November 06, 2007 | Filed under: Material Features

BAMBOOZLED

Acknowledged to be one of the greenest materials around, the eco movement has put bamboo in the spotlight once again.

Leave it to the world of design to make the old new again.

In this environmentally enlightened age, designers are reexamining materials based on their impact on nature. A result of that approach? The humble bamboo has become one of design’s hottest new stars, enjoying a resurgence that takes in everything from a pair of chopsticks to innovative flooring to the structure of an entire building.

We are now asking questions about material that have not been raised the past. We ask whether it comes from a renewable source, if the cultivation method is sustainable. We find out how much energy is consumed in the process. The dialogue may stretch further into economics and politics.

But finally we ask, is this product beautiful? And by beautiful we mean, has the designer brought together all the elements of aesthetics, design, environmental, social and cultural awareness, to justify the use of this material?

The 21st century is a tough court. A product is examined from all angles by the hyperinformed public. In fact nothing will be consumed without passing through this inquisition.

Bamboo until recently has been grossly undervalued, misconceived as a weed and known as the poor man’s lumber. But bamboo advocates around the world—scientists, designers, politicians and environmentalists—have always known it to be a precious resource that is renewable, flexible and valuable for all its properties.

Origins and Properties

Bamboo is widely available and cultivated in six continents. It is a grass, a fast-growing one at that, which means it can easily be re-grown and replenished. A single clump of bamboo can produce up to 15 kilometers of usable pole during its lifetime. Bamboo cultivation helps control erosion, clean the air and provide livelihood to poor communities. Bamboo forests are easily maintained.

It is extremely versatile. It has multiple uses in furniture, and can be pressed into veneers, made into window blinds, used as flooring. Just as it is light enough to be used in furniture, it is also strong enough to be used in architecture. Entire homes have been constructed using bamboo. Modern architecture has created its own spin by using it to give rise to lightweight structures that are striking in their fusion of industrial design aesthetics and organic material.

Extraction

The suitable age for cutting bamboo varies according to its intended use. One- to 2-year-old bamboos are ideal for the manufacture of handicrafts, which require pliable bamboo splits. Two to 3-year-old bamboo is preferable when the outer skin is needed, particularly if it is to be bleached. When durability is required, 4- to 6-year-old bamboo must be used.

Bamboo poles are stacked upside down in a shaded but well-ventilated area. Kiln drying is also used, but it should be noted that gradual increase of temperature is needed to prevent rapid drying, which can cause splitting of the bamboo skin.

Traditional methods of preserving bamboo include immersing the material in salty water or in sandy seashore. Washing is another method when bamboo culms are painted with slaked lime. Chemicals are also often used to treat bamboo. One of the most economical ways of making bamboo insect-resistant is by treating it with caustic soda dissolved in water. The split or stripped bamboo is soaked in the solution for one week. For unsplit culms soaking requires 3 to 5 months.

Bamboo is bleached, dyed, finished with oil, or sprayed with paint and other finishes to improve quality and appearance. In the Philippines, it is commonly used in combination with rattan, buri and other furniture materials.

Designing with Bamboo

Dusting off its traditional image, Cebu X’s new breed of designers put a modern spin on the new poster material for eco-chic.

Where can I purchase bamboo furniture?

A bamboo piece might be all you need to switch your home into eco-mode.
Here’s a listing of Cebu X companies selling bamboo furniture:

INTERIOR CRAFTS OF THE ISLANDS
3A General Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City
Tel: (032) 233 3056
Fax: (032) 231 2555
Email: info@kennethcobonpue.com / kenneth@kennethcobonpue.com
Contact Person: Kenneth Cobonpue

PARAGON EXPORT
Carajay Gun-ob
6015 Lapu-lapu City
Tel: (032) 341 0434
Fax: (032) 341 0435
Email: janet.fontanar@dekorattex.com
Contact Person: Nigel Ferolino, Designer

CIELITO Manufacturing Corporation, Inc.
Cement Wood Gate 1, H. Abella Street
Pagsabungan, 6014 Mandaue City
Tel: (032) 422 1803
Fax: (032) 422 1312
Email: cielito@globelines.com.ph
Contact Person: Gilles Pochiet, Managing Director

DESIGN VENTURES CEBU, INC.
Upper Tingub, 6014 Mandaue City
Tel: (032) 246 0819
Fax: (032) 346 0821
Email: apalao@designventures.com.ph