amboo is the green material of the 21st century due to its excellent CO2 absorbability and rapid growing ability, as well as its characteristic mechanical strength and extreme light weight, which is competitive with other structural materials.
The spatial structure is quite simple and consists of two main components: the first being a bamboo building and the second being a back of house area. The bamboo building contains 14 columns with an 8m span between them and is 14m in length from the edge of the eaves on one side to the other. The back of house space contains service functions such as a WC, kitchen, staff room and storage. All of these programmes are contained within a shallow pond that surrounds the building.
Fact File
Location:
Xiamen, China
Site area:
1150m²
GFA:
480m²
Design firm:
VTN architects (Vo Trong Nghia Architects)
Principal architect:
Vo Trong Nghia
Project architects:
Hidetoshi Sawa, Le Phuong Uyen, Nguyen Van Thien
Client:
XIAMEN JUN HAO REAL ESTATE DEVELOP CO
Bamboo contractor:
VTN architects (Vo Trong Nghia Architects)
The 14 columns give form to the bamboo building as they dynamically fan out in four directions from their base and as a result become impressively thick, forming a void inside.
Since the interior space is required to be air conditioned, a major challenge was keeping the inherently permeable bamboo structure airtight. The architects solved this by installing arch-shaped glass panels between the columns and the walls. Also, partition walls composed of bamboo layers, rubber sheets and a thatch finishing were placed within the columns to make them airtight also.
The gabled roof, which has a maximum height of 6.4m, allows natural light to permeate inside and provides a pleasant atmosphere to this dynamic room. The gently curved interior form allows people to experience the layered frame structures, which further the user perception of the depth of the space.
The service area, located adjacent to the bamboo building, is compactly designed so that it sits below the bamboo building’s eaves yet still meets the minimum functional requirements in the design’s plan. The bamboo has been treated with a traditional Vietnamese method in order to naturally reach the high-quality and long-term durability that the project demands. This type of treatment can last from 30 up to 50 years. This natural treatment also contributes to the architect’s sustainable design approach of the project. By using vernacular bricks of the region, the new building will integrate itself well within its context and harmonise with its surroundings.
