Aa_ by TAN WEI SHENG

Asian Architecture [ARC 2213/2234] PROJECT 1: CASE STUDY

The Usage of Bamboo as a Cost Effective Building Material in Comparison with Timber in Belum Rainforest Resort.

NAME:

Tan Wei Sheng

STUDENT ID:

0307857

LECTURER:

Alia

SUBMISSION DATE:

13 November 2014

The usage of bamboo as a cost effective building material in comparison with timber in Belum Rainforest Resort.

The Usage of Bamboo as a Cost Effective Building Material in comparison with Timber in Belum Rainforest Resort. Table of Contents

Page

Abstract ........................................................................................................................ 3

1.0

Introduction ..................................................................................................... 4

2.0

Bamboo Morphology....................................................................................... 5

3.0

Bamboo Properties and Suitability .................................................................. 6

3.1

Bamboo Growth.......................................................................................... 6

3.2

Bamboo Structural Properties.................................................................... 7

4.0

Bamboo Sourcing and Implementation ........................................................ 10

4.1

Bamboo Cost............................................................................................ 11

4.2

Implementation of Bamboo....................................................................... 12

5.0

Bamboo Construction method and Utilization .............................................. 13

6.0 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 15

7.0 References..........................................................................................................16

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

The usage of bamboo as a cost effective building material in comparison with timber in Belum Rainforest Resort.

Abstract The intention of doing a comparative study between the usage of bamboo and timber is to identify the cost effectiveness of bamboo as an alternative building material compared with timber, in the context of the reception hall of Belum rainforest resort. The study emphasized on how bamboo as a natural building material is cost effective compared with timber through various factors such as material sourcing, properties, growth rate and the maintenance of the material itself. In assisting the validation of research, various literature reviews based on material costing and properties were studied. In order to provide further justification, interviews were conducted on site, whereby the representative of Belum rainforest resort were interviewed. The reception hall of Belum rainforest resort were taken as the case study due to the vast usage of bamboo as a building material. Bamboo is seen as a native plant that grows vastly throughout the forest of Belum, Perak. With the cost of timber ever rising, it is no longer cost effective to use timber as a building material. Sourcing of the material can indefinitely affect the cost of the material. Bamboo used in the reception hall, has been sourced in the vicinity of the resort, whereby it is harvested from the forest where it grows vastly. Belum rainforest is recognized as a forest reserve, therefore timber is not allowed to be harvested in the vicinity. However bamboo is allowed to be harvested to its rapid growth rate. The growth rate of bamboo which is nine times quicker than timber is also the factor affecting the cost of the material. Bamboo which can grow easily in the local climatic condition can be harvested in a few months after it matures. In contrary timber takes years to grow and mature. Properties of bamboo through research has been proven to be in equivalence or superior with timber. This makes bamboo more relevant as a cost effective material. Additionally in terms of maintenance which effects the cost in long term, bamboo costs less to maintain in comparison with timber which is prompt to various unforeseen natural problems. Thus, it has come in to a conclusion that bamboo is more cost effective as a building material in the reception hall of Belum rainforest resort in comparison with timber due to various factors that have been proven through research and interviews.

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

The usage of bamboo as a cost effective building material in comparison with timber in Belum Rainforest Resort.

1.0 Introduction Bamboo is one of the oldest material used by humankind throughout the tropical and subtropical regions in the world. This material has been receiving increasing attention in the construction industry throughout the years. The overall demand for wood has been increasing throughout the years. This has resulted in an increase in price of the material. Due to this encouraging factor, the construction industry has been required to find an alternative material that has the equivalent or surpass the qualities of timber.

Belum Rainforest Resort is a keen example whereby the usage of bamboo has been widely considered. Designed by the architect to be environmentally conscious as well as to be aesthetically pleasing, the architect has to overcome this problems in order to generate a sustainable and cost effective model for the developer. The resort located in the northern part of Malaysia is surrounded by lush greeneries looking towards the Titiwangsa ridge and the Banding lake. The resulting design with the usage of various naturally sourced material creates a ambient environment.

This paper will investigate on how the various aspects in the usage of bamboo in Belum Rainforest Resort resulting in cost benefits compared with timber by responding to the following questions:

Question1: What are the properties of Bamboo in comparison with timber in relation to its cost effectiveness?

Question 2: How is bamboo sourced during the construction stage in comparison with timber?

Question 3: How does the construction method of using bamboo in comparison with timber which results in the difference in cost?

Question 4: What are the environmental impacts of using bamboo compared to timber which resulted in cost saving?

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

The usage of bamboo as a cost effective building material in comparison with timber in Belum Rainforest Resort.

2.0 Bamboo Morphology Bamboo is a non timber evergreen plant that is mainly distributed in subtropical and tropical zones. There different type of species of bamboo throughout the tropical rainforest of Belum. The bamboo used in Belum is in the family of Genera Bambusa sp. also known as the golden bamboo This bamboo can be found throughout the continents of Peninsular Malaysia where it grows vastly. The major morphological charcteristics of bamboo is divided into the rhizome and culm system.

Figure 1.0 : Genera Bambusa Bamboo used in Belum Rainforest Resort (Source: guaduabamboo)

The rhizome of the bamboo is located underground of the bamboo. It serves basically as the root of the bamboo. Moreover, the rhizome of the bamboo serves as the foundation of the plant. Rhizome serves for the transport, distribution, uptake and storage of water and nutrients.

The culm is essentially the part of the bamboo above ground which contains the woody tissue of the plant. Usually the culm is cylindrically formed, hollow and straight. Bamboo culm grows in one period of growth by cell elongation. The growth is accompanied with the seedlings, branching system and the flowering of the plant.

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

The usage of bamboo as a cost effective building material in comparison with timber in Belum Rainforest Resort.

3.0 Bamboo Properties and Suitability Bamboo belongs in the same family like the material timber. Moreover both of them share the similar characteristics. Every bamboo species just like timber has various structural and mechanical properties. Most bamboo found are hollow, although some are solid, there are bamboos that mature up to 130 feet tall and 9 inches in diameter depending on the climate and surrounding. Due to the diverse similarities of bamboo and timber, it is seen that bamboo has a added edge when it comes into the cost effectiveness between this building material. The factors resulting to the difference in cost can be related to the difference and similarities in terms of the properties of this materials which will be discussed .

3.1 Bamboo Growth The growth rate of materials will directly affect the cost of the material itself. Material with a faster growth rate will increase the harvesting yield which will result in the lower cost of the material. Bamboo is considered to be one of the fastest growing species of flora in the tropical rainforest of Belum, in fact it holds the world record for the fastest growing plant in the planet. The fast growth of bamboo plays an important role as it can be a high yield renewable resource in the future. Nevertheless the growth of this material depends on the species, although generally bamboo grows rapidly.

In contrary, timber has a very gradual growth phase where it takes years to be harvested which results in the higher cost of the material. It takes almost a few growing season to harvest timber while it only takes only a single growing season for the material bamboo. The growth rate between this two different materials is summarized in Table 1.0.

BAMBOO

TIMBER

Maximum Height (months)

4 to 6 months

8 to 20 years

Daily Increment (cm)

15 to 18 cm

5 to 10 cm

Maturity ( years)

3 to 6 months

5 to 6 years

Table 1.0 : Growth rate of Bamboo in comparison with Timber

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

The usage of bamboo as a cost effective building material in comparison with timber in Belum Rainforest Resort.

3.2 Bamboo Structural Properties Bamboo has been seen as a feasible and sustainable solution as a building component throughout the Asia continent. Bamboo has been widely used due to its structural properties as well as its affordability and long term durability. The Structural properties of the material compared with timber is seen as a factor that contribute to the cost effectiveness of the material itself. Table 2.0 describes the various properties of bamboo in comparison with timber which concludes the feasibility of bamboo as a cost effective building material.

BAMBOO Structural

TIMBER

- Strong in tension and

compression

- Have higher flexibility

- Have weak flexibility

then steel

compared with other material

Thermal

Excellent

Temperature and water

Excellent

Moderate

Build ability

Excellent

Maintenance

Excellent

Moderate

resistance

Table 2.0 : Properties of bamboo in comparison with timber

The nature of bamboo which has a hollow section in the middle made it flexible when bent compared to wood or steel. Also, a single shoot of bamboo comprises of multiple layers of fibre in its outer shell helps it become more flexible. The fibre of the bamboo shoot has a higher tensile strength and compressive strength compared with timber itself. Hence, bamboo has higher flexibility compared with wood. This allows the various implementation of structural members in the building such as beams, girders, and column at a lower cost compared with timber. Design challenges such as curved beams and girders can also be overcome with a lower cost with the usage of bamboo due to its flexibility.

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

The usage of bamboo as a cost effective building material in comparison with timber in Belum Rainforest Resort.

In the context of Belum Rainforest Resort the suitable structural properties of bamboo as an alternative material for timber is clearly demonstrated with the implementation of the material as a walling and cladding material as shown in Figure 2.0 and 3.0. According to interview conducted with the resort management , the bamboo used has a high durability rate and is not subjected to wear and tear due to the harsh weather conditions the resort may faced.

Figure 2.0 : Walling material used in

Figure 3.0 Cladding material used in

Belum Rainforest Resort.

Compared with timber, the resort faced less problem in terms of maintenance of bamboo . Timber may be exposed to warping and discolouration due to its low water resistance level and the weather the resort faces annually. This helps lower the cost of maintenance of the resort. Furthermore timber requires an extra protective layer and coating in order to preserve its aesthetics and helps to protect the timber from the weather condition as well as termite attacks which will add to the cost of maintaining the resort.

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

The usage of bamboo as a cost effective building material in comparison with timber in Belum Rainforest Resort.

Bamboo can be considered to be very much like wood however it is categorized as a grass which grows extremely fast. Hardness is one factor which contribute to the durability of bamboo compared with timber. Therefore the selection of bamboo species is key to its durability. Research also has proven that that 'Babussa Balcoa' bamboo a species of bamboo which grows throughout the continents of Asia is 25% harder than the tropical hardwood 'Cengal' which grows vastly throughout the tropical rainforest of Malaysia.

Figure 4.0 : The Babussa Balcoa sp Bamboo ( Source: Guaduabamboo, 2011)

Nevertheless, bamboo comes in different type of variety depending on the aesthetical needs of the user. The properties of bamboo has made it a multipurpose and versatile material which is used throughout the resort. The usage of bamboo as oppose of timber has resulted in cost benefits for the developer and the community.

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

The usage of bamboo as a cost effective building material in comparison with timber in Belum Rainforest Resort.

4.0 Bamboo Sourcing and Implementation The overall amount of bamboo growing in the tropical rainforest area of Belum is about 3.2% of the entire forest floor area. Bamboo is naturally distributed along the tropical rainforest and normally located in the vicinity of nearby water sources. The sourcing of material used in Belum may affect the cost drastically. This includes the transportation charges, manpower as well as availability. In order to be cost effective material sourced must be local and nearby.

Belum rainforest is gazetted as a nature reserve, therefore the harvesting of flora and fauna is strictly prohibited. However according to the forestry department by law there are certain amount of flora that can be harvested from the from the forest which goes with an annual quota system. The flora which are listed includes the local bamboo. The reason behind this is due to the rapid growth rate of this plant where it can overgrow to the roads and houses as well. According to interview with the management of the resort the bamboo sourced for the resort comes from the vicinity of the resort itself as shown in Figure 5.0 .

Figure 5.0 : The highlighted area shows the bamboo growth areas in the surrounding area of Belum Rainforest Resort.

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

The usage of bamboo as a cost effective building material in comparison with timber in Belum Rainforest Resort.

Bamboo sourced for the construction of Belum rainforest resort, is done by a local contractor which has experienced in rattan and bamboo sourcing. The sourcing of bamboo in the resort is done sustainably by harvesting bamboo's which grows out towards the road and affecting the livelihood of the users. Due to the nature whereby bamboo is harvested in the vicinity of the resort the transportation costs is drastically reduced from the supplier to the site.

In contrary, matured timber is strictly prohibited by the forestry department to be harvested due to its scarce availability and long term growing rate. Therefore timber sourced for the construction of the resort comes from a supplier located outside of the vicinity of the resort. Hence the transportation cost of timber is increased due to the distance of the supplier from the site of the resort.

4.1 Bamboo Cost The market price of the material bamboo and timber is shown in Table 3.0 . The prices is the price gathered from a few local supplier, PTC Timber Sdn. Bhd. and Bamboo Bio Composites Sdn. Bhd. The prices gathered are subjected to market fluctuation. Cost ( in square metre) BAMBOO

25 Ringgit (per square metre)

TIMBER

150 Ringgit (per square metre), ( depends on type)

Table 3.0: Prices of raw material per square metre

Figure 6.0: Stacks of Bamboo ( Source: Bamboo Bio Composites.) ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

Figure 7.0: Timber panels ( Source: PTC Timber ) 11

The usage of bamboo as a cost effective building material in comparison with timber in Belum Rainforest Resort.

Bamboo is sold in the form of column which has a standardized size of 7 feet long and 6 inches wide. The bamboo sold typically comes in the form of stacks as shown in Figure 5.0. Meanwhile Timber is typically sold in various form and sizes that can be cut into specification. This is one of the key advantages of timber compared to bamboo as it can be available in different sizes as shown in Figure 6.0. The prices of bamboo and timber as well has a huge difference. Bamboo costs 75% lest compared to timber. The huge price difference between this two materials is probably due to the growth rate and qualities of these materials. With the characteristics of timber and bamboo almost similar, bamboo is considered a more cost effective building material compared to timber.

4.2 Bamboo Implementation The implementation of the usage of bamboo in Belum Rainforest can be categorized into a series of processes. The harvesting considerations is one of the major considerations when dealing with the material bamboo as shown in table 4.0. This process is important in order to harvest the best quality of bamboo without damaging the bamboo itself. The harvesting conditions is strictly followed by the contractor in order to ensure the satisfaction of the user.

Harvesting Considerations 1) Bamboo chosen must be more then 3 years old and it can be determined based on the colour of the culms whereby the colour from clear and shiny green changes to greyish green. 2) The bamboo should be harvest throughout the dry season to avoid fungi attack due to the presence of moisture. 3) Bamboo should be cut 20 to 30cm above ground to harvest the strongest part of the bamboo 4) A sharp tool or saw must be used to avoid damaging the bamboo 5) After harvesting bamboo should be kept in an airtight environment for three weeks which helps reduce the moisture content of the bamboo. Table 4.0: Bamboo harvesting considerations.

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

The usage of bamboo as a cost effective building material in comparison with timber in Belum Rainforest Resort.

After harvesting, bamboo is considered to be fit for use during construction. Bamboo shipped to the site must be kept away from the climatic elements such as humidity and moisture to avoid damaging it. This is due to the freshness of the bamboo whereby it has not yet adapt to the natural climatic conditions of the site. After installing the bamboo it will start to dry up and adapt to the climatic conditions of the site. Overall the implementation of bamboo in Belum rainforest resort in comparison with timber is seen to have the similar process.

5.0 Bamboo Construction Method and Utilization Bamboo construction is generally associated as an old method of construction, but as a building material it stands out due to its properties. Consequently, the methods, technology and equipment for the processing and construction of using the raw material bamboo has various differences in comparison with timber. The difference may results in cost differences as well.

However bamboo has been long subjected to the problematic issue of connecting culms of bamboo. This is due to the circular geometry of bamboo which makes it difficult to connect with other members. Besides, the hollow section in the centre of the material means there is no support in the middle of the culms causing it to break when subjected to high compressive forces.

The construction method used in Belum Rainforest Resort has been devised from the culture of the indigenous tribe living in the surrounding area of the resort. In order to overcome the challenges faced when using bamboo various method has been implemented upon installation of the bamboo as shown in Table 5.0.

Bamboo Construction Considerations 1. Avoid drilling and cutting of culms 2. Joint placement must be near the nodes, so they are stronger 3. Treat the bamboo culms to prevent rotting 4. Joints must be tightly fitted and secured 5. Connections should be durable 6. Reinforce culms under high point loads Table 5.0 : Bamboo Construction Considerations

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

The usage of bamboo as a cost effective building material in comparison with timber in Belum Rainforest Resort.

Meanwhile, bamboo is utilize as a cladding material in Belum rainforest resort. The connection of bamboo used is through steel beams where each end is tightened through nuts and bolts. The bamboo has the standardized length throughout the resort and is coated with wood stains in order to preserve the material as well as create a dramatic effect towards the texture.

Figure 8.0: Bamboo used to clad

Figure 9.0: The stained bamboo creates

the roofing

a unique texture

Although the construction method used for bamboo requires adapting new method and techniques, the overall cost of workmanship and connection system is considerably lower compared with timber. The usage of metal and bamboo compared with timber and metal has a much lower cost in workmanship due to the reason that bamboo has a faster assembling time compared with timber.

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

The usage of bamboo as a cost effective building material in comparison with timber in Belum Rainforest Resort.

6.0 Conclusion

The study of the usage of bamboo in relation to its cost effectiveness compared with timber as a natural building material has concluded that bamboo can be used as a cost effective building and structural material in buildings. From the time when, humankind discovered bamboo it has played an significant role in the development of the construction industry. Bamboo is used throughout the daily life's of the rural, it might as well be used as a modern construction material. Bamboo can be the backbone of the nations construction industry if more effort in research and development is carried out.

On the account of the implementation of bamboo in Belum rainforest resort, the material has been proven on ground that it could be utilize in various parts of the building, structural or non-structural. As the availability of timber become more scarce and expensive, the presence of bamboo as an alternative material can be foreseen. The properties of bamboo has been proven to be top grade and cost effective . The increasing amount of bamboo related projects across the world makes it possible to use this material as the future construction material. As a very economic building material, bambooâ&#x20AC;&#x17E;s rate of productivity and cycle of annual harvest outstrips any other naturally growing resource, if today you plant three or four structural bamboo plants, then in four or five years later you will have mature clumps, and in eight years you will have enough mature material to build a comfortable, low cost house. Overall this case study in Belum rainforest resort has proven that bamboo is a sustainable and cost effective building material compared with timber.

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

The usage of bamboo as a cost effective building material in comparison with timber in Belum Rainforest Resort.

7.0 References Gernot, M. (2011). Building with Bamboo: Design and Technology of Sustainable Architecture. Tuttel.

Eduard, B. (2009). Bamboo Construction and Design: Design Guide. Taylor and Francis.

Greeno, R. (2006). Building Services, Technology and Design. Malaysia: Longman Pearson.

Jeffrey. (n.d.). Bamboo Construction and Architecture: Joints and Clump. Retrieved from http://www.guaduabamboo.com/bamboo-construction/.

Anwar, U. M. K., Paridah, M. T., Hamdan, H., Abd Latif, M., & Zaidon, A. (2005). Adhesion and bonding properties of plybamboo manufactured from Gigantochloa scortechinii. American Journal of Applied Sciences (Special Issue), 53-58.

Pereira, M. A., & Faria, O. B. (2009). Bambu product: Mechanical characteristics of Glued Laminated Bamboo. In the 8th World Bamboo Conference Volume 8 (pp. 135-150). Bangkok, Thailand.

Liang, C.B. (2009), "Bamboo as a permanent Structural Component", Imperial College London, April 2009 (BEng Final Year Project Dissertation) Chung, K.F., Chan, S.L. (2003), â&#x20AC;&#x153;Design of Bamboo Scaffoldsâ&#x20AC;?, INBAR Technical Report No.23, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

The usage of bamboo as a cost effective building material in comparison with timber in Belum Rainforest Resort.

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture