 parking spaces.

The design approach establishes a parametric construction ring tailored to the existing buildings. The urban awareness is one of the key principles to enhance the quality of the building environment in order to create attractive, high amenity environments people will chose to live in, work and visit. Different shapes, different sizes and different uses sued to enhance the continuous-discontinuously that defines cities – with gaps and passages that encourages visiting the block interior.

For sustainability proposed solution, it minimizes its carbon footprint by offsetting it with a large number of newly planted trees. The large flat roof of the platform presents a great potential for placement of solar panels and rainwater collectors. 

Presenting an opportunity to create a new centre for the locals as well as a new entrance for the city through the ‘Communities of a Single Roof’ design, remaining largely undeveloped in the urban city centre and considering the relative lack of public space and facilities as well, the proposal of Badel Block Complex introduces new spatial configurations to the city centre, opening the block area to public access and use; extending the square and market inside the Badel Block and enlarge the space devoted to culture and leisure in order to strengthen the sense of community and centrality. Its justification can be found, apart from the apparent economical argument, in the term of density. A dense city is a live, vibrant city. Multiplicity of people, events and spaces makes a city. And high quality density is what some of the cities are lacking of.By definition, a block closes itself in. Whatever is behind the perimeter, is secluded and can be reached only by cutting through the perimeter. Seclusion, however leads to particularization of spaces rather than integration and the latter is what we seek.

Week 12: THE SCIENTIFIC VERNACULAR

RESEARCH QUESTION                                                    

How can a composite of natural and man-made material increase the durability of bamboo construction in the modern industrialize construction?

The scientific Vernacular explores the turning points when inputs of scientific knowledge boost the creative urges of architects for new forms of architectural expression which were traditionally concentrated in Vernacular Architecture; taking the leap from a stylist approach to knowledge based and innovative approach with the use of technological science.

Bamboo has its disadvantages such as decaying, susceptible to insect and fungal attack. The service life of bamboo is generally considered as being too short for any worthwhile investment. A problem that compounds the low natural durability is the hollowness of the bamboo culm, particularly when compared with the end-to-end massive cross section of wood. If fungi or insects attack and destroy the outer layer of the bamboo, it may mean the loss of one quarter of its thickness compared to the total thickness of wood. The hollowness also offers a relatively safe hiding place for the pests of destruction. In most tropical countries, the high relative humidity of the air adds to durability problems. High moisture content in the bamboo also creates problem in drying process. Besides, bamboo does not contain cross fibers and is consequently, not designed to bear weight width-wise, with the exception of the points at the nodes. Bamboo is prone to splitting, especially when standard construction fasteners, such as bolts, screws and nails are inserted. Special fastening techniques are required when joining pieces of bamboo.

The diagram below shows the life cycle of an untreated bamboo:

Since Bamboo itself brings threats towards the mission and vision of our future development, a combination of kaccha and pukka styles can be used to increase its characteristic thus improve durability and feasibility of the various periods stated above. How? What is kaccha and pukka?

Kaccha is a building made of natural materials such as mud, grass, bamboo, thatch or sticks and is therefore a short-lived structure; Whereas pukka is a structure made from materials resistant to wear as forms of stone or brick, clay tiles, metal or other durable materials, such structures are expensive to construct as the materials are costly and more labour is required.

To simplify the research question, the research will be researching on the type of natural and artificial material used to increase the durability of bamboo.

Community in villages know by experience the durability of the bamboos in their homeseeds. The lower part of the culm is said to be more durable; and so is the outer part of the culm wall. The starch in the bamboo attracts fungi and insects, therefore the selection of harvest time during the dry season will have a better durability. Also, bamboo with flowers is more resistant to these agents due to its depletion of starch.

The correlation between natural durability is difficult to establish; most of the facts are based on culture and tradition from the villages through experience than on physical reality (Kirkpatrick and Simmonds 1958).

There are various durability can be found in bamboo in terms of its life span and service as a structural member.

Starch makes bamboo vulnerable to be attacked by fungi and insects. Therefore, reducing start content of bamboo is the best way to make it less vulnerable. You can reduce starch content by:

- keeping the culm in a vertical position under a shade for a week after harvesting

- harvesting only the mature bamboos

- harvesting in winter season

- by soaking the bamboo for 3 to 6 weeks in running water or permanent water sources

The durability of bamboo is directly related to how well it is treated at all stages of its use, including how it is grown, harvested, dried, stored, transported and installed. 

Bamboo fails most commonly through rot from excessive water contact, and attack from pests seeking out the sugars in the starch of the bamboo, hence most pest infestation occurs at the joints and through cracks and holes. Therefore, prevent direct moisture contact and reducing cracking through careful handling will greatly increase life expectancy as will surface treatments such as paint and oils.

Harvesting

When harvesting, cut the bamboo neatly and evenly immediately above a node that is one or two nodes above the ground, to reduce the potential for fungus to infest and degrade the plant. Using the basic principles stated above to increase the durability of bamboo.

Leaching

In many cultures freshly cut bamboo is soaked in rivers or streams to leach out sugars and saps to reduce pest infestation. Leaching is more effective on smaller sections of bamboo; therefore it should be done after cutting to length or split while vascular cells are still open. Knocking a hold through the centre of each node along the length of bamboo will allows saps to 

wash away more rapidly.

Drying

Bamboo will achieve it is the greatest strength if it is being dried slowly, uniformly; prior to use and to prevent cracking. The curing process is being done in a cool, shaded, ventilated and organic material free area. The culms should be stored horizontally; rotating regularly to avoid splitting from uneven drying. In the process of drying, the bamboo will loses its leaves and start turning brown; going through the process of losing starch content and moisture. On the other hand, storing in a silo as another alternative for its drying place where shades and ventilation are present. Also, split, woven bamboo is another strategy for drying to take place quickly.

Kiln Drying

Using the present level of drying technology, it is not feasible to dry bamboo poles due to its incidence of cracking and collapse. However split bamboos are preferred instead.

Air Drying
Air drying takes up 6-12 weeks depending on the moisture content and the wall thickness.  Mature culms are preferable; thus it will not pose any problems of splitting under the sun.

Smoking (Baking over Open Fire)

The bamboo is stored above the fireplace for few days after applying oil on the surface; until the colour turns into slightly black. This causes rapid drying of outer shell and decomposition of starch. However, excessive heat might develop fissure or crack in fresh bamboo when you apply heat to the freshly cut bamboo; therefore using a gentle fire and rotating the surfaces constantly is recommended.

Transport and Storage

Bamboo culms should be loaded and unloaded by hands; not thrown from the truck. They should be stored carefully so that air can circulate around each culm and being protected from ground water and rain; keeping it away from direct contact with soil due to its route for pests and moisture retention in it. 

Surface Treatment

Surface treatments such as application of sumps oil, paint, varnish or other chemicals being applied in a diluted form to allow deep penetration although surface treatment are not as effective as penetrative treatments thus require regular top up treatments.. Focus should be given to joints, ends, cracks and nodes as the area has the most pest infestation. Starch coatings within the culm have to be removed by boiling or abrading with wet sand if a burning process is required. The Japanese have refined an artificial method of obtaining a similar colouring using sulphuric acid mixed with mud.

Treatment of Fresh Bamboo                        

Steeping

Freshly cut culms being placed upright in containers of concentrated solutions of water-borne preservatives (5-10%). The treatment takes between 7 and 14 days, losing the preservative solution in the container and made up to maintain the initial level of solution.

Sap Displacement

Bamboo culms are prepared to size and submerged in Borax/Boric Acid solution which is a water soluble preservative for several days. Preservative rises by wick action as the sap is sucked up. The preservative enters the culm through ends and holes drilled in internodes. The soaking process is long enough for the chemical to soak through the entire structure of the culm.

Modified Boucherie Process

The Boucherie method was pioneered by Dr Walter Liese of Hamburg University. Borax is water soluble; it will leach out with continued exposure to rain, losing its effectiveness. In this method, the preservative is passed under pressure through the culm till it comes out at the other end of the culm. This can be applied only to fresh bamboo within 24 hours after the harvest.

Dip Diffusion Process

Fresh culm with high moisture content (above 50%) are kept submerged in solution for a diffusion period of 10 to 20 days. This method can be applied only to split and swan bamboo strips since the moisture causes difficulties for the penetration to occur. Steaming and quenching, followed by diffusion under drying conditions is another variation of diffusion process.

Treatment of Dry Bamboo      

Soaking

Air dried bamboos have only to be submerged in the preservative solution (oil or solvent type) for a period. The penetration is predominantly by capillarity. If water-borne preservatives are used, the process is called ‘steeping’. But the soaking treatment with organic solvent (such as pentachlorophenol, copper, abietates) works better than steeping in water-soluble preservatives.

Hot and Cold Method

The bamboo to be treated is submerged in a tank of preservative that is directly heated by fire after being maintained at a constant temperature for a period, the tank is allowed to cool. During the cooling process, the preservative is drawn into the bamboo. The hot and cold method can be used for green or dry bamboo culms with either Boron or Creosote.

Pressure Treatment

Round and half split bamboos of thick walled species can be treated with creosote (fuel oil) under hydraulic pressure. The problem of under pressure can be resolved by drilling holes or notches between, but this leads to spillage. Therefore, a vacuum/pressure schedule helps to ensure more inform penetration.

Protection by Design

The design of bamboo is to ensure its good nodal placement and protecting the bamboo from weather and pests. 

Large roof overhangs prevent direct wetting of bamboo walls in heavy rains; thus using drainage channels or gutters to discharge water from the building at a certain safe distance. Bamboo flooring can be protected through building on a slightly sloping site and using raised masonry or concrete footings. This can be applied on bamboo columns and wall panels to reduce the risk of termite infestation through the direct contact towards the ground surface.

Bamboo has got a round profile therefore creating connections will be leading to difficult geometric structures at the knot. Various connections can be used; for example, friction tight rope connections, nuts and bolts connection, positive connections, interlocking connections. Besides that, bamboo is hollow in the middle of the cane; therefore it can be reinforced by pouring concrete inside. 

Traditional Methods

Joint Bracing

While bamboo has been used for centuries, the traditional methods of lashing bamboo together are not appropriate for the design of long span trusses. These lashed connections also do not fully utilize its strength; it solely rely on friction, transferring load between members is limited thus require more members to do the same job. Therefore joints in bamboo always have been difficult because it is hollow, has nodes and resists only a little shear stress. Many traditional joints suffer from weakness or deformation. Many joints cannot take advantage of the strength of the culm itself and a special problem is to design a joint for tensile forces.

Modern Methods         

Bolting Joints

Modern connections have been proposed by Huybers, Shoei Yoh and Renzo Piano. These connections solve the issues of complex geometries by joining the members in various ways. These connections require puncture of the bamboo walls sine all fibres in a bamboo culm run parallel once a bolt is placed through it and the connection loaded in tension, the bolt acts like a wedge and splits the bamboo. Also the puncture allows moisture to enter the culm and accelerate decay.

Nodal Placement

With an understanding of the bolt alone concentrate much on the wall of the bamboo, the void between the solid internal nodes is filled with solidifying mortar where every bolt penetrates each of the bamboo culm. Members of a truss come together at angles and tension forces are anticipated, a steel strap is placed to bridge the pieces. It is important to design with redundant system that is capable of both compression and tension. This frame truss system is certainly preventing bamboo from bending and buckling in the middle of the culm. Larger holes were drilled into the bamboo to insert the mortar into the joint segments. The mortar was mixed with the optimal quantity of water; the bamboo pieces where then duck taped together to maintain their positions as they were filled with mortar and left to cure for a week. Once mortar is cured, the tape can be removed.

Bamboo + Mortar + Rebar

Though holes were drilled into bamboo segment to insert re-bars. This re-bars will absorb most of the stress moments and allow the bamboo structure to sustain high stress impacts as occur during earthquakes. Bamboo tends to shrink with time making the string joinery slack and insecure. Therefore the joinery system relies on bolts and mortar-fillings maintaining their shape over time.  Bamboo filled with mortar are reinforced by an additional the rebar is embedded in mortar, the load is transferred evenly across the member's cross section and can transfer high axial loads to the bamboo. 

Bamboo + Mortar + Rebar + Clamp

The bamboo is cut at the end axially crosswise to generate a cone by tightening a steel clamp. The cone is filled up with mortar so that the cone is able to transfer its force to the outer high tensile fibres. A common steel clamp is also placed at the end of the member to provide confinement of the bamboo and prevent splitting of the bamboo. Because the rebar is embedded in mortar, the load is transferred evenly across the member's cross section and can transfer high axial loads to the bamboo. Finally, the incorporation of the steel gusset plate makes the bamboo easy to connect in any configuration desired.

New Joints

In order to allow bamboo for spatial and light structures, it is important to have a durable joint which does not bring much weight to the structure and which works under high forces to take advantage of the high resistance of bamboo fibers. The alternative joints for bamboo and by some techniques which are already used in steel constructions. The joint is light, strong and appropriate for easy assemble and disassemble.

Based on the various methods to increase the durability of the bamboo from its own solid wall towards its connectivity on the building structure, bamboo can almost become a universal element. This research has provided a proof of concept for the durability of bamboo itself can be developed by using the natural methods and artificial methods; thus increasing it durability on structure by roughening the inner surface of the bamboo member, filling a portion with mortar, embedding re-bar and welding several of these members to gusset plate. Having both of these characteristics can then be used to construct and span moderate distances, thus providing a safe and predictable behavior. This research will help facilitate the future use of bamboo in a cost effective solution to many parts of the world.