Sustainable Architecture and Urban Development 261

The Sustainable Architectural Principle of

Traditional Bamboo Houses in Bangladesh
Md. Sayem khan, Ruman Rashid
University Technology Malaysia (UTM), Malaysia

Abstract
Bamboo is one of the strongest woody plants on planet. Bamboo is usually
grown on village homesteads. The use of bamboo in traditional house
construction is 100% environment-friendly, can mean a lot of savings in material
used and transport. The tradition al Bamboo houses are not the product of any
theory design, but influence of instinct, intuition, common sense and communal
memory. This research takes the steps towards such an understanding by
analyzing some field study on several numbers of bamboo houses, as case
studies of the signiticant features of traditional bamboo houses, which make it
more durable. Cheap and natural light weight material, aesthetically appealing
design, attic space for thennal comfort, proper cross ventilation and renewable
eonstruction system of the Bangladesh traditional bamhoo house makes it more
sustainable in wann humid tropieal climate in Bangladesh. The bamboo house
fonn has been defined by c1imate, site, and purpose, available materials, building
technology, historieal experience and world view. The best material to build a
house wills detinitely the loeal material. By applying the unlimited teehnology
nowadays on the gift of the Allah- Bamboo, this natural bamboo as a raw
material have a very high potential to become the best eonstruetion material in
future for sustainable development in the Bangladesh.

Keywords: Bangladesh, traditional architecture. design, bamboo house,

sustainability
 262 Md. Sayem khan & Ruman Rashid

1 Introduction

Bamboo is one of the strongest woody plants on planet. Its fibres are about 10
times as strong as the wood fibres used today. Bamboo is usually grown on
village homesteads. The use ofbamboo in traditional house construction is 100%
environment-friendly, can mean a lot of savings in material used and transport.
The traditional Bamboo houses are not the product of any theory design, but
influence of instinct, intuition, common sense and communal memory.
Traditional houses are located vastly in rural areas with its naturallandscape.
The context of Bangladesh traditional bamboo house is a natural projection of
the regional imagination. Traditional House local context have its own reality
and existence independent of others imagination of traditional viJlage in
Bangladesh. Traditional house is designed by the owner and based on low
investment, local materials, combined with the assistance of relations, friends
and neighbours (Rumana, 2009). It reflects cultural heritage of peoples and also
encapsulate traditional tDrms values and symbolic images of nature. Landscape
painters collectively crated the village as aland of dream, a place for passion and
sensuality (Bermingham, 1986). Architectural and cultural movement evolved in
the late 19TH and early 20 TH century such as modernism, rejected traditional
forms of art, literature, religious faith, social organization and daily life
(Kolokotroni, 1998).This paper presents the structure, construction, design
concept, arrangement, important feature and thermal performance of the
tradition al bamboo house to justify the sustainability. Thermal performance of
traditional bamboo house confirms the hypothesis about their environmental
sustainability.

2 Climate of Bangladesh

In terms of ecological region or biomes described by UNESCO (United Nations

Educational, Scientific and cultural Organisation) (Lean 1990) Bangladesh, lying
between 20°34' N to 26°33' N and 88° OI'E to 92° 41 'E. is in the Indo-Malayan
Realm. The climate of Bangladesh based on the widely used classification by
Atkinson (Koenigsberger, 1973). Climatic variables are shown in table 1,

T able J CI assl·fiIcaf IOn 0 fthe seasons an d crImatlc vana bl em. BangJa

I d es h.
I Ave. air MeanRH Mean Mean Wind
Rainfall Speed &
I Gregorian Temp
Meteorologie,I Calendar i For
For
91-00
For Direction
, Seasons
Months I 91-00 91-00 For 91-00.

.(~~
, (0C) (% )
I (mm)

Pre-monsoon
March 26.6 63.6 69 [2.4 (SW):
(hot-dry)
Pre-monsoon i
April 28.9 70.9 120 2.9(SW)
(hot-dry) I
 Sustainable Architecture and Urban Development 263

May
(hot­
lune 2.3 (SE)
(hot- •
July ! 29. I 84.0 371 i 2.2(SE)
(hot­
83.6 335

29.0 83.5 293

wet
Post monsoon ,
October 28.0 80.7 • 2.J(N)
hot-wet)

,26~
Post monsoon
November : 24.5 75.7
(hot-wet)
/ iinter (

20.3 74.4 . I3 1.6(NW)

cool-
I
!
I January I 18.8
I
72.4 1I r 1.4(NW)

i~
( COOJ-/ !
. February I 21.9 1
67 .0 i 27 11. 9(N)

3 Structure of Bamboo House

Bamboo is an easily growing organic material for houses of Bangladesh. So

bamboo is a popular material all over the country.

Figure 1: The common bamboo house in Bangladesh.

3.1 Plinth or noor

Cement stabilized earthen plinths are used in bamboo houses. Occasionally, the
houses are built with elevated bamboo frameworks and bamboo mats as plinths.
In some flood-prone areas, houses have a built-in wooden! bamboo platforrn
(machan) norrnally used as storage space, but during flood serves as a raised
refuge area. This practice should be encouraged and promoted for wider
264 Md. Sayem khan & Ruman Rashid

replication. Stabilization of the typical earthen plinth can be carried out with a
mixture of earth and cement. The proportion of cement to be added depends on
the nature ofthe soil, which can easily be tested on site. Capping the plinth with
cement-stabilized earth is cheaper, easier to construct and maintain. Complete
stabilized earth plinth is more expensive and harder to construct, but the results
are more durable.

3.2 Wall

Typically bamboo houses have bamboo mat walls with bamboo or timber posts.
Also organic materials Iike jute sticks, catkin grass are used. Flood with strong
currents can destroy wall panels, get washed away and may be partially or
complete lost, especially ifthe connections to posts are weak.

Figure 2: Frame work ofthe bamboo house and entry way to upper space.

Local treatment of the bamboo mat walls is done by bituminous, oil etc. Simple
chemical preservative treatment methods (dip diffusion method, intemodal
injection method or hot and cold method) for increasing the longevity of organic
materials have been developed a long time ago. Cost can increase but can
increase longevity by more than three or four times. Untreated, bamboo mat
walls do not last more than 4-5 years in outdoor conditions, but after treatment
lasts for 15-20 years (ADPC, 2005).

3.2.1 Chemical Treatment ofBamboo Mat Walls

Simple chemical preservative treatment methods for increasing the longevity of
organic materials have been developed a long time ago.
Sustainable Architecture and Urban Development 265

Increases cost by 20-25%, but can increase longevity by more than three or four
times. Ifuntreated, bamboo mat walls do not last more than 4-5 years in outdoor
conditions, but after treatment lasts for 15-20 years. The chemicals are not
hannful if proper precautions are maintained. For chemical preservative
treatment of bamboo battens and mats, the simplest method is to build a tank
made of bricks and concrete, or at cheaper cost, lining an excavation in the
ground with polythene sheet, or cutting a cylindrical metal container (e.g .. oil
drum) into half and welding them end-to-end.
A typical preservative can be prepared to be mixed in the tank in the following
proportions: Copper Sulphate 4%, Sodium Dichrornate 4%, Boric Acid 2%,
Water 90% = TOTAL 100%. ( during chemical treatment safety precaution also
taken for the working people). After treatment when the bamboo is dry then it is
ready for use. The materials should preferably be freshly harvested, but dry ones
can also be treated.
Bamboo battens and mats are to be first soaked in water for at least 24 hours and
then dried. They are then to be immersed completely in the chemical
preservative solution for 24 hours. After soaking, the materials are to be raised
above the tank and supported on bamboo poles or timber battens so that excess
chemicals can drip back into the tank and can be re-used. Then they are to be
dried in an open shaded space for 1-2 days and then in sunshine for 3-4 days.
Gloves or polythene bag covers to be wom to protect hands from chemicals
during the treatment process (ADPC, 2005).

3.2.2 Bamboo treatment's cost effectiveness analysis

Cost ofuntreated bamboo house around 200 square feet = Tk 5,000/ USD 72

Cost of a treated bamboo house of same dimension = Tk 6,2501 USD90

Cost increase due to preservative treatment Tk 1,2501 USD 18

Cost oftreatment increased 25 % ofthe cost ofuntreated bamboo house

Service life of conventional untreated bamboo house = 7 years

Minimum expected service life of treated bamboo house = 15 years

That is, 25% increase in cost results in 100% increase in lifespan. (ADPC,2005)

266 Md. Sayem khan & Ruman Rashid

Figure 3: 'Cross bracing' - Structural frame work ofthe bamboo house.

3.3 Roof

Typically, roofs in bamboo houses are made from eatkin grass, riee wheat or
maize straws with usually bamboo and sometimes reed stalk framings.
Thatehing materials can get detaehed and wash away. Secondary hazards otlen
connected to flood are heavy rainfall, which can cause damage. Strong winds
can also blow away thatching materials and damage frames. So in some regions
c.I. sheet are also used for roofs.

To increase stability and wind- resistance of the structural frame of bamboo­

framed houses, cross bracing with split bamboo sections should be done. If a
house becomes weakened at its base due to flood, cross bracing helps to keep the
structure stable. Split bamboo sections used for cross bracing should be treated
with chemical preservatives so that they do not decay easily and lose their
strength. Instead of jute or coir rope, nylon rope or good quality galvanized wire
should be used for tying the elements ofthe structural fl·ame.

3.4 Upper space

Upper space ceiling is used as storage; it should allow ventilation and should be
accessible for maintenance. Adequate number and size of perforated bamboo
mat walls should be built oriented along thc prevailing wind flow direction to
Sustainable Architecture and Urban Development 267

allow cross ventilation. Extended roof eaves are to be used to prevent direct
ofwalls rain.

Figure 4: Upper space ventilation ofbamboo house and wall gap from floor

Rainwater gutters can be used to discharge water away from the house while
collecting arsenic-tree rainwater. Houses should be built house on raised
homestead with slightly sloping ground for drainage.

4 Bamboo Supply

Although being a vital resource tor house construction, bamboo has become
searee in many areas with a resulting inerease in priee. Inadequate disease
prevention and mismanagement of existing resources eontribute further to
dec1ine in stock. There is thus the need for regeneration of bamboo supply
through improved cultivation and management. There are many afforestation and
soeial forestry programs in Bangladesh, but none panicularly address bamboo
cultivation. There is also potential for introdueing hazard-free bamboo treatment
as a sustainable process for the utilisation and consumption of the resource
within the framework of a wider initiative for its improved and sustainable
regeneration, production and management. Various livelihoods are Iinked to
bamboo and an initiative tor bamboo regeneration would also regenerate these
livelihoods.

5 Bamboo Farming for supplying traditional house material

Bamboo farms should be established to demonstrate the potential of improved

sustainable bamboo production and to address the environmental implications of
the decline of this Ioeal resource. Improved bamboo propagation and cultivation
methods have been developed by Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI)
and bamboo farms would allow extend these methods, other than improved
bamboo famling, some of the main activities of the farm should be:
268 Md. Sayem khan & Ruman Rashid

-Further research and development of bamboo cultivation and propagation

methods.
-Bamboo treatment with adequate safety measures.
-Production and marketing of treated bamboo building products, furniture,
household and agricultural implements and handicratls.

Figure 5: Bamboo Farming

Such farms founded on the principle of sustainable production of bamboo would

allow generating sustainable livelihoods for Iocal cultivators, artisans,
manufacturers and entrepreneurs.
The farm can work as a model of how bamboo cultivation can be part of the rural
environment and serve a variety of domestic and community needs of a village.
It can also work as an educational centre tor documentation, research, exhibition
and dissemination (ADPC, 2005).

6 Methodology

Currently, the field study of Bangladesh traditional bamboo houses are done on
several number of bamboo houses at rural and suburban areas in Bangladesh.
For environmental study, temperature and humidity data are taken by thermal
data logger (HOBO). Set of thermal data logger was installed in one of the
selected Bangladesh traditional bamboo house. Thermal Data loggers were
installed in the selected house in the three zones, namely upper space, indoor
living space and outdoor of the house. The remote data loggers recorded data
with the help of external sensors. Data were recorded at every five minutes
interval. The controlling software assigns range of the logger interval. The
loggers are initiated by software Box Car Pro 4.0. The software is required for
the downloading of data from the data loggers and in making the graph; and
exporting data to excel file. Excel software also used for data analyses.
Sustainable Architecture and Urban Development 269

7 Thermal performance study

Thermal performance study of bamboo house was done at Dhaka for one month.
The initial finding of the research is that the traditional Bangladesh bamboo
house is comfortable at night in hot summer season. It is summarized that when
upper space window opening's increases than indoor and outdoor temperature
difference decreases during summer day time. The maximum indoor temperature
is recorded 29.5°C when outdoor and upper space temperature is 29.95°C. Indoor
minimum temperature was recorded 26.6°C when the outdoor and upper space
was 27.12°C. The indoor temperature is always lower then outdoor and upper
space. But the upper space temperature chronologically becomes higher in
respect of increasing of upper space window opening. The difference between
indoor and outdoor temperature decrease because of heat starts to transmit from
hot upper spaces to cool indoor living spaces. According to this phenomenon
from the tabulation, it is indicated that it has sufficient difference between indoor
and outdoor temperatures during summer nights. So the upper space influences
the indoor Iiving space for heat gain and heat loss. During winter season closed
window in upper space is desirable for better thermal performance.

30

e 29
il

.... 28

27

0 0 0 0 q q 0 q 0 0
::i ::i ~ ~ ~
e; e; [;; e; t;;
~ ~ it
M

~ ~ ~ ~ ii; ~ ~
0 ~ .; ~ ~ ~ ö
N - '"
N N tj
s
8 ~
~ ~ I Time
I IIIIII
Figure 6: Profile of outdoor and indoor temperature 01' a bamboo house.

8 Conclusion
This research concludes according to case studies 01' the significant design
features and use of local material in traditional bamboo houses, which make it
more durable, available, cheap and natural light weight material, aesthetically
appealing design, attic space for thermal comfort, proper cross ventilation and
270 Md. Sayem khan & Ruman Rashid

renewable construction system of the Bangladesh traditional bamboo house

makes it more sustainable in warm humid tropical climate in Bangladesh. The
bamboo house form has been defined by climate, site, and purpose, building
technology, historical experience and world view. The best material to build a
house wills definitely the local material. By applying the unlimited technology
nowadays on the gift of the AlIah- Bamboo, this natural bamboo as a raw
material have a very high potential to be co me the best construction material in
future for sustainable development in the Bangladesh.

Acknowledgment

In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful, for giving us the
determination and will to complete this study. 1 am also grateful to Universiti
Teknologi Malaysia.

References

ADPC, Hand Book on "Design and Construction of Housing on Flood Pom

Rural Area of Bangladesh", 2005,
Bermingham,A. Landscape and Ideology, The English rustic tradition 1740­
I 860.Berkiey (University of Califomia Press) in pamikkar, R J 986
Koenigsberger, et al, Manual of tropical Housing and Building Design, Part I,
Orient Long man, 1973.
Kolokotroni, V. ct al, ed., "Modemism: An anthology of source and documents.
Edinburgh'" Edinburgh university press. 1998
Lean, G. Atlas ofthe Environment, Arrow books Ltd., London, 1990
Rumana Rashid, Mohd. Hamdan Bin Ahmed "Significant and Efficient Features
of The Bangladesh Traditional House", iNTA-SAGA 2009: Bridging
Innovation, Technology and Tradition, Bangkok, Thailand 2009
UNESCO (Unitcd Nations Educational, Scicntific and cultural Organisation)