Bamboo and its applications in Building industry

A lot has been written, speculated and now being experimented on for using bamboo for construction and structural applications.

At Wonder Grass, we are convinced that bamboo indeed has a potential to emerge as one of the key building materials in the near future. The conviction sure has brought us a long way, what we need is to make the best of the opportunities we find ourselves in.

This conviction needs to be corroborated in terms of number. Numbers which will talk of the requirements of buildings and structures for various types and kind across the sector. Numbers alone will help us understand the nature and scale of demand in present and for future.

These will substantiate our belief and help us make our case strong.

The task now is to collect, document and compile data that will help us correctly gauge the requirement in building industry and start developing solutions and services that would fulfill the existing gap in supply-demand scenario of building industry.

Making a claim that conceret, steel or brick should be replaced by bamboo, is not practical nor desirable. Every material resource has its role to play and should be used to its optimum potential.

Somehow bamboo missed the train of modern-contemporary explorations as building systems. It has been relegated into the margins of building industry, rather it never entered into the mainstream of modern building industry.

With the global environmental crisis becoming a serious threat to continued ecological existance, it is but natural for us to turn our focus to materials and resources which are sustainable in nature.

Bamboo, is an amazing gift for Indian subcontinent. It is fastest regenerating plant, available in ready-to-use timber form, At Wonder Grass our efforts are to come out with solutions which can at the best compliment the wonder that bamboo is.

Current projects at Wonder Grass:
1. Full-Bamboo screen at Anand Niketan school, Ahmedabad.
client: Anand Niketan school, Architect: Ar. Surya Kakani and associates
Site: ahmedabad
project cost:
Phase I: 2.15 lakhs
Phase II: 1.35 lakhs

Brief: First phase of the project to erect bamboo screens on the south-west wall of the school building complleted in February. The second phase to complete the remianing part of th wall is under progress.

2. Supply of treated and seasoned bamboo for a Resort under construction at Coorg.
client: BCIL, Bangalore Architect: Design Cell, BCIL (Bangalore)
Site: Village Kopatti, Madikeri,
Project cost: approx. 2500 bamboo's at Rs. 6.5 Lakhs

Brief: We are supplying treated and seasoned bamboo for a construction or Eco-resort under construction in rain-forest patch of coorg. First batch of 600 bamboo's have been delivered and the second batch of 800 bamboo would be delivered in the next two weeks.

3. Farm house renovation for shri. NS Raghavan,
client: shri. NS Rahgavan Architect: Ar. Nilay Pataliya
site: Jain famrs, Bagaluru (nr. Hosur)
project value: Rs. 5 lakh.

Brief: To design and implement a roofing structure for a farm-house at Jain farms, Bagluru. The purpose pf the bamboo roof which will be erected above existing roof is to cut-down on excessive light and heat that comes through the existing polycarbonate roof over Living area and Dining area.

current status: The work on panels for started. Design and detailing for large span beams underway.

Road ahead:
1. We are working on the design and development of a 'Ready-to-assemble' structure which would be ideal as makeshift or temporary dwelling units, for various applications.

Workshop with students of Holon Institute of Technology, Tel-Aviv

It was a wonderful experience working together with the participants of the workshop organized by Holon Institute of Technology, Holon, Israel.

It was my honour to be invited by the institute to conduct the workshop and introduce bamboo, as a material for sustainable future for designers, coming from three different streams mainsly Product design, Industrial design and Interior design.

The workshop was a 7-day long event and i think it was a good idea to make this workshop a week-long event, this gives participants time to understand the materials and explore its potential.

Participants, which included students of the 3rd and 4th year also had some faculty members working along with the students.

Participants did come up with some really interesting ideas, considering it was probably for the first time most of them had a chance to really work with the bamboo.

Somre more pictures shall follow soon.