Bamboo Stalactite

"Bamboo, as a possible and future answer to build temporary structures, but also real houses." This is the material used to create Bamboo Stalactite, representing Vietnam at the 16^th International Architecture Exhibition in La Biennale, Venice.

Expertise craftmans arrived from Vietnam, have created Bamboo Stalactite, a shelter 6 meters high, 14m wide and 27m long. The installation, designed by the prestigious Vietnamese architecture firm VoTrong Nghia Architects, has been completely assembled on-site using a traditional technique that involves joining the logs thanks to ropes and bamboo pins.

The pavilion has a structure composed of a series of elementary modules having a rhomboidal shape as can be seen in the pictures.
As shown in the pictures below, weights were used to keep the structure in place. Why? This approach was necessary due to constraints that prevented digging holes in the ground for traditional foundation methods. To address this challenge we calculated the weight of these concrete elements to ensure optimal stability and safety. Ultimately, this adaptation not only served its functional purpose but also added unexpected value: at the conclusion of the project, these concrete elements were repurposed as seating for visitors.

Ergodomus Timber Engineering was responsible for the static analysis of the pavilion, designed to withstand the significant wind forces characteristic of Venice. The unique aspect of this project lay in the building material used, which deviated from our typical resources and demanded a different approach to static calculations.
To accommodate this, we employed RFEM for our analysis, adapting our methodologies to ensure the structure’s resilience and stability using this distinct material.

At this link you can read the entire article of the magazine “Il sole 24 ore” dedicated to the Vietnam Pavilion by VoTrong Architects.

Credits

Architetto:

VTN Architects (Vo Trong Nghia Architects)

Gallery