Thesis
During my fifth year at Auburn, I wrote a thesis on the current state of bamboo’s role in architecture and on strategies for the future use of bamboo in the building industry. For years leading up to my thesis, I was infatuated with earth architecture and with vernacular styles of construction. Given the beauty, strength, and environmental benefits of bamboo, I chose to specialize in this incredible grass.
Bamboo Bridge
This brief project was my first introduction to bamboo design. When working with bamboo, it’s very important to make physical models to accurately explore designs. Bamboo is a natural material which has a will of its own, to which the designer must yield for best results. This bridge project is where I first learned to yield to a material, through the process of model making.
Alabama Bamboo
During my thesis, I reached out to as many people as I could find who had anything to do with bamboo. Through my inquiries I came across a small but ambitious startup company. At the time, they were investing in R&D to create bamboo industrial products which were made in America from bamboo grown on their own farm in Alabama. When it came time for me to choose a project to exemplify my thesis, it seemed natural to design the future headquarters for the company.
The campus includes 100,000sf of manufacturing space, offices, an eco tourism center, retail store, cafeteria, daycare, lecture area, and event space. All the buildings are designed to be structured with the company’s own laminated bamboo beams. Glass is used to infill between the structural members and thick, live, evergreen bamboo is planted to create complete privacy screens between buildings. Outdoor spaces are covered by large quilted shade structures, using bent bamboo and recyclable Serge Ferrari structural membranes.
