Simón Vélez

Structures

Below are pictures of the Manizales Pavilion large structures built with Guadua Bamboo. The photos are from the Pavilion in Manizales Colombia, which was built as a model for the Zeri Pavilion, that was a feature in Expo 2000 in Hanover Germany.








The Pavilion built by Simon Velez and Marcelo Villegas was built to prove that the structure, which has a poured concrete roof and a Concrete terrace, could be engineered to withstand extreme weights and tensions. Two pavilions were built. The first one was built in Manizales to prove that this large structure could be built to the exacting building code of the German government. After several tests including stress and weight deformation, it was concluded that this method of building exceeded the standards required in Germany. An interesting note about the Zeri pavilion in Germany is that the structure required heavy equipment including large wrecking balls to demolish. The pavilion in Manizales still stands today and is expected to last for quite some time. The most notable achievements of bamboo structures like the ones pictured below is the ability to endure earthquakes.

Bamboo is a renewable resource and when used with other materials such as concrete, rebar and other woods, can bear the required loads and sometimes surpasses them. To the credit of many innovative architects, engineers, scientists and naturalists, Guadua Bamboo is becoming one of the most important materials in the new Eco Architectural renaissance.

Bamboo Construction Work Shop with Simon Velez and Marcelo Villegas
— filed under: Meeting

Koolbamboo is in the process of organizing a Bamboo construction work shop for the 3rd week in February 2006. The course Instructors will be Simon Velez and Marcelo Villegas and we will be building a Guadua Bamboo Structure in Homestead Florida with treated Guadua Bamboo from Colombia's Andes mountains or " vegetable steel". This will be a hands on project with instruction focused on building techniques developed for Guadua Bamboo Pole construction. This will be a no frills course and all participants are expected to take an active role in the project and should be prepared to participate. The 5 day course will be limited to 20 participants and the cost is 1000.00 per person.