Excerpt: The Casamia Community House by VTN Architects, built using bamboo, is an example of how natural materials can be used to create strong structures that last for hundreds of years. The building’s distinctive vault structure, which is suitable for a larger span, depicts the design of Cam Thanh’s nipa palms. This structure also makes it possible to resist horizontal forces, which helps to fend off storms in Central Vietnam.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] Casamia Community House is located in Cam Thanh, Hoi An City. The building is constructed of bamboo, a common material in Vietnamese culture, and was designed in the style of nipa palms from Cam Thanh. It receives a lot of wind since it is near the end of a river. Natural sunlight can still enter the building despite it being heavily covered with vegetation.
This building’s use of bamboo as its primary material has several benefits. Bamboo buildings are effective at absorbing sound because they are made of numerous layers of woven bamboo elements. Social connection is possible inside the structure thanks to the low-cost construction. Additionally, the thatch roof aids in acoustic absorption.
The 22 arch frames of columns and trusses combined with bracing comprise the hybrid bamboo structure. This building is almost 9 metres tall and rests on a concrete foundation.
Nipa palms are portrayed by the unique vault structure. It is also appropriate for a longer span. Additionally, this structure enables resisting horizontal forces, which aids in combating Central Vietnam’s storms.
Furthermore, the interior is shielded from outside natural forces by the thatch roof and a layer of wire netting. When designing, VTN Architects aims to accomplish to create a structure that serves as an illustration of how to use natural materials to build durable structures that persist for hundreds of years.
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