The installation was created by Kuma working in partnership with Ejiri Structural Engineers and the Kengo Kuma Laboratory and is an exploration of pliancy, precision, lightness and strength: by pulling two ends, it naturally de-forms and half of the woven structure is lifted into the air.

Bamboo is a traditional building material in Japan and has been used for many years due to the materials linearity and flexibility, and as a symbol of strength and rapid growth.

This is new materiality that we can try to bring to the city. Both materials are very light, but wood is not resistant enough in an earthquake. By combining it with these carbon fibres we can create a new kind of strength. Kengo Kuma

The basic component of the structure is a 2m diametre ring made from Phyllostachys Edulis bamboo. By combining carbon fibre with this traditional material and laminating each ring, the resulting effect achieves a certain rigidity while maintaining the unique material properties and beauty of bamboo.

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Chopped bamboo fibres were added to a bio-polymer resin to create bamboo-based pellets, resulting in a more sustainable material that can be used for manufacturing moulds, prototypes, appliances and furniture. The research team 3-D printed a table that contains 10 percent bamboo fibre composite.

Researchers behind the experiments developed 10% and 20% bamboo PLA composites which are 100% bio-based and fully sustainable. Structural and environmental benefits behind bamboo make it and interesting option for additive manufacturers, who could use the newly developed pellets as a substitute for more traditional printing materials.

Researchers are investigating the use of different types of cellulose fibres to develop feedstock materials with better mechanical performance that can increase the number of available composites and opportunities for sustainable practices.

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New methods of processing flax have led to renewed interest in the use of the material as an industrial fibre. Flax fibre used in engineering applications provide the high performance and easy processing normally associated with glass fibre composites but with lower weight and environmental impact.

[padding type=”small_left”][quote_colored name=”” icon_quote=”no”]The strength of the frames is due to our unique manufacturing processes that is completely new in this industry, compressing laminates with pressures of up to 8 times that of a conventional carbon monocoque frame we can create stronger laminates and use more exotic materials.[/quote_colored][/padding]

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The frame, which weights just 3.3kgs is a combination of bamboo and flax, the former gives the frame its wooden good looks while the latter adds strength and impact absorption. To ensure minimal void content in laminates and an optimum fibre volume fraction, Guapa engineered their own pre-preg flax, creating a bike that the company say is probably the most sustainable and highly engineered available today.

The frame is protected with a special UV and water stable coating that prevents any water ingress and maintains the natural wood.Once made, the frames are shipped off to Germany for testing, here they are put under a week long routine of repetition and impact tests to pass the newest ISO European standards. The Urban One passed these tests with the same frame for all 5 tests, putting it through an equivalent of about 10 years of use.

The Urban One starts at around £2,100 and goes up depending on the options, the company plan to increase the range of bamboo bikes in the near future with a Dutch-style and folding design all in the pipeline.

Images Copyright: Guapa

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The woven bamboo mats on the top and bottom are critical components of an advanced sandwich core panel, which is made from End-grain balsa, known to be the stiffest and most shear resistant core material usually found in boatbuilding, experimental aircraft and other high stress applications. The materials used also show superior compressive and bonding strengths to the main skin resulting in a structure that is strong and extremely durable.

the woven wood mats, top and bottom, are critical parts of an advanced sandwich core panel. this component is made of end-grain balsa, known to be the stiffest and most shear-resistant timber found in boatbuilding, experimental aircraft, and other high stress applications. furthermore, the ingredient also shows superior compressive and bonding strength to the skins, resulting in a structure that is not only strong, but extremely durable. truck mounts are reinforced with baltic birch plywood and carbon fibre. The truck mounts have been strengthened with Baltic birch plywood and carbon fibre composite reinforcement.

Professor Rake from the University of Kansas brought several students earlier in the year to Greensboro to prototype and test multiple designs in the field. The result is first skateboard to be created by The Beacon Alley Bamboo Board Co, which will be produced in the makelab’s local shop in Greensboro. The innovative, high-performance products will provide job training and increase employment in the Alabama black belt. the project is still active and is looking for funding on kickstarter now.

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