My original research project was on using Mycelium to filter toxins and then use them as an integrated part of a greywater system. This endeavor turned out to be more expensive and less effective than desired so I decided to figure out something else I could do that I could actually afford. I ended up choosing to do a project using bamboo. This project is already in the works. Included in the research part of this project are; inspiration images, logistics for jointery, and plans for my very own bamboo trellis.
My next step was to acquire some bamboo. I'm lucky enough to work for a woman with a grove of black bamboo. She was happy to let me cut some down. Here is a picture of the beautiful bamboo I harvested.
After setting up some poles in the yard to get a good visual I took some measurements and did some calculations. I decided that my previous plan was too tricky for my first building job and made a plan that didn't require me to do any bending of the bamboo.
My next move now that I have these plans is to cut all the poles to size. To do this I've figured out the lengths and purchased a specialized hand saw for cutting bamboo. This is tough material and the saw is sharp so gloves are highly recommended. Once all the pieces are cut I will just have to join them together. This may be the trickiest part. Ive seen a number of joining methods and will use two of them that seem the most simple. The first is just tying the pieces together. This will be done with the non-weight bearing joints. The second method will be done with bolts. I will drill holes in the larger bamboo and the additional support beam then bolt through. This will make sure the structure is secure and won't go anywhere.
People use bamboo for many different types of buildings. Some quite large and extravagant. When building living structures it is important to cure the bamboo so that it will last more than just a couple years. Curing is done by soaking the bamboo in Boric Acid and Borax to prevent mold. For more info on this I found this websight containing much helpful material about bamboo building and curing. In my case I just wanted a little shade and some extra space to grow my grapes. I chose not to cure my bamboo because cost and my first structure will certainly not be my last. Better to wait for a more formidable building to put all the time and effort into curing and drying. Something more like this following piece by famous Colombian Architect, Jaime Peña
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