Architect Combines Carbon Fibre with Bamboo to create building “material of the future”

Japanese architect Kuma, founder of Kengo Kuma & Associates created the installation Bamboo (竹) Ring, or ‘Take-wa 竹わ’, an experiment in the concept of weaving bamboo with carbon fibre and was showcased John Madjeski Garden in Knightsbridge.

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.