IN-PERSON Barcelona. Section A

Abstract

The built environment can be examined through discourses of social science and architecture which focus on historical and socioeconomic aspects of material and immaterial culture. For example, much as has been written about steel, concrete and glass in contemporary urban design and construction; however, increasing need and decreasing resources are pushing us toward new ideas. Estimates suggest the world population could reach 9.8 billion by 2050, resulting in homes for an additional 2 billion people during the next 30 years, as we simultaneously face significant loss of natural resources due to erosion, pollution, and current construction practices. In the search for viable new construction materials, bamboo stands tall. If used correctly, it competes well with contemporary building materials and offers unique benefits in relation to sustainability and culture. In the West and global north, bamboo has long been relegated to tokenistic recreational design and has even been imitated with other products, but it has not been fully utilized or investigated for use in contemporary construction. One possible explanation for this is that the geographical span of the industrial revolution stopped short of bamboo-centric cultures, thereby neglecting this powerful building material. However, what if there had been spatial overlaps connecting the industrial revolution with bamboo-centric societies? Would bamboo be one of the materials that shape our world today? How might bamboo be utilized in contemporary urban design and construction in the West and global north? This paper examines the potential the contributions of bamboo in construction, sustainability and cultural preservation.