Bamboo: Paths towards a new sustainable construction material
It is known construction sector in general and, building materials particulary have one of the largest environmental footprints. In 2009, Bambusa Estudio born with the aim of showing bamboo as a sustainable nature-base alternative material for industrial sector and particulary for construction.
Bambusa is spanish technical office which provides comprehensive services of outdoor and indoor bamboo structures design, consultancy, construction and workshops on bamboo construction techniques in EU
Cross-border/international
Spain
Italy
Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: Portugal
Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: Germany
{Empty}
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
No
No
Yes
2022-12-31
As a representative of an organisation
Name of the organisation(s): Bambusa Importaciones y Proyectos S.L Type of organisation: For-profit company First name of representative: Isaac Last name of representative: Gonzélez Pérez Gender: Male Nationality: Spain Function: CEO Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Barxa 18 Town: Nigrán Postal code: 36350 Country: Spain Direct Tel:+34 635 53 57 45 E-mail:info@bambusa.es Website:http://bambusa.es
URL:https://es-es.facebook.com/bambusaestudio/ Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): #bamboo #bambooconstruction #bioconstrucción #mosobamboo #bamboostructure #bamboodesign #guaduabamboo #bamboonow #bambooisgrowing #keepbamboostrong #organicarchitecture #greenbuilding #sustainablebuilding #greenarchitecture #sustainablearchitecture
URL:https://www.instagram.com/bambusaestudio/?hl=eslinkedidn Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): #bamboo #bambooconstruction #bioconstrucción #mosobamboo #bamboostructure #bamboodesign #guaduabamboo #bamboonow #bambooisgrowing #keepbamboostrong #organicarchitecture #greenbuilding #sustainablebuilding #greenarchitecture #sustainablearchitecture
URL:https://es.linkedin.com/company/bambusa-estudio Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): #bamboo #bambooconstruction #bioconstrucción #mosobamboo #bamboostructure #bamboodesign #guaduabamboo #bamboonow #bambooisgrowing #keepbamboostrong #organicarchitecture #greenbuilding #sustainablebuilding #greenarchitecture #sustainablearchitecture
URL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClgtsrmFzro8CqNcsWazlcg Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): #bamboo #bambooconstruction #bioconstrucción #mosobamboo #bamboostructure #bamboodesign #guaduabamboo #bamboonow #bambooisgrowing #keepbamboostrong #organicarchitecture #greenbuilding #sustainablebuilding #greenarchitecture #sustainablearchitecture
Yes
New European Bauhaus or European Commission websites
Bambusa Estudio is a technical office, highly specialise in bamboo, offering comprehensive services of outdoor and indoor structures design, consultancy and construction projects based on bamboo: housing, ephemeral installations, commercial spaces, spatial and parametric structures, decorative elements and custom-made furniture.
Along the time, Bambusa has organized numerous training activities, lectures and theoretical/practical workshops, self-produced and in collaboration with other organizations, educational institutions, and professionals, in order to spread knowledge about this eco-friendly material as nature-based solution and high-performance material for sustainable architecture and construction in Europe, incorporating both traditional techniques and new technologies.
In 2019, together with INBAR - International Bamboo and Rattan Organization and the Eduardo Torroja Institute of Construction Sciences (Madrid, Spain), Bambusa organised the first Iberian Bamboo Symposium, which allowed to place Spain in the focus of future development and sustainability policies related to bamboo in the European Union and the Agenda 2030. The event was also supported by Polytechnic University of Madrid, UN HABITAT, CSIC, AECID (Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation), and the Spanish Government among others.
From 2021, Bambusa is member and founder of AsIB, the Iberian Bamboo Association, which includes professionals
Joining efforts with public entities, universities, and associations, in a continuous effort to learn, expand and share the knowledge and skills around bamboo, we collaborate with doctoral theses several fields such as engineering, architecture, design and urban planning and its use:
• ETSAM Escuela Técnica de Arquitectura- UPM
• EHU Escuela de Ingeniería de Gipuzkoa de Donostia, (UPV/EHU)
• EPSEB Escuela Superior d'Edificaciò de Barcelona - UPC
• ETSIE Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Edificación – UGR
CARBON SEQUESTRATION & STOCKING
SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AND CONSTRUCTION
NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS MATERIALS
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
BAMBOO CHARACTERISATION
Sustainability is in the core of Bambusa Estudio project which born with the aim of looking for sustainable solutions and materials to the engineering, architecture, design and construction sector.
According to the LCA carried out by the Environmental Analysis Department of the Polytechnic University of Madrid. The GHG emissions of the imported bamboo to Spain, during transport and manufacturing, only account for 15 percent of the total CO2 previously captured during the rapid growth of the plant. The LCA cradle-to-gate assessed sustainability of imported bamboo in terms of impact climate change and use of primary energy, thus confirming that bamboo for construction and design is a sustainable alternative in Europe. Summarizing, The CO2 and energy storage during bamboo cane growth is much higher than the emissions and energy demanding from the following import stages.
Bambusa Estudio provides technical expertise and expand the knowledge among professionals and public as a whole to increase the use of bamboo in the construction and design sector withing the EU. Using bamboo in EU as a sustainable and renewable alternative to other building materials is beneficial in several ways:
- It is a nature-based solution to immensely more polluting building materials, both in terms of them
manufacturing process emissions and their energy demand, such as steel, aluminium, plastic or PVC.
- It provides the sector with another natural resource and plant alternative in addition to timber, reducing the pressure over wood forests.
- The use of bamboo contributes to the circular economy as it is fully recyclable and compostable.
Bamboo plant reshoot from its roots after harvest and promote sustainable management of the bamboo forest.
Recently, the UN Climate Change Secretariat, stated: “One simple 25 m2 bamboo house is on average capable of sequestering around 6 metric tons of CO2 compared to houses made with cement, iron and bricks."
In every project we carry out, we look for harmonious, warm and long-lasting spaces. We work with an exceptional material that makes it very easy for us to meet these expectations; the harmonious, soft aesthetics and natural beauty of bamboo poles, coupled with natural conservation treatments, generate high quality environments.
The bamboo cane has a hyper-optimised shape derived from millennia of evolution whereby it maximises its physical and mechanical properties with the minimum of resources. A bamboo pole is a hollow cylinder extremely lightweight; the fibre is concentrated in the wall and the transverse partitions reinforce the piece. These exceptional parameters make possible to execute singular and organic designs, including curved, parametric and ruled surfaces without any type of mechanisation or transformation of the poles. Each pole is different from the next, offering a range of tonalities, which give an organic aspect to projects including bamboo.
Bambusa Estudio works to minimise costs and provide the European community with a sustainable and easy to handle material and the necessary knowledge for its proper handling. Through the promotion of natural materials, with a negative carbon footprint, raising awareness of the impacts of the construction sector and questioning our values and relationship with our environment. As well as valuing traditional knowledge, in line with new technologies, taking into account the aesthetics, beauty and exceptional performance of the material itself, whose is renewable, recyclable and compostable. Bamboo and its use allow the transition towards a more conscious, respectful and sustainable society, meeting some of the SDG's of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris agreement.
Working with bamboo requires simple tools and no major machining, which brings the material closer to anyone who is interested in its handling and use it, without the need for large industries behind it.
Through open trainings and workshops, Bambusa Estudio acts as a link to transfer the traditional knowledge from the countries of origin to Europe. We have been taken part of festivals, meetings, and conferences related to sustainability and, bioconstruction, such as ESPIGA-2016, ESPORA-2020, ESPORA-2022.
We have developed theoretical-practical and participative workshops in public and academic entities, such as the CDICV, the IES EL ROSAL, and in neighbourhood associations. Providing to the new generations of European professionals and public with knowledge about the characteristics, handling and construction techniques of bamboo.
Among others, highlight the following:
- Participatory construction of bamboo structure for outdoor in public school (El Rosal PO 2021),
- Theoretical and practical bamboo construction workshops, College of interior designers in Valencia VLC (ES) 2012;
- Theoretical and practical workshop on the construction of bamboo structures. Within the framework of the Technical Conference on Bioconstruction.
- Practical workshop on the construction of a bamboo structure for a green roof. IV Bioconstruction course in the Valladares neighbourhood centre.
Currently, Bambusa collaborates closely with the Valencian School of Design (EASD), launching a design challenge among the students. The challenge consists of a bamboo structure design. The winning project will be executed and carried out by the technical team of Bambusa together with the students of the school, carrying out a practical workshop including the theoretical principles.
The benefit is derived from bringing a sustainable, lightweight material with structural properties, easy handling and intrinsic beauty to the general public. The benefit of the substitution of materials such as steel, aluminium or plastic is indisputable. These materials are heavy and highly polluting and requiring machinery and tools that are not so easily accessible. However, working with bamboo, only a drill and a saw are needed, and reduces drastically the global carbon footprint, even if the material is imported, as shown in the LCA's. Additionally, it generates not polluting residues as bamboo poles are recyclable and compostable.
Furthermore, the creation of qualified and skilled labour, through the trainings carried out, has a positive influence on the improvement of local livelihoods.
The project nourishes itself and the stakeholders by reinforcing and expanding the channels of information exchange. Research institutions, universities, NGOs, public entities, associations, suppliers, general public are key partners of Bambusa Estudio network. The wealth generated in the exchange of information in participatory processes is undeniable. It allows us to promote innovation and adaptability to face the challenges posed by working with bamboo in the European context. Among the numerous activities,highlighting:
Co-organization, together with INBAR, of the first Iberian Bamboo Symposium. The three-day event brought together nternational organizations such as UNHabitat, universities, political representatives of supplier countries, European private sector, suppliers, non-profit organizations; COPADE, INBAR and AECID (Spanish Agency for International Cooperation) and the Government of Spain around bamboo interests.
From that symposium, the Iberian Bamboo Association (ASIB) was founded, of which Bambusa is part of the founding team and whose objective is to promote the knowledge and the use of bamboo establishing collaborations and synergies in the European Union.
Aiming of expanding knowledge and promoting the standardisation of a novel construction material in the EU, Bambusa join forces with academic research institutions in more than 10 projects about bamboo physical- mechanical characteristics, lightweight structures, fire safety and bamboo behaviour, for instance:
A. Fernández, Higher Technical School of Building Engineering, UGR 2022.
A. Elejoste School of Engineering of Gipuzkoa, UPV. 2021. & UPV 2022
A. González, Universidad de Almeria 2014
R. Aguilar, Escuela Superior d'Edificaciò de Barcelona - UPC 2022 & UPC 2021
L. Haurie, A. Avellaneda, and J. Monton, 2020
L. Haurie, A. Avellaneda, and J. Monton, International Conference on Functional Materials and Applications, 2019.
Avellaneda, L. Haurie, and J. Monton, Congreso LIGNOMAD, 2019
Bambusa Estudio project encompasses disciplines such as building engineering, architecture, carpentry, environment, design, logistics and agronomy and traditional knowledge of the uses of bamboo at source.
The human capital of Bambusa is formed by specialists and enthusiasts of the above-mentioned disciplines which allow us to improve, adapt and spread bamboo traditional knowledge within the EU.
We have combined technology and design focused on the European context, implementing improvements to the traditional techniques of use and construction. At the same time, strategies have been designed to solve the logistical issues that allow us to make available a material with high quality standards and its performance intact.
Results
• + 100 consultancies and projects developed annually
• 370 Tn carbon mitigated since 2009
• 2368 m3 of bamboo supplied
• 10 projects research participation
• 120 people trained on bamboo building techniques
• 15 training and outreach activities
Outcomes
• Increase the range of renewable, natural, plant-based materials in the EU
• Reduce of polluting residues of construction sector
• Reduction of the pressure over timber forests
• Bamboo Physic-mechanical characterisation
• Improvement of bamboo construction techniques
• Skilled labour and improving livelihood
• Increased use of bambooin European context
Impacts:
Reduction of the carbon footprint and negative impacts of industrial sector, enhancing sustainability and circularity for companies and consumers
According to the LCA of the imported bamboo to Spain, the GHG emissions during transport and process, only account for 15 percent of the total CO2 previously captured during the growth of the plant.
Bambusa has trained 120 people among professionals; carpenters, designers, architects, builders. As well as students and unemployed people on building bamboo structures. By raising awareness about the use of bamboo as a building material, we boost the demand for bamboo, thus substituting highly polluting or finite materials with a low-impact renewable material. At the same time that we provide skilled labour and potential livelihood.
As a qualitative impact, we highlight the co-organisation of the first Iberian Bamboo Symposium in 2019, supported by various international organisations such as UN Habitat, AECID and public entities and governments. This 3-day event has brought together a wide range of European agents and bamboo producing countries, including international experts, policy makers and private sector representatives, to raise awareness and visibility of the contributions of bamboo to meet the SDG.
The innovative character is determined by the material and the uses for that material promoted from Bambusa within the European context. Despite being a widely used material in other environments and contexts, this is not the case in Europe.
We also consider innovative the approach of our thecnical office which is highly spezialized in just one single natural material and all its possibilities. In addition, Bambusa Estudio pays special attention to the transfer of knowledge in the management, use and construction techniques of bamboo, from the countries of origin to the European context, reversing the usual flow of knowledge transfer.
Unlike mostly of technical studios, Bambusa Estudio is focused and highly specialised in a single material, bamboo. Bambusa has a 360º approach to the integral study of the material, its possibilities and applications in Europe, as well as selecting and supplying the material from source. We provide architects, designers and engineers, as well as the general public, with knowledge, advice on construction techniques and the selection of the bamboo varieties required for each application.
Bambusa Estudio provides theorical practical workshops which allow to replicate structures, and the techniques used for the management of the bamboo.
The training collaboration and Bambusas Estudio experience are key for increasing and diversifying bamboo applications in design and architectural projects as structural element, including aesthetic values. Collaborations and push on research projects work in universities about new composite materials such as insulation fibres, fibre panels with lower carbon footprint, fabrics made from a renewal material, characterization of the material will help to diversify and expand the use of bamboo.
- Global warming mitigation. The substitution of materials such as steel, aluminium, plastic and PVC with multiple applications in the construction sector by a natural, sustainable, versatile and low impact material leads to a reduction of the impact of architectural and construction projects in general. Additionally, taking into account the carbon dioxide and energy storage capacity of the bamboo plant, the life cycle assessment concludes that bamboo poles, as a building material, has a negative carbon footprint.
- Reduction of highly polluting residues. Bamboo is a renewable, recyclable and at the end of its life, is a compostable material. Bamboo is a clear asset to the circular economy
- Providing a nature-based solution to the industrial sector, increasing the range of natural raw material, new tech and new composite materials to construction sector with lower impact.
- Reducing deforestation by dropping the pressure to the timber-forest by using bamboo which is a renewable source that regenerates itself from its roots system after harvesting.
- Heritage and traditional knowledge conservation. Throughout the centuries, the handling, conservation and construction techniques with bamboo is a knowledge that has been passed down among the native peoples from generation to generation. Bambusa's technical team has been in native countries receiving training and the appropriate knowledge that allow us to adapt and applying it to the European context and reality.
