To test the idea of using bamboo for creating temporary structures and for the structural basis for casting permanent parts of the site, I need to pick a form to work with. At this stage, the focus is on testing the temporary to permanent concept and bamboo's viability as a material for this, so the form itself is not the most important thing.
With this in mind, I have decided to carry out my initial tests of this concept with the form of geodesic domes. As a geodesic dome is a uniform and simple structure, the form will not distract from the focus on the construction system and process. However, it is worth noting at this stage that using bamboo to construct geodesic structures is viable and has precedent, as demonstrated below.
Precedents of nodes in a bamboo geodesic structure
One method of jointing them at the nodes is the low-tech approach of overlapping and lashing each member together at the nodes, in an arrangement similar to those found in reciprocal structures (above left picture). Another method is to have specially made hubs into which the bamboos can slot (above right). With either approach, the bamboo is not damaged, and thus can be reused again and again.
Incremental development with geodesic structures
Another benefit of using a simple, uniform system like geodesic domes is that it can be expanded by adding modules whenever required, as is shown above. This would fit with the idea of the site being developed incrementally in phases, as each batch of bamboo is harvested.
Drawing this arrangement of multiple modules of geodesic domes has given me an idea of how to physically test the idea of temporary to permanent in geodesic form. I intend to create a series of joined-up modules, where each module is a different stage in the process.
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