How to build a bamboo shade structure: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:15, 5 July 2014

Abstract

This project is a collaboration between students enrolled in the Practivistas Dominicana Program and the rural community of Las Malvinas in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The community center in Las Malvinas currently functions as a space for the community to hold meetings and workshops; however, the lack of a durable shade and rain-proof structure along the outside of the building has prevented the community from being able to use the space when weather conditions are too hot or too rainy.

Background

The client at hand is the community of Las Malvinas in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. They have requested that a rain/shade structure be built by Practivistas Dominicana at their local community center (Estacion Ecological Comunitario) between May-July 2014. Three of the students working on the project are from Humboldt State University in California and one student from Universidad Iberoamericana in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. After a community meeting was held, it was determined that the structure should be able to protect from rain as well as sun so the community could hold meetings, classes and workshops in comfort. Community members voiced their opinions that aesthetics, durability, and locality of materials were some of their main concerns in regards to the construction of the structure. Bamboo and palm fronds are some of the possible local materials that could be utilized.

Building a Bamboo Shade Structure

These are the instructions for the assembly and construction of a bamboo shade structure designed by students enrolled in the Practivistas Dominicana Program in the Dominican Republic. The shade structure consists of bamboo, upcycled billboard tarps and flattened steel drums. Instructions are included below.

How To Build

Before building with bamboo, it is advised to research techniques and recommendations for appropriate season for harvesting as well as methods of harvesting and drying. (For our project we used bamboo that was still partially green which is not desirable but was necessary based on time and resource constraints).

Image:LM demolition.jpg

Build a Bamboo Shade Structure

}}

Design

Costs

This is the proposed draft budget for the shade structure.

Quantity	Material	Source	Cost (RD$)	Total (RD$)
3	Recycled Billboards	Billboards 'R Us	333.00	1,000.00
15	Recycled 55gal Drums	Arroyo Norte	300.00	4,500.00
1	Tools	Nacional	2,183.00	2,183.00
1	TBD	Santo Domingo	8000.00	8000.00
Total Cost				$15,683.00

Discussion

The bamboo used during this construction was not fully dried or cured, so more preparation of the culms is highly more desirable. However, this structure is going to be secured using only lashing on the bamboo and not using nuts, bolts, or holes in the still drying bamboo. This type of securing will prevent cracking that would have occurred if hardware were to be used at the joints.

Next steps

Testing the bamboo for moisture content while watching its durability and strength over time to determine whether the drying time was sufficient or whether it was an issue in maintaining the integrity of the structure over time.

Conclusions

Conclusions to come

Contact details

Baron Creager : bmc83@humboldt.edu

Caitlin Faber : cjf336@humboldt.edu

Caelidh Liddell : crl307@humboldt.edu

Marjorie Casado : marjocalara@gmail.com

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 |1|Removing the previous damaged shade structure
 |Image:Harvested LM bamboo.jpg|Harvest Bamboo
-|2|When harvesting bamboo, select poles that appear darker green to gray in color, and around 3-5 years of age. Cut just above the culm closest to the ground with a machete, and gently set bamboo on the ground to divide into desirable sizes.
+|2 |When harvesting bamboo, select poles that appear darker green to gray in color, and around 3-5 years of age. Cut just above the culm closest to the ground with a machete, and gently set bamboo on the ground to divide into desirable sizes.
 |Image:Bamboo concrete.jpeg |Bamboo, Concrete, & Rebar
 |3| After taking proper measurements for the location of your desired shade structure, cut bamboo to appropriate lengths. Make a concrete mixture to secure the poles into the ground surrounding the perimeter of the existing structure. Insert rebar into the center of the bottom culm and ensure that the concrete is inside the entire bottom culm.
@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 |9|Set the beams in place and drill holes in the bamboo to secure with wire (we also used 2x4 beams because we needed install corrugated zinc metal sheets on the roof).
 |Image:Bamboo frame 2x4.jpeg|Bamboo 2x4 Frame
-|10| Installing the 2x4 beams in preparation for the zinc roof.
+|10|Installing the 2x4 beams in preparation for the zinc roof.
 |Image:Bamboo zinc.jpeg |
 |11|Lay down the zinc panels and secure with roofing nails.
 |Image:Bamboo truss.jpeg| Bamboo Truss
-|12| On the other side of the structure, we build a truss. The bottom bamboo pole has been cut to lock in with the pole on top. Wire was used to secure the poles together.
+|12|On the other side of the structure, we built a truss. The bottom bamboo pole has been cut to lock in with the pole on top. Wire was used to secure the poles together.
+|Image:Bamboo truss 2x4.JPG|Bamboo 2x4 truss
+|13|Truss is attached to a 2x4 beam in the center.
+|Image:Billboard_measuring.jpeg|Billboard
+|14|Measuring billboard, rolling and stapling across a 2x4 beam to attach to existing zinc roof and bamboo posts.
+|Image:Attaching_billboard.jpeg|Attaching billboard
+|15|Billboard is attached to a 2x4 beam using a staple gun and then the beam is nailed into the zinc roof.
+|Image:Billboard_glue.jpeg|Attaching billboard panels with glue
+|16|Billboard is attached to another panel using vinyl glue.
+|Image:Bamboo_finished_project.jpeg|Bamboo Finished Project
+|17| The finished project!
+}}
 }}