Virginia Carmiol Umaña
Bamboo furniture
First edition in English
Translated from the first edition In Spanish, 1998
Editorial Tecnològica de Costa Rica, 2002
Acknowledgements
Lie. Mayra Montlel for her work In reviewing the biological aspects of the plant.
Mr. P. Esteban Benavides Q. For his assistance and demonstrations on the manufacturing of the furniture.
Carmlol Umana, Virginia
bamboo furniture Phyllostachys aurea'.
Manufacturing Process Manual/ Virginia Carmiol Umana.~ Cartago: Editorial Tecnològica de Costa Rica, 2001.
182 p. : ilus.
Translated from the first edition in Spanish:
Muebles en Bambù. —Recommended CDD 684.106
ISBN 9977-66-132-4
ISBN EPUB 978-9977-66-273-2
1.Bamboo. 2.Furniture 3.Manufacturing process
4.Cultivation 5. Phyllostachys aurea
© Editorial Tecnologica de Costa Rica
Institute Tecnològico de Costa Rica PO.Box-Apartado postal 159-7050 Cartago, Costa Rica
Tel: (506) 552 5333 Fax: (506) 552 5354 ISBN 9977-66-096-4 Printed in Costa Rica.
Legal deposit paid.
ePub x hipertexto Ltda / www.hipertexto.com.co
Foreword
The purpose of this manual is to inform a greater number of Costa Ricans, of the arduous labor that has so far been in the hands of the Technical Crafts Mission of the Republic of Taiwan.
The idea for the manual came about as the result of a research project undertaken by the Department of Industrial Design of the Instituto Tecnologico de Costa Rica.
In its turn, this project was part of the Program on Nonconventional Materials, specifically in reference to the "Design of Objects" in bamboo, rattan, and wicker.
The results showed promise of great potential for the country, not only in terms of raw material, but for the productive sector as well. Based on information obtained from this sector, certain basic needs came to light which the author addresses in this work.
The general purpose of this manual may be divided in two parts:
1. To make people generally aware of the intrinsic value of bamboo, especially of the species known as Phyllostachys aurea.
2. To promote the production of bamboo craft products.
Based on these two objectives, the work has been divided into two parts. The first covers general topics and the uses of bamboo, as well as the species predominant in Costa Rica. The second deals with silviculture, cutting, and construction of furniture with Pyllostachys aurea.
It also includes details on design and ergonomics specific to furniture.
Part I
Bamboo in general
Introduction
The history of bamboo goes back to the Cretaceous Period. Since prehistoric times, this plant has been associated with part of the daily life of humans.
At the present time, 80% of bamboo cultivation is found in tropical Southeast Asia, an area of approximately fourteen million hectares. [Some thirty eight million, plus, acres.]
In most Asian countries, bamboo is synonymous with wealth. However, in our country, it is not valued as a useable natural resource; not only its cultivation is not encouraged, but, sadly, it is thoughtlessly destroyed.
It is the purpose of this work to broaden the perspective of the average citizen by offering a new and positive image of bamboo and demonstrating its diverse uses in construction, architecture, engineering, medicine, and paper manufacturing. According to experience in other countries, it has been shown that the yield per hectare of bamboo is very high, higher even than that for coffee.
The advantages of bamboo derives from the fact that it requires practically no investment or maintenance in comparison with the wide range of uses to which it may be put. The industrialization of bamboo requires no complex methods, but can be worked very simply with purely craft techniques. This presents an unprecedented opportunity in the employment of unemployed labor; nor does it require prior preparation. It is indeed the plant that can assist agricultural communities to subsist and develop. The uses to which bamboo can be put are numerous and are intimately related to the different existing species.
Construction
Thanks to its physical characteristics, bamboo is widely employed for all types of structural elements, from girders and columns to scaffolds and ladders (Figure 3), porches, floors, and arch ribs. It is also used as a structural reinforcement in concrete.
It is employed in walls (Figure 4) as a building or decorative element (mesh).
Bamboo in transverse walls provides rigidity as well as the necessary flexibility to prevent its breaking when it is bent; this special feature makes it appropriate for antiseismic construction.
It can be further employed as floor paving, especially in the form of roofing tiles. Bamboo is ideal for temporary structures since it is light and easily transported and stored.
Food
Bamboo shoots of less than 50 cm in height [about 20 inches] are edible and are highly prized for their high content of iron, calcium, minerals and vitamins.
Phyllostachys pubescens is a sweet bamboo and therefore, the only one that can be eaten without prior preparation.
In Asia the shoots of P. Pubescens are processed and canned, an activity that constitutes an important aspect of the food industry.
Actually, the shoots of all genera and species of bamboo are edible. However they should be peeled and boiled in three changes of water to eliminate the cyanide in them, thus making them safe for consumption and avoiding poisoning.
The bamboo seeds also contain high protein levels, which are highest during flowering.
Architecture
Bamboo’s flexibility was employed profitably by the Vedas in India for providing arches and vaults in their houses; later on, the Bengaleses developed cupolas of bamboo, which even today are typical of the Indian architecture.
Engineering
The construction of hanging bridges of bamboo, with a clearance of some 100 m [over 300 feet] are an example of the physical properties of this material. Bamboo is used in this case instead of cables.
The Himalaya’s Bridge is a good example of this.
Craft works
Different types of furniture, such as chairs, tables, beds, mirrors, lamps, mobiles, folding screens, baskets, vessels and so on (Figures 5, 6 and 7) can be made of bamboo.
Also, and thanks to its tubular form and the strength of its fibers, it is useful in the making of spoons, forks, knives and many other types of small utensils.
