ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Since 2002, a design program has been elaborated for the second year students of the Faculty of Environmental Engineering at the University of Kitakyushu in Japan. The aim of the design program is trying to find new concepts, and ways of using bamboo material, bamboo construction methods and last but not least making small spatial bamboo structures. A total of more than 300 students; every year 9 groups of about 5 to 6 students in one group, made already 54 bamboo objects. The objects are planned and made during the months April and June, and exhibited for the period of one year. For the first four years of this program, there was no specific decided theme; the students could freely choose their own theme and make spatial structures, some groups made art related objects; some groups made structures close to architectural expressions. For the year 2006, the theme of the program has been evolved from making “bamboo objects” to making “bamboo cubes”. The size of the bamboo cube must not exceed 140 cm. In the first two years of this program, “Moso bamboo” or “Phyllostachys edulis” was used. Since 2004, “Madake bamboo” or “Phyllostachys bambusoides” had been used. The reason why we changed the material from Moso bamboo to Madake bamboo is because the objects are small scaled, and Madake bamboo is easier to work with, especially to split and bend the bamboo. The Moso bamboo is a bit more difficult to handle with, especially to bend it for small scaled structures. Besides of the bamboo material, only rope could be used for the construction. In this report, the aim of the bamboo design program, the design, construction method, and construction process of the 54 objects are explained. Based on this study, further elaboration of the design program will be suggested.
