In the
article, “An Architect’s Guide to Building with Bamboo”, Vadot (n.d) states
that bamboo is “resonated as a reliable and sustainable material for the future
of construction”. He finds that bamboo flourishes well across the world with
little maintenance and can be harvested in various locations across the world.
He also mentions that bamboo is a lightweight material and cannot be overlooked
in the construction industry for its ability to complete stable, weight-bearing
structures. In addition, he added that bamboo is cheap to procure and transport
in areas it grows. He remarks that although bamboo is “often referred to as a
fit alternative to steel”, it is feeble and “requires treatment and protection
from natural circumstances”. He observes that because of its adaptive nature
across the world, it encompasses over 1200 species and evolves uniquely.
Furthermore, it is impossible to classify and standardise in the “words and
functions of a civil building code”.
While Vadot
mentions the advantages and sustainable use of bamboo, and touches on its
disadvantages, he fails to mention in detail the disadvantages and challenges
of using bamboo such as bamboo being prone to degradation, shrinking and
swelling as the environment changes and not easily classified by grades.
Firstly, bamboo
is prone to degradation. In the article, “The Pros and Cons of Bamboo in Green
Building” (n.d), it reports that bamboo contains high starch content, and will
be “vulnerable to natural elements”, if it is not treated correctly. It also notes
that “harmful chemicals, like formaldehyde and arsenic” can be used by
manufacturers to treat it. In my opinion, with such chemicals being used to
ensure that the bamboo does not degrade over time, it does not outweigh bamboo as
a sustainable material. Base on another
article, “8 Advantages and Disadvantages of Bamboo Flooring”,(2016), it also reported
that “The process of shredding and slicing the bamboo grass plant, including
the adhesion of pieces back together with the use of heat and a resin-based
adhesive and pressure could cause the emission of VOCs.” Through this report,
bamboo is clearly not sustainable because it must be treated before using and
could lead to adverse health effects and harm the environment in the process of
procuring it.
Secondly, bamboo
is susceptible to shrinking and swelling as the environment changes. In the
article, “General Properties of Bamboo and Maintenance Tips” (n.d), it informs
that bamboo will absorb or expel moisture according to the environment. It also
describes that “Splits and cracks may then occur due to stress caused by sudden
drying and direct exposure to the sun.” In fact, it shows that structures built
with bamboo are susceptible to breaking apart over time, with the repetitive shrinking
and swelling.
Lastly,
bamboo is not easily classified by grades. In the article, “Bamboo Flooring
Pros & Cons.” (n.d), it asserts that bamboo do not have a fix grading
system in determining the quality of the bamboo, instead, “retailers often sort
them into grades, but it is just an arbitrary system”. With this being
reported, it would mean that bamboo does not have a system in place to
determines its quality but instead judged based on its appearance. In my opinion,
this is not safe to be used as a material, as a material looks nice by its
appearance, may be fragile in terms of its strength and would be dangerous to
be used.
Although
Vadot did mention the advantages and sustainable use of bamboo as a
construction material, it was not sufficient in determining the viability and feasibility
of using bamboo. He should have reported the disadvantages and the challenges
to allow better understanding of using bamboo as a construction material with
the sharing of its advantages, disadvantages, and challenges before determines
its sustainable use and as a suitable construction material.
References
Vadot,
C. (n.d.). An Architect’s Guide to Building With Bamboo.
Architizer.
https://architizer.com/blog/practice/details/how-to-bamboo/
The Pros and Cons of Bamboo in Green
Building. (n.d.). Elemental.Green.
https://elemental.green/the-pros-and-cons-of-bamboo-in-green-building/
8 Advantages and Disadvantages of Bamboo
Flooring. (2016, August 14). ConnectUS.
https://connectusfund.org/8-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-bamboo-flooring
Bamboo Flooring Pros & Cons |
Advantages & Disadvantages. (n.d.). Urban Customs.
https://urbancustomsaz.com/pros-cons-bamboo-flooring/
General Properties of Bamboo and
Maintenance Tips. (n.d.). Bamboo Import Europe.
https://www.bambooimport.com/en/properties-of-bamboo-and-maintenance-tips
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