bamboo

a building material

Compiled by Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar

Credits: VENU BHARATI by Vinoo Kaley

Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.

Bamboo a plant of utilitarian value since

ancient times

The first direct reference to bamboo in our literature

Rig-Veda (circa 3000 B.C.)

Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.

An eco friendly material

The fastest growth rate
Reputedly the fastest grower of
the living world, bamboo has
clocked a record of 1.19 meters of
vertical growth in 24 hours. It
also ranks second in energy
conservation rate with the mature
Timber yields within five years
of plantation

A general description of
bamboo
Within the broad geometry of a
noded pipe (It used to be called
hollow timber by the 15th century
Germans before they imported
the word bamboo from India)
bamboo stems possess shapes,
sizes and colours in enormous
diversity.
Among the 125 bamboo species of
India there are some Himalayan
ones which equal a human finger
in diameter and measure up to the
human height on full growth
On the other hand, WORRA is a
species which at times measures
30 cm in diameter and over 30
meters in height.
Colour: As a rule Bamboos start
their life green in colour, some
light and some dark. As they
mature, they start turning yellow. A
gardener's favourite striated
variety shows off brilliant green
vertical lines like a bar code. There
is a bamboo having dark (almost
black) green hue or another one
with panther spots on it known as
tiger bamboo.

Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.

Shape: Usually3 hollow cylindrical

although some are almost solid

The Rhizome
The bamboo shoot that we
see growing above the ground
is in technical terms a branch
while the real trunk lies under
ground, formed by hundreds
of ginger shaped elements
attached to each other.
The Sympodial trunk:
All tropical bamboo varieties
have this multiple ginger
shaped trunk arrangement.
This bamboo grows in the
form of an expanding circle
above ground to maximize
the exposure to sun.
The Monopodial trunk:
In the frost prone temporal
zones of the Bamboo world
like parts of China and Japan,
one comes across a type of
bamboo that has a trunk
growing horizontally below
ground and looks similar to
the branches rising up. The
growth is in a straight line and
Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.
4
is also known as Military

Some
common
Bamboos:
Name of
Bamboo

Culm
Length
(m)

Bambusa
Arundinacea

15-30

Bambusa
Balcoa

16-23

Bambusa
Multiplex

2-4

Bambusa
Nutans

6-13

Bambusa
Pallida

13-20

Indian
Dia. (cm) Internodes Habitat
(cm)
4-7

25-45

Properties Uses

Large parts of Thin walls,

Woven
India. Kerala, Hard swollen products.
Karnataka,
nodes, Great Structural
Maharashtra, hollows lower timber (used
Orissa,
gross density as whole)
Bengal,
and increase
Assam and
transportation
Manipur
cost
8-15
20-45
Nagaland,
Thick walls,
Building
Meghalaya,
only 1/3rd
timber,
Tripura,
hollows,
Scaffolding
Assam,
Vulnerable to material
Bengal, Bihar, borer attacks
Utter Pradesh. so one year
curing in
water
immediately
after felling is
a must
1.5-3.5
20-40
North east,
Very dense
Furniture
Assam
making,
Natural live
fence
4-7
25-45
Tarais and
Straight
Craft work as
Gangetic Belt, culms with
well as
East of
medium thick building
Yamuna,
walls
timber
Orissa
5-8
15-70
Above 700 to Soft nodes,
Variety of
2000 mtr.
Straight
uses
altitude;
culms
Mizoram,
Meghalaya,
Nagaland,
Sikkim,
Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.
5
Tripura,
Bhutan

Some
common
Bamboos:

Indian

Name of
Bamboo

Culm
Length
(m)

Bambusa
Polimorpha

16-26

8-15

40-60

Bambusa Tulda

7-23

5-10

40-70

Bambusa
Vulgaris

8-20

5-10

30-45

North eastern
states

Dendrocalamus
Brandisi

19-33

13-20

30-40

Manipur ,
Andaman,
Coorg, Kerala

Dendrocalamus
Giganteus

24-30

20-30

35-90

5-8

2-5

20-30

10-20

3-7

20-50

Arunachal,
Assam,
Manipur,
Nagaland, West
Bengal, Coorg
Assam,

Meghalaya,
Mizoram,
Tripura, Bihar,
Madhya
Pradesh,
Maharashtra
North eastern Rod like Culm
states

Gigantochloa
Rostrata

Melocanna
Baccifera
PseudoOxytenanthera

9m

Dia. (cm) Internodes Habitat

(cm)
Forest species:
Arunachal,
Meghalaya,
Tripura
Assam,
Meghalaya,
Mizoram,
Tripura, Bihar
and Bengal

Architect
Sudhanva
Kolhatkar.
2.54
15-30
North west
Karnataka,

Properties Uses
Outstanding
Engineering
properties

Any general
application

Vulnerable to
borer attacks
so one year
curing in water
immediately
after felling is a
must
Prefers
moisture and
nutrient soil.
Considered
equivalent to
the most
durable of
timbers
Large size
makes it
favourite of
house builders
Large size
offers various
possibilities

Building
timber,
Scaffolding
material

Construction
material,
Scaffolding,
Fencing

Construction
material,
Handicrafts
Housing
timber, Masts
of ships and
many other
uses
General
Purpose
Bamboo

Weaving, fine
work, windows,
doors and grills
General
Purpose

Anatomy

Once out of the soil cover,

Bamboo shoot goes up as a
speed
unrivalled
in
the
organic world. During this
growth phase of 2-3 months
it rises 30-60 cm over a day
to reach its full height, which
may in some species exceed
30m.
The culm attains its full
growth within a period of 1 to
3
months with all
the
branches and leaves. As
illustrated (1,2,3,4), the culm
tapers towards the top to
answer the stresses it has to
withstand swaying on high
winds. The wall also goes on
thinning towards the top to
reduce
the
weight
and
thereby
the
incidental
bending stresses the bottom
internodes have to negotiate.
Nature
compensates
this
thinness of wall sections by
relatively extra strong fibers.
Sheath is an extremely hard,
paper thin membrane on the
inner nodes protecting the
Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.
7
shoot when it moves through

A node is an invariable
feature,
characteristic
of
bamboo. At the node, a
diaphragm
connects
the
inside of the tube where the
fibers from the two internodes
intertwine into each other.
The diaphragm strengthens
the pipe with an appropriate
counter structure in order to
take bending stresses induced
by the cantilever load of
branches. Some species have
prominent and swollen nodes
while in the case of a few
The lowest quarter of the bamboo culm has the highest density
favoured species, they are
of fibers which get distributed in the branches. Whenever one
barely visible.
wants a high strength performance one goes for sections with
high fiber density.

Anatomy

The skin: Unlike trees, bamboos do not have any bark but has a
skin that protects the culm from the elements, insects and
animals. Fortified by silica, the skin has a glass like gloss and
waxy smoothness which protect the culm from those hazards.
However it takes years for the skin to harden and in the first year
one can conveniently mark the birth year of the culm by ones
finger nails.
All the fibers and veins in bamboo run
straight except at the nodes. This makes it
very easy to work the bamboo on one hand
and on the other to push water or treatment
liquids through it.
Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.

Some Traditional Uses of

Bamboo

Acupuncture
Needles
Airplanes
Animal Pens
Baskets
Bamboo Beer/
Wine
Beer Mugs / Cups
Blow guns
Bone setting
Bridges
Brushes
Bullock Carts
Buckets
Candle stands
Chicken Coops
Comb
Cooking Vessels
Crutches
Cutlery
Dry Cells
Fans
Fencing
Flute
Food
Fishing
Furniture
Garden Stakes
Grain Storage
Hats, caps
House
Construction
Walls
Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.
Doors

Windows
Kites
Kanvar
Ladders
Looms
Manure
Medicine
Musical Instruments
Paper
Raclks
Rayon
Retaining Walls for open
wells
River Bank Protectors
Roofing tiles
Room Dividers
Scare Crows
Scaffolding
Screens
Silk worm rearing
Toys
Gotam
Crackers
Bow Catapult
Trays
Tube Wells
Water Lifting
Water supply
Wind Chime
Winnowers
Wind Mills
9

Traditional
Bamboo

Houses

in
Typical Mizo house is stilted on
bamboo stilts. Walls, floors,
roofing, doors windows, Railings
etc are all made in bamboo.

Typical walls

Typical Mizo door

Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.

10

Traditional
Bamboo

Houses

in
Typical Assam House a
colonial adaptation is a frame
structure with main beams and
columns of timber while infill
panels in bamboo mat and lime
or mud plaster from both sides
of mats

Traditional Assamese house

is much different from so called
Assam house
The plinth is about 25 to 30 cm
above
the
surroundings.
Bamboo verticals are stacked
about 75 cm apart all along the
external wall to take the roof
load. Usually another row of
bamboos is added to form the
verandah which is the soul
space of a tropical house. Thick
stripped bamboo mats are then
mounted on the vertical duly
braced by stiffeners on either
side and bound by ropes. The
roof is usually made out of Prefab panels. The panels are
formed of straw sandwiched
between bamboo
slivers. These
Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.
11
prefabricated panels are then

Traditional
Bamboo

Houses

in

The lightness and high strength of

bamboo culm receive appreciation from
local building tradition. The door shown
below is seen in Kolam houses all around.
It is an intelligent use of hollow core of
bamboo.

Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.

Gandhijis house
at Sevagram
Ashram
Gandhiji
understood
the
importance
of
tradition
much
beyond
nostalgic
parochialism.
He
encouraged
the
Seva gram ashram
to be built with
ingenious
innovations.
The window shutter
shown below also
doubles up as a sun
shade

12

Comparative
Indices
Item

Engineering

Density

Moisture Moment of Modulus

%
Resistance
of
2
kg/cm
Elasticity
kg/cm2

Max.
Reference
Crushing
strength
kg/cm2

Bamboo Species
D. Strictus

0.719

10.7

1184

159490

645

B. Bambos

0.651

15.5

674

65000

483

B. Nutans

0.716

16.0

545

85000

508

0.82

10.0

1448

176000

B. Tulda

Shekhar &
Gulati 1973
Gulati &
Singh 1989
Hek 1956

Timber Species
Teak

0.604

12.0

959

119600

532

Saal

0.707

12.0

1318

162045

641

7.8

1650

2100000

4250

Mild steel

In case of a whole bamboo culm, owing to its tubular cross section, the
actual mechanical strength goes up ever more. After all it is a natural
pipe and one knows that a pipe is stronger than a solid section of the
same weight in any material.

Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.

13

Comparative Energy Expenditure to carry the same field

load
Material

Density
Kg/m3
1

Energy required in
Mega Joules
MJ/Kg
2
1x2=
3

Field stress
carried
Kg/cm2

Energy
Index

3/4 = 5

Concrete

2400

8.0

19200

80

24.00

Mild Steel

7800

30.0

234000

1600

146.25

Timber

600

1.0

600

15

40.00

Bamboo

600

0.5

300

120

2.50

Source: Dr. Jules Janssens paper Mechanical Properties of Bamboos International

Bamboo workshop, 1985, China.
The Table shows clearly the extremely low expenditure of energy in
bamboo production to carry the same field stress. These figures have been
drawn from energy intensive bamboo farming practices of the West and would
become ridiculously low under Indian conditions

Comparison of some engineering materials:

Ratios
& Stiffness
factors
Material
Density
Kg/ltr
1

Strength to Weight

Compressive
Strength
Kg/cm2
2

Strength/
Weight Ratio
2/1=3

Stiffness
Factor

Bamboo

0.719

645

897

33

Teak Wood

0.604

532

880

18

Mild Steel

7.800

4250

544

27

Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.

14

Bamboo
Reinforced
Concrete

If the engineering properties of bamboo

are as good as that of mild steel then is it
possible to use it as a reinforcement in
reinforced cement concrete?
For the last 50 years people have thought this
possible
as
a
revolutionary
invention.
Especially during the second world war when
steel and cement were a black market
commodity, the idea of replacing mild steel
with high tensile strength bamboo took shape.
The idea almost hypnotized people.
But almost all the experiments failed
under field conditions.
The reasons for failure are simple scientific
facts.
Bamboo and Concrete fail as a composite
material because:

Unlike mild steel, Bamboo strips posses no

natural bond with concrete.
This can be partially countered by keeping
the node pieces intact
When bamboo strips stay submerged in
green concrete, it expands with high
moisture absorption.
When curing is over and the concrete dries
out, bamboo shrinks differentially breaking
Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.
15
whatever bond has formed.

Preservation of Bamboo is an organic material containing

starch.
Bamboo
It can decay and is vulnerable to various pest
attacks
Common agents of destruction are:
Fungi
Borer Beetles
Termites

Kinks
in
the
armour:
The
skin
of
bamboo does not
allow free access
to
insects
or
microbes.
The
agents of decay/
destruction enter
through:
Cross
sectional exposure
and the branching
points. If one can
seal
these
accesses
after
bringing about a
gradual drop of
moisture to a safe
12%, there should
not be much to
worry about for
whole culm users.

The main reason for the decay or pest attack

on bamboo is the presence of starch in the
culm.The removal of starch (known as
Water
seasoning) can
be seasoning:
done in various waysSubmerging
under flowing water for 3
months
immediately after felling.

Heat Treatment: A preservation

technique using castor-seed oil
before scorching to an even brown on
a wood fire.

Smoke Seasoning: Not very

common, smoke seasoning
is done by some tribes using
special herbs
Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.

16

Preservation of Bamboo
Chemical Treatment: Most natural preservation methods offer some
protection from borers but only marginally against fungus and none
against termites.
For construction purpose where intimate contact with earth is
unavoidable, chemical treatment is a must. Location of use, green
colour (or otherwise) of the stems and ultimate application are
Chemical
is done
either byprocess
smearing
or by penetration
importantTreatment
determinants
of particular
choice.
Smearing is done best on dry bamboos. The materials used for
smearing are:

Lime
Tar (Molten / Dissolved)
Creosote
Acid chrome copper / copper chrome Boron, 2.4% solution.

Penetration is done in different ways. Bamboo veins are straight.

Liquid at a pressure moves along the stem at an unbelievable speed,
reaching each tissue. There are three methods to achieve penetration:
Steeping : The stems with branches and foliage intact are made to
stand vertically up in a drum in a sun lit location. The chemical
solution in the drum is absorbed by the tree in the process of
photosynthesis.
Dipping
: If freshly cut bamboos are immersed in the solution in a
tub for sufficient time, similar penetration can be affected.
Boucherie : The preservative
solution takes the gravity path
instead of depending entirely
upon the rather weak biopumps.
In
freshly
felled
bamboos, the distribution gets
Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.
achieved in two hours flat.

17

Some typical joinery details of

bamboo:

Joints using nut

and bolt
fasteners

Ladder Joinery

Do not nail bamboo, instead

use drill for drilling a hole
Joints using nut
and bolt
fasteners
Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.

18

Some typical joinery details of

bamboo:

Using wood
joint

Bamboo to
bamboo

FRP Bandage

Bamboo to
bamboo

Bamboo dowels

Using M.S.
pipes

Bicycle
rivetting

FRP Bandage
Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.

19

Some traditional joinery

details of bamboo:

Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.

20

SOME TYPICAL ARCHITECTURAL APPLICATIONS

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
NMBA has designed classroom structures for NIFT
National Institute of Fashion Technology has opened a centre at Kangra,
Himachal Pradesh. In this regard NMBA has erected classroom structures at
their centre at Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, by using engineered bamboo
products in their premises.
On the basis of their requirement NMBA has designed twelve class room
structures of size 32x26 incl 6 verandah having bamboo composite
framework & engineered bamboo based false ceiling & wall panels. These
structures have been well appreciated by NIFT authorities and are already in
regular use.
SOUTH CAMPUS (DELHI UNIVERSITY)
NMBA has designed a canteen structure for Delhi University.
Delhi University is in process of massive expansion of infrastructure like
classrooms, hostels, cafeteria and other facilities. In this regard on
demonstration basis NMBA has erected a canteen structure at South
Campus by using engineered bamboo products in their premises for the
showcase. On the basis of their requirement NMBA has designed a canteen
structure of size 32x84 having steel framework, Bamboo jute composite
roofing sheets & engineered bamboo based false ceiling & double wall
panels.
This structure has been well appreciated by Delhi University authorities and
become a attraction for the outside personal visiting the place. Delhi
University Now decided to maintain the surrounding area of canteen by using
the bamboo and bamboo based material. They want to have incorporated
Bamboo flooring tiles for canteen flooring with bamboo fUrniture, which is
under progress.
STRUCTURES FOR 96TH INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS, SHILLONG
96th Indian Science Congress had been held from 3rd Jan. to 7th Jan. 2009
at North Eastern Hills University, Shillong, Meghalaya for which 50 nos. of
one room set (22'x12'), 50 nos. of two room set (32'x24') & 10 nos. of
dormitories (60'x20') had been constructed in cluster by using Engineered
bamboo based materials for the accommodation of 550 delegates for the
conference. These structures will be utilized for the accommodation for the
future upcoming conferences/seminars and faculty.

Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.

21

SOME TYPICAL ARCHITECTURAL APPLICATIONS

BAMBOO BASED POLYHOUSE (Sikkim)
Use of polyhouses to ensure controlled environmental condition for growing
flowers and vegetables, is on the rise during last few years. Using bamboo as
structural material in polyhouses is new application segment, which we are
trying to be modeled on our experience, gained by using whole bamboo in
various buildings erected throughout the country. The use of whole bamboo
with necessary emphasis on treatment, jointing and aesthetics were to be
highlighted. This segment has potential for value added applications of
bamboo by utilizing its inherent structural strength as well as by ensuring cost
competitiveness vis--vis steel based polyhouses.
An innovative design using natural material like Bamboos slashes the setup
costs of green house by half. As a renewable resource like Bamboo is used
instead of steel, the polyhouses so built help mitigate global climate change.
The use of Bamboo also provides income to the rural economy.
NMBA has collaborated with M/s Thousand Petals for the construction of
bamboo based polyhouses at many places. 2000 sq mt size polyhouse has
been constructed at G.B.Pant University, Pantnagar. Various sizes of Bamboo
based polyhouses has also been constructed for demonstration in Sikkim and
West Bengal.
BOAT HOUSE RESORT (KUDAL, Maharshtra)
An innovative use of bamboo and their by product has been shown for the
construction of Boat house at Kudal, district Sindhudurg in Maharashtra. In the
structure vide variety of structural application of bamboo (whole, split and
engineered bamboo products) can be seen having architectural innovative
ideas. The structure has been built by KONBAC

TYPICAL INTERIOR
APPLICATIONS
BAMBOO BLINDS
BAMBOO FLOORING
BAMBOO BOARDS

Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.

22

Agencies
Mr. Rahul Saksena
Chief Executive BASERA
Add:Basera, Kerwa Dam
Road Bhopal,
Tel:0755-5234731
Fax:0755-2696832
Email:rahulsaksena@hotm
ail.com
Mr. S Kumar,President
Mr. Madan,Vice President
Mobile:9418089248
Mr. K Dutt,Secretay
Dhauladhar Public
Education Society
Add:Yol Cantt,
Dharamshala
Distt-Kangra, H.P.
Tel:01892-236600,
236273
Email:ajit@123himachal.c
om
dpes04@rediffmail.com
Mr.R.N. Mahapatra
Rural Womens Building
Center
Add:Gruhanirman
Bhawan,
Gandhi Vihar, Po-Arikama
Dist.-Khurda, Orissa
Pin:752064
Mobile:09437012290
Tel:0674-2332290
Email:
mkgsamity@mkgsamity.or
g

INBAR/CIBART
Centre for Indian
Bamboo
Resource and Technology
Add:200, Jor Bagh
New Delhi 110003
Tel:24604404/34
Fax:24648303
E-mail:indira@inbar.int

Mr.Subhendu Mitra
General Secretary
Forum of Scientists,
Engineers &
Technologists
Add:15N, Nelli
Sengupta Sarani,
New CMC Building (5th
Floor)
Kolkata-700087
Tel:033-22529675
Fax:033-22520521
Email:foset@redifmail.co
m
Mr. Vinai Sharma
Coordinator (Projects)
Vasundhra Rural Building
Centre
Add:319, Teachers
Colony,
Faridpur (Bareilly)243503 U.P.
Site Add:286 KM, Mile
Stone,
NH-24 Faridpur (Bareilly)
U.P.
Tel:05821-224306,
011-26941626

Mr. Suneel Deshpande

Ms. Niharika Singh
Secretary
Vice
president
National
Mission
On
Bamboo
Applications
Sampoorna Bamboo
Raghvendra
Rural
Vishwakarma Bhawan
Kendra
Development
Shaheed JeetDistrict
Singh Marg
Add:Lavada,
and Research
Dharani
New Delhi - 110016
Organization
Maharastra
Tel: +91-11- 26566778
Add:17 Kaiserbagh
Tel:091-7226-24662/
Fax: +91-11- 26962267
Lucknow-226001, (U.P.)
24522
e-mail: bamboo@bambootech.org
Tel:011-26592770
Fax:091-7226-24391

I.S.Codes for structural use

of bamboo
Code of Practice for preservation of
1. IS 1902:1993

bamboo and cane for non-structural

purposes

2. IS 6874:1973
3. IS7344:1974
4. IS 8242:1976

Methods of test for round bamboos

Specification for bamboo tent bamboos
Methods of tests for split bamboos

5.

IS 8295 (Part
1): 1976

Specification for bamboo

chicks: Part 1 Fine

6.

IS 8295 (Part
2): 1976

Specification for bamboo chicks:

Part 2 Coarse

7. IS 9096: 1979

Code of practice for preservation of

bamboo for structural purposes.

8. IS 10145:1982

Specification for bamboo supports for

camouflaging Equipment.

9. IS 13958: 1994

Specification for bamboo mat board

for general purposes

10. IS 14588: 1999

Specification for bamboo mat veneer

composites for general purposes

11. IS-15476: 2004 Bamboo mat corrugated sheets

12. IS 5913:

Durability including water absorption,

impermeability, load bearing capacity,
density, frost cracking etc.

13. IS 4908: 1968 Random sampling.

14.

IS 459: 1992/
ASTM-D1037

Standard for accelerated aging.

15.

UV Resistance
test

Lamp UV-B Cycle: 4 hours exposure

at 60C followed by 4 hrs humidity
exposure at 50C.

16. IS 4990: 1993 Ply wood for concrete shuttering.

ISO 22156:
2004
ISO 22157:
18.
2004
17.

Bamboo structural design

Bamboo physical and mech properties.

1. Activated carbon specification

(granular).
IS 2752: 1995
2. Activated carbon specification
19. IS 8366: 1989
(Powder)
IS 877: 1989
3. Sampling and test of activated
carbon.

Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.

23

Present pricing of bamboo

flooring
The price of abamboo unfinished floorwill often appear to be
very cheap on the face of things, and typically such floors may
start at prices around the Rs. 75.0 s/f level. One thing to bear in
mind with this type is the fact that the cost of finishing the floor
and the extra labor involved is likely to add a hefty sum to the
final total, regardless of whether or not you carry out the install
yourself. This is due to the cost of the additional materials
needed, and possibly tools, to sand, stain and coat the flooring.
Next on the price scale will be standard finished bamboo
flooring. This is a very broad range with a lot of choices and
prices that vary from around Rs.100 to Rs. 300 per s/f. The main
factors that will influence the price you pay are the quality of
the finishing, the length of the warranty and whether the floor
is a snap lock one or a straight edged plank floor.
The Affect that the Coating has on the Price Some coatings,
such as Klumpp, are certified to be low in formaldehyde but
they do cost more to produce. It is important that you don't
simply choose a bamboo floor because it has the lowest price
especially if the coating on it is likely to adversely affect your
health in the long term.
Bamboo flooring planks that have been manufactured with click
lock or snap lock joints may well be priced higher than those
without. The amount of work you are prepared to put into the
installation will be
the
deciding
factor
in this 24
regard. Clearly
Architect
Sudhanva
Kolhatkar.
snap lock floors are much faster to lay and may well be worth

Conclusions
Bamboo is one of the worlds best engineering
materials
Bamboo is one of the worlds most eco-friendly
construction materials.
Bamboo is the worlds fastest grower
Bamboo is the worlds second best photo converter
and at a much less water cost than the first
Bamboo plantation enriches the soil, arrests soil
erosion and tames flash floods
Bamboo offers stakes to trees, fodder to animals and
food to humans
Bamboo is recurringly harvestable with first mature
stems in 5-6 years of plantation
Credits: Venu Bharati by Vinoo Kaley

Architect Sudhanva Kolhatkar.

25