CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background
Bamboo is one of the most sustainable materials in the world today. The construction industry is one of the biggest polluters on planet earth, yet bamboo is not a major building material in Malaysia, even though it could greatly aid in reducing the carbon footprint of the life cycle of a building, and findings from Mustapha et al (2019) highlighted a number of local bamboo species suitable for construction. Atanda (2015) stated that bamboo can be substituted for wood in construction especially due to its environmental advantages (p.38). Auman (2018) concluded that architects using bamboo in modern architecture is one of the ways the perception of bamboo as a
“poor man’s timber” could be changed (p. 5). Whilst DeBoer and Groth (2010) declared bamboo to be more sustainable than other common materials, which can similarly be used in compression and tension (p. 3).
Architects have a responsibility to promote and propagate the use of sustainable materials in their designs and projects. However, a limiting factor in the ability of an architect to effectively design a sustainable building is the architect’s knowledge on the use and characteristics of a given material.
For sustainable architecture to become a reality, architects need to know how to use and implement sustainable materials in their designs. Bamboo in its natural form is one of the most sustainable materials in the world according to Van Der Lugt et al (2003, p. 221). Hence, the need for architects to know how to design with, and use this material, is imperative for sustainable architecture in Malaysia.
Traditional building materials such as stone, wood and earth, have been refined and developed over time, standardized and been used abundantly in architecture and design (particularly in the form of cement and processed lumber).
The development of steel and glass has also provided architects with even greater opportunities to push the envelope of what is in the realm of possibility in terms of design and construction. Architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, le Corbusier, Zaha Hadid and Renzo Piano have fully explored these options, creating masterpieces which are a reference point for all architecture regardless of material composition.
Hence, there is a great demand across the globe, for structures reflecting the character of the designs of buildings such as; Frank Lloyd Wright's; falling water building which was constructed from steel, glass and concrete, Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye which was constructed from reinforced concrete and Zaha Hadid’s; Guangzhou Opera House which was constructed from concrete, steel glass and granite. With the success of such designs and the added advantages of building with contemporary accepted materials, the global demand for such projects is on a continuous upward trajectory.
However, the rate at which such materials must be consumed to meet market demand is alarming and has been deemed unsustainable. This has sparked a green building wave as architects and engineers seek to find a responsible way to institute designs.
Architects are continuously involved in the exploration of new building materials and also a return to traditional building materials and construction techniques with the aim of providing a conducive built environment within a sustainable architectural framework. From the re-emergence of the use of lime as the stabilizer in the making of blocks and bricks, to the use of rammed earth building techniques incorporating modern methods and tools, there is a general drive towards
the return to traditional building materials or methods and the removal of the general stigma against traditional building methods and materials all around the world.
The stigma against bamboo as a traditional building material is rather strong as it is referred to colloquially as the “poor man's timber” (Schumann et al, 2019, p. 308).
Bamboo has traditionally been used by the lowest income households and aborigines in constructing their homes. As such, it generally has been used as a material for convenience and not much has been placed into the design and even structural implications on framework or enhancing the material to maximize its potential.
However, where architects have stepped in to take on major bamboo projects the image, quality, aesthetics and execution of bamboo as a building material has been uplifted greatly (Garcia-Saenz, 2012, p. 2). Of immense impact are award-winning masterpieces of architecture which have been a catalyst for more projects in their host countries and elsewhere, using this material and making the construction of bamboo structures more acceptable to the common man and in doing so, removing the stigma of the material as a “poor man's timber”, realigning the thinking of other architects, engineers and the general public of thinking of bamboo as a construction material.
Two examples which highlight this key development are Simon Velez of Columbia who was drawn into this building material by demand from a client and Vo Trong Nghia of Vietnam who actually promoted the use of the material he was exposed to from childhood, which he was interested in using before training as a professional architect.
This study shall seek to find out the ideology and perception that Malaysian architects have towards bamboo, as their use and propagation of bamboo in their design is what is believed, can be the spark that changes the codes of social practice
1.1 Research gap
Bamboo has been extensively studied as a niche material for building low-cost housing as well as for specialised pieces of architecture, such as restaurants and Pavilions which are usually higher-end forms of architecture. However, bamboo has not been extensively looked at as a standard building material for architects, particularly in Malaysia.
The use of bamboo in the construction of modern architecture in Malaysia is rather limited. The reason why Malaysian architects have moved away from using bamboo to execute modern designs, as opposed to how it is found in traditional buildings like the rumah kutai and long house, hasn't been explored.
The perception of the aesthetic of bamboo architecture, as a part of contemporary architecture in Malaysia, hasn't been paid much attention by architects.
Syidanova, (2018) examined bamboo as a construction material and found it favorable to be used as such, though his study, albeit international, did not touch on Malaysia. Giesekam (2016), studied the perception of building materials by the construction industry. Whilst Gichohi, (2014) studied the view of the construction sector, as a whole, on one element of a building; namely flooring. Within this, the research gap as an unexplored area, is a study of the views and realities on the use of bamboo for the four main elements of a building (namely; flooring, walling, columns and roofing) by architects in Malaysia.
1.2 Problem statement
In general, the problem this research shall seek to explore is that Malaysia is not maximizing on its great natural resources in bamboo. Specifically, this study shall
seek to discover why the potential of bamboo as a building material is not fully capitalized by architects in Malaysia.
As part of her conclusion in her paper; social and cultural aspects of constructions with bamboo, Garcia-Saenz (2012) stated that “upper classes due to good architectural design now appreciate bamboo…” (p. 6). This finding established the maximising of the potential of bamboo from a poor man’s timber to a desirable building material, due to the work of specific architects in South America and Asia. It also highlights the influence of architecture on creating a sustainable built environment specifically using bamboo.
However, an architect’s understanding of a material, greatly influences the architect’s ability to design with that material and the knowledge base of architects in Malaysia, with regards to bamboo, is unknown. Whether bamboo is thought of as: the poor man’s timber as stated by Chaturvedi, (1988) and Schumann (2019), or vegetable steel as highlighted by Lackman, (2019) by Malaysian architects, is unknown, as there are very few bamboo projects instituted by architect in Malaysia in recent years, and the few that have been, haven’t been studied extensively.
Thus, this study seeks to find out the perception of Malaysian architects to design and execute modern architecture using bamboo as a building material, by looking into several criteria such as, the ability to design and willingness to execute construction projects, using the material.
1.3 Research Aim, Objectives and Questions
The aim of this study is to highlight the potential of Malaysian architects to use bamboo as an alternative to common modern construction materials. The following objectives were formulated, in order to attain this aim:
1. To reveal how bamboo is being used by Malaysian architects.
2. To assess the current state of the bamboo architecture industry in Malaysia.
3. To ascertain the views of Malaysian architects towards bamboo as a building material.
Based on the research objectives stated, the following research questions were developed:
1. In what form is bamboo being used in architecture in Malaysia?
2. Can bamboo be used as a mainstream construction material in Malaysia?
3. What is the perception on the use of bamboo against wood as a building material in Malaysia?
1.4 Research scope
The scope of this study is focused on studying the use of bamboo as a construction material in Malaysia. This study is focused on architects’ views and experiences using bamboo as a construction material in Malaysia. The study shall focus on only pieces of architecture which are built, designed or approved by a professional architect or structural engineer, who are the allowed submitting persons, who can to submit plans for approval to the authorities, under the Uniform Building By-Laws of Malaysia (UBBL, 1984).
The study will be a qualitative study in which three methods shall be adopted namely; a survey of architects who are members of the Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) - Malaysian Institute of Architects, followed by case study of completed pieces of bamboo architecture within Malaysia and semi structured interview of selected Malaysian architects who have worked with bamboo.
1.5 Research significance
This research is expected to produce a road map on how bamboo architecture is being executed in Malaysia. It shall establish which components of a building are being constructed out of bamboo in Malaysian architecture.
This study’s primary contribution is to establish the current state of bamboo architecture in Malaysia. Furthermore, the challenges and attractions of using bamboo to execute designs in Malaysia shall be highlighted. This may contribute towards streamlining the bamboo industry in Malaysia and shall ease the navigation of future architects to venture into the use of the material, and highlight the choke holds that are limiting the potential of bamboo as a building material in Malaysia.
The readiness of architects must be measured to help shape policy as well as an educational framework for current and future architects.
1.6 Research limitation
This study seeks to discover the potential of using bamboo as a building material in Malaysia. There are many stakeholders involved in building materials and the construction industry, such as; contractors, laborers, engineers, physical planners,
focused on architects. Government institutions, suppliers and building contractors are also interviewed as part of the study, but they are included to create a more comprehensive view of the architect’s experience and to provide clarity where needed on the bottlenecks faced by architects in maximizing the potential of bamboo as a building material in Malaysia.
Architects in Malaysia are accredited by LAM; Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia - board of architects, Malaysia. However, the interviewee selection for this study shall only include member architects of PAM; Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia - Malaysian Institute of Architects. The second key group the study deals with is the Malaysia bamboo society and the final group is FRIM; Forest Research Institute Malaysia. The specific interview location and date shall be set by the interviewee within the period of study and interviews shall be recorded with a hand held smart phone with accompanying notes jotted on pen and paper.
Completed works of bamboo within Malaysia shall be selected as case study.
The case study shall be documented through the use of a hand held smartphone. The survey will be conducted online, targeting PAM architects only. The study shall mainly be of bamboo comparative to wood as organic material which is also a mainstream construction material
1.7 Thesis organization
Chapter 1: an overview of the thesis is presented in this chapter in which the background, research objectives, research questions, scope, significance and limitation of the research are presented.
Chapter 2: The literature review for this study is elucidated upon in this chapter. This includes sustainability, sustainable materials, bamboo, bamboo as a building material and bamboo architecture.
Chapter 3: In the third chapter, the research methodology shall be explained.
This is a qualitative research in which semi-structured interviews, case studies and an online survey is conducted.
Chapter 4: The findings and discussions are presented in the fourth chapter, wherein the findings from the interviews, case study and survey shall be presented and discussed.
Chapter 5: This is the conclusion chapter, where the research conclusion shall be stated, an overview of the research shall be laid out and recommendations for further research shall be presented.
