Constructing a Bamboo Playground

[scobo1967]

Greetings,
A small group of us from Ireland are heading to Cambodia in July to construct a playground for people recently fitted with an artificial limb. Bamboo will be one of our main building materials. We would be most grateful for any suggestions/ideas for this undertaking. I will ask more specific questions as we advance our design (and in response to your ideas). Thank you.

[kstanwick]

Hi scoobie....That sounds like a great thing you are doing. I came across some different ways of joinery in my research of diff. bamboo threads. Is this what you were looking for in terms of input? personally i've never constructed anything out of bamboo yet...so i can't help you out as far as tips (I've done plenty of building)...i will see if i can find some of that info about the different style joints if you need them.

Kurt

[Mark Mortimer]

Hi Scobo,
Great idea. Hope it all works out for the playground. A few thoughts:
I am sure you will learn a lot about building with bamboo from the local Cambodians. If there's a lot of bamboo in the area, no doubt they will have the knowledge of how to use it.
Only use bamboo which is three years and over when harvested. Any younger and you're wasting your time. Worse, it could be unsafe. It's difficult to age cut bamboo, but mature stuff has a weight and solidity that immature bamboo doesn't.
Bear in mind that it won't last forever. There has to be a system in place for checking the structure regularly so that any broken or damaged joints are fixed or replaced.
Insect infestation might be a problem. Look into preservation techniques.
Keep writing back to this forum for specific info as you progress.
Good luck

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Scobo, check out the link below.
Very inspiring!
All the best with this project. - Mark

from the publication:
Disabled Village Children
A guide for community health workers, rehabilitation workers, and families - by David Werner
Published by The Hesperian Foundation

PART 2 - WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY:
Village Involvement in the Rehabilitation, Social Integration,and Rights of Disabled Children

CHAPTER 46: Playgrounds for All Children (http://www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/english/global/david/dwe002/dwe00248.htm)

CHAPTER 55: Examples of Community - Directed Programs (http://www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/english/global/david/dwe002/dwe00257.htm)

[scobo1967]

Thank you all for your helpful replies. My son has been in hospital over the last month so I haven't been near a computer until now. I am meeting with the group a week from Thursday (7 April) and will have some more questions/news after that. Once again, many thanks.
All the best

[cheni]

scobo!
if you are thinking of a high-end structure, consider the species, maturity of the bamboo, treatment and the structural aspects.
cheni

[kstanwick]

I found the file. It isn't in english but it has pics. Maybe it will help or help others...maybe not

Kurt