Porosity: Computational Bamboo
2022 - Chiayi, Taiwan
Practical Design Project
INTRODUCTION
In today's focus on sustainability, bamboo is widely discussed as a potential building material due to its natural characteristics that make it suitable for construction. Bamboo is known for its strength and flexibility, and it is typically used in its original form as poles in structures. However, this approach often leads to significant variations in the material due to differences in growth conditions, making it challenging to use consistently.
"Porosity" seeks to combine the concept of "engineered wood" with natural materials by incorporating bamboo composites. It reinterprets the potential of bamboo by layering thin bamboo veneer sheets both vertically and horizontally, resulting in a lightweight and resilient material. These material properties enable new design possibilities, highlighting the potential for lightweight and curved bamboo structures.
Its circular form is concealed within a dense forest, and during the day, it appears to resemble a bamboo grove, with bamboo and wood colors blending together. When night falls, the interior lighting casts light outward, illuminating the irregular surfaces. The light flows along the curves, clearly defining the geometric interplay in the 3D space. Light and shadows reveal the material's fibers through the thin bamboo sheets, creating a sense of lightness and showcasing the traces of fabrication.
This work is located in the Alishan Forest Railway Garage Park in Chiayi City, Taiwan. Its circular form is concealed within a dense forest, and during the day, it resembles a bamboo grove, with the colors of bamboo and wood blending together. When night falls, the interior lighting casts light outward, illuminating the irregular surfaces. The light flows along the curves, clearly defining the geometric interplay in the 3D space. Light and shadows reveal the material's fibers through the thin bamboo sheets, creating a sense of lightness and showcasing the traces of fabrication.