The purpose of these pages is to give interested parties an indication of what a Bambuco project will involve and the steps that need to be taken to get a project up and running. All projects are different, so please consider the below indicative only.
Site Reconnaissance
The first step is always a visit to and a thorough survey of the site. Preferably this occurs a minimum of six months before we begin to build, allowing time for design, model building and engineering. It also gives us enough time to order a shipment of bamboo from China, if that is required.
During or after the site visit Bambuco will put a proposal to the Festival for a project. When we have an in principle agreement, Bambuco will start designing and modeling. It is at this stage that we might need more details about the site: drawings, measurements, information about the load bearing abilities of the substrata, etc.
After the design and modeling phase, Bambuco is able to roughly estimate the cost of the project. We would typically know at this stage how many people we need and for how much time, how much bamboo and other materials etc. We will put these estimates to the Festival and if there is in principle agreement on these estimated costs, we enter the next phase.
Engineering
During the next stage our engineers analyze the proposed construction. There might be some changes made in the model to improve its structural integrity. Further, the foundations are calculated. Since most structures are very tall – up to 35 meters so far – and subject to high wind loads, we often need to use concrete blocks as temporary foundations to prevent movement at the base. The engineers give us a minimum weight per anchor point. After this they supply Bambuco with an engineering certificate for the structure. Now we are the position to calculate the final cost of the project.
Just a short note on the use of concrete blocks: Normally we use precast blocks (most councils have them in their depot) though occasionally the concrete is poured directly on site into plastic lined forms when load spreading is required. Precast concrete blocks typically weigh anything from 300 – 2000 kg. The total number required ranges from 40 - 60.
The contractor supplying the concrete blocks or pads is responsible for their removal.
Preproduction
After final agreement on the cost of the project, we would typically go into preproduction. Our general/production manager will get involved to sort out the myriad details.
Bambuco will typically bring one six-meter shipping container with materials to the site.
The Bamboo arrives on site by means of a shipping container. We ship 12 metre containers directly from plantations in Southern China. Bamboo growers familiar with our needs have selected each piece. Shipping time from China is minimal eight weeks from ordering. The bamboo container does not belong to Bambuco so the bamboo must be unloaded and the container sent back to the shipping yard.
Before construction begins the bamboo must be graded according to size and form. A full 12-meter shipping container contains roughly 500 ten-meter lengths of bamboo. Generally four or five separate stacks are made, as near as possible to the worksite. Each stack measures about 11m long by 2m wide by 1m tall. These are placed around the worksite.
Typically a small crew (2 or 3) arrives in advance of the main Bambuco construction crew, to prepare the site.
Sometimes we will be in need of a boom lift; usually they come only into play at the later stages of construction.
In general we use the formula: for every week building, we need one day of deconstruction. It is our aim to pull down as fast as possible. (See the “Art pages” for the philosophy behind this)
Safety
Our work would be impossible without a stringent safety policy. Normal Australian construction industry OHS (occupational health and safety) rules apply to a Bambuco worksite.
Due to the extraordinary nature of the work, Bambuco has developed its own safety policy that governs our construction personnel during the project. It should be noted that in the decade that we have been doing these structures, we have never had a serious accident on any of our sites.
During construction the general public must be kept clear of the worksite. Normally a simple barrier made from bamboo is enough to delineate the work area; this is aesthetically more acceptable than industrial barriers. If metal ‘crowd barriers’ are used they must be low profile.
Once construction is complete the barriers may be removed so that people can move beneath the structure.
Festival or press personnel wishing to enter the site during work hours are required to follow normal precautions such as wearing hard-hats and suitable footwear. Entry is only possible by prior arrangement with the production manager.
Site security is essential during non-working hours mainly to guard against unskilled people climbing and falling. This is also an explicit requirement of our Public Liability Insurance Policy.
Public Information
During the course of each project there is often an amazing amount of public interest in the company, the project and bamboo itself. Most people have no idea that bamboo can grow to such a large size, can be so strong and grow so fast. In order to avoid answering the same questions over and again, information is provided, placed on supports around the site.
The environmentally sustainable nature of plantation bamboo, both as a building material and food source, is part of the message we like to deliver.
Our construction sites often become social meeting points .
Musicians are typically attracted to the material, sometimes experimental instruments are made. Children can play with bamboo offcuts.
We have developed the tradition of organizing a ‘Bambuco Barbeque’ at some point on the site.
The Media
The public nature of our work; its massive scale, the unusual building material and process and the spectacular visual imagery provides a very effective media hook.
Since we often begin building well before a festival commences, Bambuco projects have proven to bring a lot of free pre-festival publicity.
We are very practiced at dealing with press and television crews and are always willing to make time for them.
