ASIAN ARCHITECTURE ARC2213 2-PAGE PROPOSAL (10%)

Student Name: CASEY CHOONG KA SCHING 1007P74305

PROPOSED TITLE: How has bamboo influence cultures and how was it used in Vernacular Architecture from prehistoric times to this day. ?

Research Questions:

1. What is the symbolism of bamboo in Asian Architecture ?

2. Does bamboo serve as a multifunction material compared to others ?

3. How long does bamboo last compared to others and what is the cost ?

4. How is bamboo used in Vernacular Architecture ?

5. Is bamboo more environmental-friendly compared to wood or any other materials ?

6. How does bamboo take its toll when it comes to modern architecture ?

SUMMARY:

Bamboo is a natural product derived from the ground up, it is in fact that literature about bamboo in prehistoric architecture up to modern architecture is hard to find but when they are form and function complements it. Bamboo used for many different purposes. Some species are suitable or preferred for certain uses, whereas other species are neglected or even disregarded. It is often used in processing and utilization to unsuitable properties. therefore there must be a thorough understanding regarding the material used as they are many relations between structure, properties, behavior in processing and product qualities is necessary for promoting the utilization of bamboo. Fortunately bamboo is a much simpler contraction compared to timber and the difference among 800 species appear relatively small. In regions where bamboo is domestic, it was not just integrated in culture, but even in architecture. Bamboo has the image of being the building material of the poorer class, for example in Malaysia the upper class especially prefers concrete. In India the highest class builds with stone, the middle class use wood and other materials.

In Asia, bamboo is quite common for bridges, scaffolding and housing, but it is usually a temporary exterior structural material. In many overly populated regions of the tropics, certain bamboo's supply the one suitable material that is sufficiently cheap and plentiful to meet the extensive need for economical housing.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Published Text: Reference No. 1; "Suoi-re multi-functional community house: Forging Ties" Krups, Dr Matthias . "Green Issue 2011." FutureArc 8 Apr. 2011: 57-61. A wide, green veranda acts as a 'green cushion' and the ground floor is designed to fit within the concave slopes, utilizing them for geothermal heating and cooling- the building can avoid the east-north monsoon winds, which are dry and cold in the winter while taking advantage of the east-south winds to cool the interior in the summer. Built modestly with local materials, the ground floor was constructed with smoother stone, while bamboo doors cover passageways, and a bamboo ceiling warms the space. A rammed-soil wall with heavy stones supports the structure, and the bamboo roof frame has been

adorned with dense palm leaves, providing protection from above. Solar cell, rainwater and geothermal systems are some of the initiatives taken to make this an energy efficient design.

Reference No. 2; "Lifelong Green: Education starts in school: Green school in Bali" Architect, Singapore . "GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK." Singapore Architect 3 December. 2010: 58-61. All the buildings in the school are made from alternative sturdy bamboo instead of concrete. With immense tensile strength comparable to that of timber, bamboo is a simple an effective substitute for timber, with the added advantages of flexibility and relatively easy cultivation. The simple and contemporary design, using more organic shapes and texture, seems to stem from and blends in seamlessly with the surrounding nature. .articulated the natural qualities of bamboo, such as the inherent flexibility of the bamboo pole and its elongation and span. Distinctive slender bamboo types make up most of the structures found.

Reference No. 3; Knapp, Ronald G.. "A complex Mosaic of Architectural Styles." Chinese Houses : The Architectural Heritage of a Nation. Singapore: Tuttle Publishing, 2006. 43. Bamboo, a multipurpose grass that grows rapidly and in many forms, has many structural qualities-strong yet light, rigid yet pliant-- but also has a certain shortcomings -- difficult to join as well as vulnerable to splitting, rotting, and burning. Because the cylindrical shells of bamboo come in different sizes and can be easily cut, split and worked with tools, it is an all-purpose building material. Bamboo is used for framing members and floor joists, for roof components such as rafters, purlins, and ridgepoles, as well as a variety of walling forms. Taiwan as recently as 1958, dwellings that included substantial amounts of bamboo, rather than adobe or fired brick, represented 40 percent of rural dwellings.