Mark Meckes
3rd July 2004, 12:21 PM
Bamboo:The Gift of the Gods by Oscar Hidalgo
(Book sources - see bottom of page)
Oscar Hidalgo-Lopez. 570 pages, 1200 drawings, 670 photographs, Bogota,
2003, ISBN 958-33-4298-X.
Book review by Dr Walter Liese
In this book Oscar Hidalgo, the well-known expert for bamboo in Latin-America, presents a life-time experience with the use of bamboo in many fields.
It is a collection of more than 40 years devoted occupation with bamboo, mainly Guadua, the main species of his homeland Colombia, and based on practical work in Latin-American countries, as well as the results of an extensive search of the literature and his friendly contacts with colleagues in many parts of the world.
The purpose is simply stated as ‘to contribute to the technical and scientific study of our native giant bamboo species, to the development of many industries related to the manufacture of composite materials, and the development of new types of structures, in Colombia and the other countries of the Americas where this marvelous plant can grow’
However, this conceals a most impressive accumulation of information on all
aspects around bamboo as plant and material.
The book consists of 10 parts, sub-divided in a total of 33 chapters:
Part 1: The Bamboo Plant: The Plant; Bamboo Flowering; Taxonomy and
Distribution of Bamboos in the World; Bamboo Ecology-Silviculture; Pests
and Diseases in living and felled Bamboo.
Part 2: Bamboo Properties: Physical-mechanical and chemical properties.
Part 3: Bamboo Handicrafts. Manufacture of Bamboo Wares.
Part 4: Bamboo treatments against Insects and Fungi — Rules for improving the natural durability of Bamboo.
Part 5: Manufacture of single and Composite Materials derived from Bamboo:
Single Bamboo Materials; Composite Material; Cement-based Composites
reinforced with Bamboo Fibres.
Part 6: Bamboo Construction Technologies: Some basic Rules for using
Bamboo in Construction; House Construction-Footings; Bamboo Walls; Roof
Structures; Prefabrication of Bamboo Houses.
Part 7: Construction of Bamboo Structures: Construction of Bamboo Scaffoldings (Knot-tying); Bamboo spatial Structures, Structures generated by natural and artificial deformation of living culms; The Effect of Earthquake Forces on Bamboo Buildings.
Part 8: The Bamboo Culture in the Americans and Asia: Traditional Bamboo Architecture in Asia.
Part 9: Application of Bamboo in different Fields of Engineering: Aeronautics,
Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering; Electrical Engineering; Hydraulic
Engineering; Nautical Technology; Mechanical Engineering; Textiles, Weapons.
Part 10: Bamboo in the Field of Medicine: Ancient and Modern Uses of
Bamboo in Medicine; Other Uses of Bamboo in Different Fields
Bibliography and Index
Each chapter is enriched with numerous drawings, among others from historic
sources, and with illustrative photographs, which contribute much to the educational and enjoyable reading.
I am not aware of any other bamboo book with such wealth of information
resulting from life-long love and work for this most fascinating plant.
DR. WALTER LIESE
---------------------------------
Book Sources: Bamboo:The Gift of the Gods by Oscar Hidalgo
Bamboo Australia (http://www.bamboo-oz.com.au/reference.html) - Belli Park, Queensland Australia
Bamboogardener (http://www.bamboogardener.com/booklist.html) - Seattle, Washington USA
Bambooman (http://www.bambooman.net) - Miami, Florida USA
Carol Stangler (http://estore.websitepros.com/771250/Detail.bok?no=18) - Ashville, North Carolina USA
Echo's Global Bookstore (http://www.echotech.org/bookstore/product_info.php?products_id=964) Ft Myers, Florida USA
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (http://store.fairchildonline.com/bagiofgo.html) - Miami, Florida USA
MidAtlantic Bamboo (http://www.midatlanticbamboo.com/bamboo-books/bamboo-books.htm) - Crewe, Virginia USA
Tradewinds Bamboo Nursery (http://www.bamboodirect.com/bamboo/price/books.html) - Gold Beach, Oregon USA
To be listed as a source, submit info, Click here (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/sendmessage.php)
(Book sources - see bottom of page)
Oscar Hidalgo-Lopez. 570 pages, 1200 drawings, 670 photographs, Bogota,
2003, ISBN 958-33-4298-X.
Book review by Dr Walter Liese
In this book Oscar Hidalgo, the well-known expert for bamboo in Latin-America, presents a life-time experience with the use of bamboo in many fields.
It is a collection of more than 40 years devoted occupation with bamboo, mainly Guadua, the main species of his homeland Colombia, and based on practical work in Latin-American countries, as well as the results of an extensive search of the literature and his friendly contacts with colleagues in many parts of the world.
The purpose is simply stated as ‘to contribute to the technical and scientific study of our native giant bamboo species, to the development of many industries related to the manufacture of composite materials, and the development of new types of structures, in Colombia and the other countries of the Americas where this marvelous plant can grow’
However, this conceals a most impressive accumulation of information on all
aspects around bamboo as plant and material.
The book consists of 10 parts, sub-divided in a total of 33 chapters:
Part 1: The Bamboo Plant: The Plant; Bamboo Flowering; Taxonomy and
Distribution of Bamboos in the World; Bamboo Ecology-Silviculture; Pests
and Diseases in living and felled Bamboo.
Part 2: Bamboo Properties: Physical-mechanical and chemical properties.
Part 3: Bamboo Handicrafts. Manufacture of Bamboo Wares.
Part 4: Bamboo treatments against Insects and Fungi — Rules for improving the natural durability of Bamboo.
Part 5: Manufacture of single and Composite Materials derived from Bamboo:
Single Bamboo Materials; Composite Material; Cement-based Composites
reinforced with Bamboo Fibres.
Part 6: Bamboo Construction Technologies: Some basic Rules for using
Bamboo in Construction; House Construction-Footings; Bamboo Walls; Roof
Structures; Prefabrication of Bamboo Houses.
Part 7: Construction of Bamboo Structures: Construction of Bamboo Scaffoldings (Knot-tying); Bamboo spatial Structures, Structures generated by natural and artificial deformation of living culms; The Effect of Earthquake Forces on Bamboo Buildings.
Part 8: The Bamboo Culture in the Americans and Asia: Traditional Bamboo Architecture in Asia.
Part 9: Application of Bamboo in different Fields of Engineering: Aeronautics,
Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering; Electrical Engineering; Hydraulic
Engineering; Nautical Technology; Mechanical Engineering; Textiles, Weapons.
Part 10: Bamboo in the Field of Medicine: Ancient and Modern Uses of
Bamboo in Medicine; Other Uses of Bamboo in Different Fields
Bibliography and Index
Each chapter is enriched with numerous drawings, among others from historic
sources, and with illustrative photographs, which contribute much to the educational and enjoyable reading.
I am not aware of any other bamboo book with such wealth of information
resulting from life-long love and work for this most fascinating plant.
DR. WALTER LIESE
---------------------------------
Book Sources: Bamboo:The Gift of the Gods by Oscar Hidalgo
Bamboo Australia (http://www.bamboo-oz.com.au/reference.html) - Belli Park, Queensland Australia
Bamboogardener (http://www.bamboogardener.com/booklist.html) - Seattle, Washington USA
Bambooman (http://www.bambooman.net) - Miami, Florida USA
Carol Stangler (http://estore.websitepros.com/771250/Detail.bok?no=18) - Ashville, North Carolina USA
Echo's Global Bookstore (http://www.echotech.org/bookstore/product_info.php?products_id=964) Ft Myers, Florida USA
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (http://store.fairchildonline.com/bagiofgo.html) - Miami, Florida USA
MidAtlantic Bamboo (http://www.midatlanticbamboo.com/bamboo-books/bamboo-books.htm) - Crewe, Virginia USA
Tradewinds Bamboo Nursery (http://www.bamboodirect.com/bamboo/price/books.html) - Gold Beach, Oregon USA
To be listed as a source, submit info, Click here (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/sendmessage.php)