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DESIGNING AND BUILDING A CHILDREN’S BAMBOO & HEMP PLAYGROUND.



Author(s): Gie Steenput
Paper category: Proceedings
Book title: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference
on Bio-Based Building Materials
Editor(s): Sofiane AMZIANE, Mohammed SONEBI and Karine CHARLET
ISBN:
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-192-6
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2017
Pages: 682-690
Total Pages: 2
Language : English


Abstract: A course named “Building with Bamboo” is part of the final year curriculum of the building
engineer at Avans University Tilburg, AB&I, department of architecture. Within this course
students can earn 2x3 E.C. over a period 2x10 days. From September 2015 up to January 2016
the subject of the course involved the designing and building of a children’s playground made of
bamboo and hemp. The playground is situated in Antwerp (Belgium) on the inner courtyard of an
elementary school for children between 6 and 12 years of age. This particular school attracts a
high number of children who do not speak Dutch as a native language. To help establish a better
and faster communication with them, the children were invited to come up with ideas for their
new playground. These ideas were transformed into 6 proposals by our building engineer
students, and put on display at the elementary school. One design, chosen by the children and
their parents, was picked out. Prior to execution our students prepared IKEA-like manuals to
involve the children of the primary school in the construction of their bamboo playground as
much as possible. Parts of the playground were prefabricated and a mock-up was made with the
help of the children. Eventually the playground, a 3-dimentional labyrinth made out of bamboo
and hemp measuring 5x5x5m, was erected in 4 days by 39 students. Protection methods
against decay due to sun and moisture exposure were implemented. Special care has been
given to the foundation of the bamboo poles and to lashing techniques used for connecting the
bamboo pole structure. A maintenance manual has been given to the teachers of the elementary
school. A follow up to study the decay of bamboo and hemp, being expose to a West-European
climate, was planned.


Online publication :2017
Publication type :full_text
Public price (Euros) : 0.00


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