Workshop Overview
A three-day hands-on bamboo construction workshop was successfully conducted at BNCA, Pune, from December 23rd to 25th, 2024 as a part of CAPABLE-India Program. This workshop was a key component of the CAPABLE Project aimed at equipping students with practical skills and knowledge about sustainable building materials, specifically bamboo.
The event was attended by a diverse group of students, including Indian students from BNCA, Pune, IIT Bombay, and international students from Liverpool John Moores University. Additionally, 10 first-year B.Arch students from BNCA also participated in the workshop, contributing to a collaborative and multicultural learning environment.
Workshop Facilitators
The workshop was led by Prof. Sayali Andhare, an expert in bamboo architecture, who provided in-depth guidance throughout the event. Additionally, artisans from Bamboo Masters, Pune, shared their invaluable expertise, demonstrating traditional bamboo construction techniques and supporting students in their hands-on efforts.
Workshop Content
- Introduction to Bamboo as a Circular Material
A comprehensive session was conducted to introduce bamboo as a sustainable, circular building material. The students were briefed on bamboo’s unique properties, including its rapid growth, environmental benefits, and its ability to be harvested and used without causing long-term ecological damage. Special emphasis was placed on bamboo’s potential for use in affordable and eco-friendly architecture.
- Bamboo Joinery Techniques
The workshop provided a detailed exploration of bamboo joinery methods. Students learned various traditional and innovative techniques for connecting bamboo poles, ensuring structural integrity while maintaining the material’s inherent flexibility. The importance of proper joinery in bamboo construction was highlighted, as it plays a critical role in the material’s durability and load-bearing capacity.
- Do’s and Don’ts for Bamboo Construction
A session on the best practices and common pitfalls of bamboo construction was presented, helping students understand how to optimize the material’s performance while avoiding damage or failure. These guidelines covered everything from material selection to construction techniques, providing students with a strong foundation in bamboo construction practices.
- Hands-on Construction: Pavilion Building
The center piece of the workshop was the hands-on construction of a 40 ft long, 10 ft wide bamboo pavilion. Over the course of three days, students worked together, applying their newly acquired knowledge to build a functional and aesthetically pleasing structure. The pavilion served as both a practical demonstration of bamboo construction and a collaborative effort, bringing students from diverse backgrounds together to achieve a common goal.
The bamboo construction workshop under the CAPABLE Project was a tremendous success, providing students with practical experience in one of the most sustainable building materials available today. The workshop not only emphasized the importance of bamboo in modern architecture but also fostered cross-cultural collaboration and knowledge exchange among participants from India and the UK.
Participants were awarded certificates after the completion of three-days bamboo workshop
