Summary Draft 1 (Building with Bamboo)

In the article, “An Architect’s Guide to Building with Bamboo'', Vadot(n.d.) proposes bamboo as an alternative material in the construction industry. He mentions that bamboo is a dependable, long-lasting, lightweight, and affordable material, which has the capability to grow quickly with minimal preservation. He states that the bottom part of the bamboo is suitable for scaffolding and civil works construction whereas the top part is suitable for accessorial parts such as ceilings. However, he notes the variety in growth environments leads to the agriculture of different strands of bamboo, which resulted in not being listed in the civil building code, unlike wood. Additionally, bamboo is a brittle material which requires treatment and protection from natural conditions. It is prone to rotting as the nutrients in it consists of sugar, hence attracting micro-organisms. He concludes bamboo as an optimal construction material despite not being normalized in the industry.