Bamboo Futurisms in Jamaica
A conceptual & visual exploration into the viability of a Bamboo-centric East-End, Saint Thomas Parish, Jamaica.
As part of an attempt to diversify Jamaica’s tourist-dependent economy, one that has suffered since the Covid-19 pandemic, the proposal explores the economic, social & built-environment outcomes of developing and advancing a bamboo industry in East-End, Jamaica. The island’s current Bamboo-dealings have been limited to paper & small product manufacturing. This proposal looks at expanding that to all stages of the Bamboo life-cycle from cultivation-management-harvesting-treatment-processing & later use by multiple groups of Jamaican society and industry. This reduction in environmentally harmful extractive processes and its replacement with a sustainable one is the central concept driving the eco-sanctuary that intends to become a destination for local Jamaicans & foreign travelers. (A project in collaboration with Takashi Honzawa)
Softwares: Twinmotion, Rhino3D, Adobe Photoshop + Illustrator + After Effects
Duration: September-December 2021
Site Design Proposal
Site Transportation Network
Oceanography Center
A bamboo building supporting the ongoing environmental research in East-End, Jamaica.
Designated as a showpiece that demonstrates both the untapped beauty & practical suitability of Bamboo as a construction material, it houses a series of laboratories (analytical, hatchery, toxicology). In doing so it provides a base for both local and foreign researchers to study at depth Jamaica’s unique coastal environment.
Aerial view - Opaque & Translucent facade panels for natural lighting
Entrance
Side profile
Operable louvers for natural ventilation in a tropical climate
Bamboo as a construction material
Adopting a bamboo method of construction entailed harnessing its unique compressive and bending resistances at bamboo-segment sizes consistent with those found in nature. Identifying the Dendrocalamus Asper species (a.k.a Giant Bamboo) that can be currently found in Jamaica, its natural sizing and strength provided more than adequate strength to rival steel and concrete methods for all types of structural elements.
Ground Floor - Entrance interior view
Ground Floor - Hatchery laboratory
Ground Floor - Hatchery laboratory
Ground Floor Plan
Second Floor - Interior activity space natural lighting
Second Floor - Bamboo vault structures
Second Floor - View out through facade panels
Second Floor - Demonstration Laboratory
Second Floor Plan
Second Floor - Demonstration Laboratory
Longitudinal Section
Transverse Sectional Perspective