Presenter: Alex Caves
Mentors: Jessica Swanson and Trygve Faste, Product Design
Creative Work Presentation: 10
Major: Product Design
What is a natural material that has a comparable tensile strength to steel, can be used as a primary structure for a multi-story building, has antimicrobial properties, and is the most sustainable material to harvest? Bamboo. Most
of us know bamboo as a privacy hedge for your garden, but bamboo can be used for so much more. In Asia, Bamboo is used for construction for buildings furniture, and can even replace rebar in concrete; it is used to make toys, cooking or eating utensils, things that need to be sanitary; it can be made into baskets; it can be processed into wool to make amazingly soft clothes; and in Japan the shoots are served as a delicacy. I have researched some companies who are now experimenting with bamboo and its fibers to create composites that has the potential to replace harmful materials like fiberglass, and plastics. My goal with Project Bamboo is to change the perception of bamboo as just a gardening plant, and to show everyone the potential of bamboo as a natural alternative to plastics. I have two types of wall mounted hangers made from bamboo so far with several material study samples, and will present these and others at the Symposium.