Summary + Reader Response_Draft 2

 

In the article, “An Architect’s Guide to Building with Bamboo”, Vadot, (n.d) states that bamboo is a reliable and sustainable future construction material. The author also referenced permaculture expert Mr Alejandro Chellet, who emphasizes bamboo as a future innovation and its uses in his workshops across countries to bring awareness about bamboo structures. The author finds that bamboo flourishes well across the world with little maintenance and grew more near equator. He adds that it is best to harvest the bamboo between four and six years so that it becomes construction-grade material, and often, referred to as the steel’s alternative. Bamboo is naturally protected against microorganisms from "cut close to its base" harvest method. The author asserts that an incredibly lightweight material that can be used to accomplish stable, weight-bearing structures cannot be overlook in construction industry. Bamboo is lightweight, easy, and affordable to transport and low cost when bought near the plantation. At the same time, Vadot highlights that there is no standard design code for bamboo. While the author focused on advantages, he should elaborate the advantages of the bamboo in details and he should also highlight all the advantages and explains systematically.

First of all, the article is not very clearly describing about bamboo full benefits, he just briefly explains bamboo strength and construction use. I felt that Vadot’s article requires more description of bamboo’s strength with concrete evidence and how it is used in construction industry, rather than given few examples. There is no coherence in his explanation. In the article, “Environmental, social and economic sustainability of bamboo and bamboo-based construction materials in buildings” Rashmi, Kim and Kim (2 May 2019), has further given explanations the features of bamboo, its workability strength and its actual uses with examples  and other authors articles to support his explanation.

Secondly, Vadot has mentions that it is hard to create standard code for 1200 species of bamboo. In the article, “Bamboo based biocomposites material, design and applications”, Suhaily et al. 2013 explains that there are 1575 different species of bamboo and ranging from woody to bamboo herd. Out all these, only 20-38 species are suitable for construction material. I noticed that there is contradicting information in both articles. I doubt Vadot’s credibility as he has not elaborated on the total number of bamboo species. Furthermore, when he has least details about species rather, he just mentions in one line. I felt that he has not lack of supporting information with verification that weigh down the article’s reputation.  

Furthermore, Vadot has mentions that bamboo helps to reduce carbon. However, there is no further explanation to it and there is no clarity how bamboo helps environmentally. Bamboo benefits environmentally as it functions as a material that helps to control the soil erosion, use as a wastewater treatment, and absorb a huge amount of carbon dioxide. In the article “Environmental Impact of Guadua Bamboo” Schröder (2012) has further given explanations on the environment impact of bamboo by providing examples and statistics to support his explanation.

Lastly, the author has mentions that the bamboo is naturally protected against microorganisms. However, in the article “Studies on dimensional stability, thermal degradation and termite resistant properties of bamboo (Bambusa tulda Roxb.) treated with thermosetting resins”, Deka M, Das P and Saikia C.N, explains that bamboo has to be treated to protect it from termites that was supported by their experiments. Once again, there is a conflicting information in both articles that overthrow the standing.

 

In a nutshell, bamboo has huge benefits not just for construction and also to the environment. If Vadot explains all the qualities and reinforce with evidence, his article would be well grounded.  

References

Valot, C. (n.d). An Architect’s Guide to Building with Bambo. Architizer   

   https://architizer.com/blog/practice/details/how-to-bamboo/  

Environmental, social and economic sustainability of bamboo and bamboo-based construction materials in buildings. Rashmi Manandhar, Jin-Hee Kim & Jun-Tae Kim, 02 May 2019.     

    
     https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13467581.2019.1595629

Bamboo based biocomposites material, design and applications. Suhaily et al. 2013. 

https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?hl=en&publication_year=2013&pages=489-517&author=S.+S.+Suhaily&author=H.+P.+S.+A.+Khalil&author=W.+O.+W.+Nadirah&author=M.+Jawaidauthor=Y.+Mastai&title=Bamboo+Based+Biocomposites+Material%2C+Design+and+Applications

Environmental Impact of Guadua Bamboo. Stephane Schröder (2012).

https://www.guaduabamboo.com/blog/environmental-impact-of-guadua-bamboo?rq=Environmental%20Impact%20of%20Guadua%20Bamboo

Studies on dimensional stability, thermal degradation and termite resistant properties of bamboo (Bambusa tulda Roxb.) treated with thermosetting resins. Deka M, Das P, Saikia C.N (January 2003).

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233580520_Studies_on_dimensional_stability_thermal_degradation_and_termite_resistant_properties_of_bamboo_Bambusa_tulda_Roxb_treated_with_thermosetting_resins