Bamboo

"will
replace
other
in architecture says Vo Trong Nghia
16 July 2014

materials"

http://www.dezeen.com/2014/07/16/vo-trong-nghiainterview-materials-architecture-bamboo/
Bamboo architects: bamboo is the "green steel of the
21st century," according to Vietnamese architect Vo
Trong Nghia, one of the leading exponents of bamboo
architecture (+ interview + slideshow).

thatch. The frame of the dome is made of 48

prefabricated bamboo ribs.
The practice's Kontum Indochine Cafe features trumpetshaped, prefabricated columns made of bamboo canes
joined together in low-tech fashion with rattan and
bamboo nails. Steel fixings were avoided since these
can generate too much load in one place, causing the
bamboo to buckle. The bamboo was first soaked in mud
and smoke-treated the traditional methods for
preserving the wood and eliminating pests.

Dezeen spoke to Nghia as part of a series of articles

about bamboo architecture we're running this week,
following a surge in the number of projects employing
the material.

The Vietnamese pavilion at World Expo will consist of 25

similar columns, each topped with trees.

Earlier this week Vo Trong Nghia Architects unveiled

designs for theVietnamese pavilion at Milan Expo 2015,
which will be constructed from bamboo, while Chinabased architects Penda proposed a high-rise hotel built

Nghia's low-cost housing proposal uses bamboo as a

cladding material, rather than as a structural solution.
Rows of canes are used as louvres between the wall
panels, which are made of translucent polycarbonate.
Bamboo was chosen as it is cheap, lightweight and easy
to replace.

from the material.

Here's the transcript of the interview:

Marcus Fairs: Why do you use bamboo so often in your

architecture?
"I think bamboo and laminated bamboo will replace other
materials and become the 'green steel' of the 21st
century," said Nghia. "I hope many architects realise the
potential of the material and build with bamboo more and
more."
Bamboo, which is an extremely fast-growing species of
giant grass, grows abundantly, quickly and cheaply in
Vietnam, where canes cost as little as a dollar each.
Nghia learned about its properties first hand when he
was a child. "Traditionally, bamboo is used in Vietnam to
create baskets, tableware and furniture," he said. "When
I was young, I helped my family to make bamboo
tableware."
Nghia has completed several projects using bamboo,
mostly in his native Vietnam. They range from bars,
cafes and restaurants where bamboo is used structurally
to form arches and domes, to a proposal to solve
Vietnam's housing crisis with cheap, steel-framed homes
clad in bamboo.
Nghia's Wind and Water Bar features a 10m-high, onionshaped dome constructed of bamboo canes and clad in

Vo Trong Nghia: Bamboo is very low cost material in

Vietnam. One bamboo stalk costs just 1USD, although
its price has started to rise. Bamboo building is suitable
to create open spaces or semi-outdoor spaces. Bamboo
building is suitable in climates such as Vietnam, where
no winter exists.
Marcus Fairs: What properties does bamboo have that
make it suitable for architecture?
Vo Trong Nghia: Bamboo is bendable. This is an
important character. Using bent bamboos, the structure
obtains unique shape and beauty. With proper treatment
soaking in mud and smoking it bamboo becomes as
durable as timber. Thanks to its rapid-growing ability, I
think bamboo and laminated bamboo or engineered
bamboo will replace other materials and become the
green steel of the 21st century.
Marcus Fairs: What is the tradition of using bamboo in
Vietnam?
Vo Trong Nghia: Traditionally, bamboo is used in
Vietnam to create baskets, tableware and furniture.

When I was young, I helped my family to make bamboo

tableware. I learned the property of bamboo from this
experience.
Marcus Fairs: Why are architects using bamboo so
much these days?
Vo Trong Nghia: Some architects realise the unique
properties and advantages of bamboo, while some just
use it in a fashionable manner. In any case, I hope many
architects realise the potential of the material and build
with bamboo more and more.
Marcus Fairs: What projects have you made from
bamboo and why?
Vo Trong Nghia: Bamboo is suitable to create open
spaces surrounded by nature, for instance cafes, bars,
restaurants, resorts and conference halls. Our Bamboo
Wing and Dailai Conference Hall near Hanoi airport are
typical examples. In addition, bamboo building is also
appropriate for pavilions, such as Expo pavilions. We
had experience in Shanghai 2010, and soon in Milan
2015.
Marcus Fairs: What is it like working with bamboo
compared to other materials?
Vo Trong Nghia: Bamboo has own characters, which
result in unique structures and spaces. It is not easy to
create beautiful spaces by using bamboo, because it is
uneven material. We try to control the accuracy of the
construction by applying unit-frame prefabrication.
The other issue of bamboo construction, compared to
steel or concrete structure, is difficulty to choose an
appropriate contractor. There is almost no contractor
with experience of bamboo construction. So, in order to
realise the space as envisioned, it is essential for us to
educate workers and build the construction together.

Bamboo
Architecture
Construction with Oscar
Notes

by

CASSANDRA

and
Hidalgo

ADAMS

Architect Oscar Hidalgo has dedicated his life to bamboo

research, and teaching the world about the limitless
possibilities of this remarkable plant. Born in a bamboo
house in Chinchina, Colombia, bamboo construction was
common in his state, where many residential and public
buildings were constructed using this cheap and widely
available material. Like most homes, in his house the
bamboo was hidden beneath plaster, and indeed, it
looked
like
it
was
made
of
brick.

After he left the university, Oscar was intrigued by the

possibilities of using bamboo in construction, and
embarked on a project to construct a country club kiosk
23 meters in diameter using this material. Five days
before the opening ceremony, there was a hurricane
which distorted the building extremely, moving the
kingpost 90 cm off-center. After only two hours of
working with a winch, however, the structure was
successfully moved back into place without collapsing.
He was sold on bamboo. Amazed at its structural
integrity and aesthetic possibilities, he embarked on a
program of research which has taken him to Asia, Costa
Rica, Brazil, and elsewhere to study this plant and to
create
experimental
structures.
The

Bamboo

Plant

The largest of the grasses, there are over 1600 species

of bamboo, 64 percent of which are native to Southeast
Asia. Thirty-three percent grows in Latin America, and
the rest in Africa and Oceania. In North America there
are only three native species of bamboo as opposed to
the
440
species
native
to
Latin
America.
Of the two types of bamboo, the "running" type occurs
only in temperate climates or in the high mountains of
the tropics. Running bamboo produces both a culm (the
above-ground vertical shoot) and long horizontal
underground shoots called rhizomes. Tropical bamboo is
almost always a "clumping" type, which tends to produce
larger-diameter and thicker-walled culms. But its
rhizomes are very short, so the bamboo plant stays
more
contained
in
a
"clump."
Bamboo reproduces almost exclusively from its
rhizomes, and is extremely fast growing. Under ideal
conditions,
for
instance,
a
culm
of
the
Guaduaangustifolia species with a diameter of 22- 24 cm
(9-10 inches) will grow to its full height in 3-4 months. It
can produce an incredible number of culms per hectare
(2.2 acres): native to Colombia, Guaduaang.produces 710,000 culms per hectare, while some Guadua species
from Brazil can produce 60,000 culms per hectare.
Bamboo flowers in three different ways. Some bamboos
bloom and produce seeds annually. Sporadic flowering
occurs when a few plants will bloom. The type of
flowering peculiar to many bamboos is gregarious
flowering, when most of the plants of a species flower at
about the same time around the world. This blossoming
occurs at 10-145 year cycles, depending on the species.
Bamboo is particularly fragile at this time, as after the
flowering occurs, all the existing culms die off, and the
bamboo seed is only viable for six months. This can
cause great problems for people or businesses
dependent on a constant supply of culms.
Different species of bamboo have different wall
thickness, with a couple species being entirely solid.
Bamboo is a natural composite. The walls are composed
of "vascular bundles" of which there are five types. The

outside portion of the culm wall is dense, containing

about 5% silica. It has an exterior waterproof film which
occurs on the softer interior portion as well. Bamboo is
particularly strong at the node, where there is an inner
disc called the septum which connects the outside walls,
strengthening the stalk and separating in into
compartments. Bamboo is widest at ground level, but is
quite consistent in diameter throughout its length.

gradually

Using

History

Bamboo

Bamboo is useful for different things at different ages:

<30
days
it
is
good
for
eating
6-9
months
for
baskets
2-3 years for bamboo boards or laminations
3-6
years
for
construction
>6 years bamboo gradually loses strength up to 12
years
old
Bamboo for construction is best cut right after new
shoots have started to grow, as the plant will have given
all its starch to the new culm. It is important to cut
bamboo just above the node at the base.
The age of the culm is very important to know in order to
select culms with the greatest strength for bamboo
construction. One-year-old bamboo is an emerald color
with the sheaths just beginning to fall off. Bamboo 2-3
years old has white spots on the culm, indicating the
beginning of lichens. At 5-6 years these lichens can be
clearly seen. Branches also tell the age of a bamboo
plant. Every year each culm of bamboo loses its
branches which are replaced with new branches. Old
bamboo is attacked by insects from the interior of the
plant,
which
can
be
difficult
to
detect.
Height can be determined in species over 5cm in
diameter by multiplying the base circumference by 58.2.
If culms are found to have a ratio of less than 58.2 the
bamboo is of lesser quality. In Colombia, the best
examples of Guaduaangustifolia grow at elevations
between 900-1,800m. In Ecuador, the same species has
much
lower
strength
characteristics.
For longer lasting structures it is important to treat
bamboo against rot and insects. One method is to cure
the bamboo by standing cut culms on a stone for a
month amongst the living culms. The leaves are left on
as they continue to remove starch from culm. When air
curing bamboo it is best to keep it vertical, as it takes
half the time to dry as horizontal storage. Once the
bamboo is cured it is soaked in water for approximately
four weeks. It is then soaked in the fumes of a .3 solution
of
caustic
soda.
Perhaps the best way of treating bamboo is to force a
solution of 3-10% of half borax and half boric acid
through bamboo using an air compressor to create 2030 lb of pressure. The bamboo is left on a slight incline
with the base closest to the tank (though it is also
possible to do it in the other direction) and the chemicals

move

through

the

vascular

system.

To protect bamboo from fire use plaster. For structural

bamboo it is important not to penetrate the septum as it
is the crucial part of the bamboo for strength. Small
diameter holes can be put in the sides of bamboo,
however. To avoid problems it is important that the
bamboo is dry before used in construction.
of

Bamboo

Construction

The ancient Chinese created "fire arrows," which were

made of bamboo filled with gunpowder, to get more
distance to their arrows. These arrows eventually
evolved to become the rockets and firecrackers we are
familiar with today. More recently, Thomas Edison used
carbonized bamboo for the first successful light
filaments. It has been used to make paper, cloth, and
even
Rayon.
Bamboo's tensile strength has been essential in the
development of bridges. The Chinese invented
suspension bridges using bamboo to cross rivers. Using
only the exterior part of the bamboo, which is four times
as strong as the interior, they created tension cables up
to 120 meters long. Bamboo bridges were also
constructed in India, and by the Incas in South America.
In both cases, the structural cable was strung above the
walking surface, which hung from it. And in Colombia,
tension bridges were created using this amazingly strong
material, with tensile strengths of up to 3,200 kg/cm2 for
the species Guadua. Similar building techniques have
also been used to create gabions to dam rivers and
streams, where a long basket of bamboo is filled with
stones with each end secured to the banks.
It has been crucial to the development of many
inventions. Bamboo has been used to build boats and
zeppelins. In aeronautical research, structural members
of kites and early planes were constructed using the
material as it is light and extremely strong. A plane made
completely of bamboo was built in the Philippines, while
the Chinese commonly used it in their planes during
World War II. Plans for bamboo planes were even
available
in
"Popular
Mechanics"
magazine.
Bamboo also has a long history of use in buildings,
being common to the vernacular architecture of China,
Southeast Asia and Central and South America. The
Chinese could span up to ten meters with their corbelling
technology, and bamboo has been used extensively all
over Indonesia, especially in the Celebes Islands. In
Hong Kong, all scaffolding for highways construction is
built of bamboo, and tied with bamboo strips only 1 mm
thick. Although they have a great history of building with
bamboo, today the Japanese use it only for their
traditional
tea
houses.
Structural

Characteristics

of

Bamboo

Bamboo is unique in that it is strong in both tension and

compression. While tensile strength remains the same

throughout the age of the bamboo plant, compressive

strength increases as it gets older. There is some
controversy in determining proper testing protocols, as it
is important to test bamboo which is at least three years
old, and that the test should occur on a piece of bamboo
with an entire internode and two intact nodes. Some
testing research has not used these criteria, and thus the
results
are
not
as
useful.
To utilize bamboo to its best capabilities, several
conditions are important to consider. One consideration
is that bamboo grown on slopes is stronger than bamboo
grown in valleys, and that bamboos that grow in poor dry
soils are usually more solid than those grown in rich
soils. Bamboo will shrink diametrically, so Oscar does
not recommend tied connections. Bamboo takes at least
four months to dry, and should not be kiln dried, as the
moisture inside leaves mostly through the ends.
There are certain limitations of the use of bamboo in
construction. The starchy interior is attractive to insects.
In addition, because bamboo has a slick waterproof
coating, it cannot be painted. However, this coating
allows bamboo to be used as water pipes.
As bamboo is extremely flexible from 6-12 months of
age, it can be used to create a number of curving forms.
In India, curving roofs called Chocals were developed,
and bamboo domes have been built in New Guinea. A
parisian architect named Friedman built some beautiful
ringed buildings in India, but they were unfortunately
destroyed by insects within a few years, as they were
not treated. Indeed, the type of bamboo construction
used can greatly affect the longevity of buildings.
Architect Gernot Minke of Germany has developed a
catenary arch using laminated strips of bamboo.
Bamboo

Joints

In standard bamboo construction, joints are difficult to

make. In bamboo geodesic structures, joints are formed
by creating "flaps" at the end of a culm by incising the
bamboo radially. The soft inside of each "flap" is cut
away, allowing them to bend easily. These flaps are then
bent over a cone with a threaded rod sticking out of the
tip. An additional cone is place on the outside of the bent
flap area and secured with a bolt. Besides increasing
structural strength, this external cone protects against
insect entry. This results in an end which can easily be
attached
to
a
central
hub.
Bamboo

Roofing

A number of cultures have used bamboo for roofing

materials. The Chinese used bamboo for roofs with the
ends covered with round tiles. In the Philippines, roofs of
interlocking split bamboo are created with the part
receiving the water being the soft inner surface of the
bamboo. Unfortunately, this technique encourages mold,
fungus and splits from ultraviolet exposure, and roofs
made in this fashion rarely last more than a year. These
roofs can be made to last longer if the upper pieces,

where the denser exterior of the bamboo is exposed, are

laid close together, protecting the more vulnerable
pieces underneath. These roofs are perhaps most
appropriate
as
temporary
roofing
solutions.
It is imperative that bamboo roofs are treated to extend
their longevity. A boric acid/ borax solution is used to
preclude fungus and insect infestation. Roofs can also
be treated with lime to protect them. Long lasting tiles
made with bamboo utilize a bamboo strip reinforced
fiber-cement laminate where the bamboo strips are
weaved into a web for additional strength.
A variety of techniques have been developed to create
roof support systems. These include a prefabricated
triangular truss system comprising of units eight meters
long. These trusses can be carried by only four people,
and only deflect 2 1/2 centimeters along their entire
length. These frames are then covered with bamboo
boards, lath and plaster to create a waterproof roof.
Additional systems include A-frame and space-frame
roof
structures.
An excellent system utilizes bamboo rafters with bamboo
boards. This is plastered on both sides, and fired clay
tiles are used to waterproof. Besides structures built of
whole bamboo, truss systems have been developed
using flat bamboo strips which are connected with bolts.
A roof for a kiosk made by "uneducated" Ecuadorian
Indians is an umbrella-like system with a tension ring
surrounding it at the level of the eaves. A different radial
roof concept with numerous peaks and valleys is held up
by tension cables which connect across the structure
where the valleys end. Geodesic domes can easily be
made with bamboo, as can emergency temporary
housing for homeless in the case of earthquake, flood,
etc. These roofs are simple bamboo framing with
bamboo strips between the main structural members.
The roofs described above can last up to 15 years with
periodic
maintenance.
Bamboo

as

Concrete

Reinforcement

Many studies have been done to determine the

feasibility of using bamboo to reinforce concrete. The
problem is, however, that bamboo soaks up the water in
the concrete, causing the bamboo to swell then shrink,
the process of which can break the concrete. In addition,
adhesion between the bamboo and the concrete is poor.
Oscar has experimented with braided bamboo as
reinforcement, but it takes an excessively long time to
braid.
Feasible uses of bamboo with concrete include making
stirrups with 9 month old bamboo. Also tanks can be
made by applying cement plaster to bamboo baskets.
These can be used for toilets, water storage or boats.
Waffle slabs of concrete can be formed utilizing bamboo
baskets to create the void spaces. Woven bamboo mesh
at 6" on center can be used to reinforce a 5" concrete
slab. All-in-all, Oscar does not recommend the use of

bamboo with concrete in house construction, with the

exception of it being used as reinforcing for slabs on
grade.
Laminated

Bamboo

Many of the problems associated with bamboo can be

alleviated by creating laminates of bamboo strips. These
are formed by simply dividing the length of the culm into
individual strips which are then laminated together to
create a number of products. In 1942 a study was
commissioned by the US government regarding the use
of
bamboo
laminates
in
ski
poles.
Currently, bamboo laminate products include floor tiles
with one type being particularly good for heavy floor
traffic as only the end grain is exposed. The softer strips
of bamboo from the interior of the culm can be safely
used in the interior portion of very large glu-lam beams.
There is really no limit to the uses of laminated bamboo.
It can be used for chairs and other furniture, plates and
utensils. In fact it can be used just like laminated wood,
with the advantage that bamboo laminates are much
lighter in weight. To create the strips used for lamination,
the interior soft part of the bamboo is removed with a
plane, leaving the hard exterior for the lamination strip.
Architectural

built with this technique on steep hillsides have five-story

understructures. Because of the difficulty of leveling the
varying dimensions of bamboo, lumber is often used for
beams
and
joists.

Design

Considerations

There are many ways to design using bamboo.

Commonly in Colombia, structural bamboo is used as
studs in walls, covered with bamboo "boards" or lath,
then plastered on both sides. The bamboo boards are
created by smashing a culm with a hammer, then
splitting it open and flattening it. Lath is made from
bamboo
strips,
2-3cm
wide.
With proper joinery, bamboo can be used to create
incredible spans, most dramatically evidenced in the
work of Colombian architect Simon Velez. Spans of 3.5
meters (11 ft.) are easily possible in simple structures
use
12cm
(4-5
in)
diameter
bamboo.
In Latin America, Guaduaangustifoliabicor is the most
prized species for construction. Guadua de castilla and
Onion Guadua (G. cebolla) are also a good construction
species. To create special effects, bamboo can be bent
or straightened by heating and clamping until cool.
Square bamboo is a unique product used for decorative
purposes that is created by training the culms into forms.
Bamboo Construction in Latin America Marizales, a
coffee growing region in Colombia, used to have many
bamboo buildings. As recently as the 1930s, all houses
in Caldas State (of which Marizales is capital) were
made of bamboo. Many public buildings and apartments
were made of bamboo as well. Although now bamboo is
limited to residential construction, there continue to be
many beautiful bamboo houses in rural areas. The most
common construction method is to use platform frames
with reinforcing diagonals in the walls. Some houses

A typical wall section is created with bamboo studs

where spacing is determined by the thickness of the
bamboo boards applied to the studs. For example, when
a 1 cm board is used, stud spacing is 40cm. The
bamboo boards are attached, and two layers of plaster
are applied. The first layer of plaster is 1:3 cement to
sand mix and the second layer is a 4:5 cement to sand
mix. The plaster is aesthetically essential as visible
bamboo
is
not
acceptable
to
Colombians.
Another wall system uses bamboo studs as described
above with smaller pieces of bamboo attached with 1
1/2-2" nails. This is then plastered with a clay/straw
mixture on the outside. This system is much heavier
than the previous example. Bamboo was often used as
scaffolding in Colombia, but is now largely replaced by
rented metal systems. In Ecuador the bamboo is smaller
and the bamboo boards are applied vertically.
A prefabricated bamboo house system utilizes wall
panels built on the floor, resulting in better construction.
This system allows for homeowners to build their own
houses through sweat equity. An additional feature is to
locate the kitchen and bathroom directly over water
tanks, which allows water to be easily hand-pumped to
where it is needed. Oscar established a prefab house
building program in Costa Rica, the Costa Rican "rooffloor" program was one in which the government
provided a floor, roof and sink. Oscar then built prefabricated bamboo panels for these dwellings.
Practitioners
Besides Oscar, there are a number of other important
bamboo architects in South America. These include
recently deceased architect Carlos Vergara from Cali,
who made houses entirely of bamboo. He created a
multi-column system where the loads are carried by the
septum of the bamboo. He also used bolts through
concrete nodes to create joints. He was able to achieve
spans up to 24 meters with his techniques. Jorge Arcila
of Marizales did a series of "stacked houses" and is
currently writing a history of bamboo in America.
Simon Velez, an architect who mostly practices in
Colombia, has built a number of extraordinary bamboo
structures. These projects have ranged from a horse
stable, residences, a observation tower and a country
club. His structures feature massive cantilevers and he
was the first to use multi-culm beams. He uses a unique
bolt and concrete system in the internodes to create
extremely strong joints, which has allowed him to create
cantilevers as large as 7 meters (37 feet).
American efforts include those of Doug La Barre, who is
setting up a manufacturing facility for creating laminated
lumber from imported Guadua. The Trus-Joist

corporation is also doing work to create nontoxic

adhesives
for
laminated
bamboo.
Issues

in

Bamboo

methods and materials with a focus on environmental

issues
and
traditional
Japanese
construction.

Construction

As bamboo architecture has reemerged in Colombia,

many new architects are making avoidable mistakes. It
is important that the ends of joints not be cut too short
and that all connections use the concrete-filled
internode/bolt system. Additionally, columns must be
raised above grade or floor level. Multi-culm beams
should be made of culms of the same diameter, and
bolted vertically at least every meter on center. In
temperate climates it is better to use the smaller,
stronger bamboos, and if the structure is protected it will
last longer. The strongest of the temperate bamboos are
Phyll.
bambusoides
and
Phyll.
mequinods.
Neither Oscar or Simon Velez use engineers in their
building, having developed an intuition about the
capabilities of bamboo. Oscar knows, however, that
many architects do not have the years of experience he
has, and so wants to establish the norms for the
mechanical characteristics of bamboo. Much work in this
regard has been done by Jules Jannson, and research
and testing continues in his native Netherlands.
Another major problem is that in many places bamboo is
disappearing, just like our world forest resources. In
Brazil there were 85,000 sq km of bamboo in 1976, while
in 1983 there were only 32,000 sq km. It is feared that
within a decade all bamboo in Brazil will be gone.
Guadua is among the threatened species because it
only grows at tropical latitudes. But this dire situation is
common
all
over
the
world.
The biggest problem affecting the adoption of bamboo
architecture in those areas which have a vernacular
history of building with this material, is the perception
that it is considered "poor people's" housing. In India, the
highest castes use stone to build, the middle castes,
wood, and only the lowest castes use bamboo. Thanks
to Simone Velez, however, bamboo is becoming a
building material of choice for the wealthy. Oscar
believes that if those needing shelter see rich people
using
bamboo,
so
will
they.
Cassandra Adams is an architect and professor of
architecture at UC Berkeley specializing in construction

Also
From

about

DESIGNER/Builder,

Oscar

September

Hidalgo

1997

...the most exciting technology Hidalgo has developed is

to deform the bamboo plant as it grows to create
incredibly strong pre-stressed arches. A form of wood
and plywood with a predetermined arc is placed over a
bamboo shoot. As the bamboo grows, it assumes the
shape
of
the
arc,
permanently.
"You can make any type of construction member when
you deform the bamboo," Hidalgo says. "To make one
curved laminated beam could cost $25,000. But to grow
the equivalent in bamboo would cost only $100."
A cross and longitudinal section of a bamboo plant
reveals its amazing properties and the strength and
resilience the mature plant gains from its vertical fibers
and horizontally reinforced chambers. A bamboo plant is
fully formed as it starts up from the ground, its future
chambers compressed against one another like an
accordion. As the plant matures, the shoot expands and
these chambers spread out, beginning from the lowest
internode. And if the shoot is deformed on the way up, it
assumes
its
new
shape
permanently.
"The most expensive thing is the form," Hidalgo says.
"But once you have a form you can grow many of the
same arches for a very low price. You tell me what kind
of a structure you want and I will deform the arcs for
you."
Excerpted with permission from DESIGNER/builder
magazine, copyright 1998. DESIGNER/builder is
published monthly at 2405 Maclovia Lane, Santa Fe,
New Mexico, 87505; (505) 471-4549. Annual
subscription: $28.

http://www.ecofriend.com/20-stunningexamples-of-bamboo-architecture.html