Bamboo grows within five years to a fiber stronger than any wood whatsoever. So why is it not used more often as a building material? CRG Architects used this question as a guideline for their design of the Bamboo Skyscraper, a 200 meter high skyscraper in Singapore.

The idea behind the skyscraper is to create a focal point in the urban area, with a strong focus on sustainability and social interaction. Bamboo is a highly suitable construction material in this respect. In addition to being highly renewable, bamboo is able to withstand high torque – higher even than most steel, which also makes it earthquake proof .

But for such a high-rise building – in this case 200 meters – it is not possible to use bamboo only. Therefore, the joints of the structure are made of steel, to which the bamboo is tied. The crossing of bamboos and the two main structural cylinders ensure the stability of the skyscraper. The ‘German-Chinese House,’ which was presented at the Shanghai Expo 2010 was the inspiration for this construction method. This building has a hybrid structure of bamboo and steel, which is both functional and aesthetic.

For the finishing of the façade, this bamboo skyscraper will be clad with ETFE (ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer), which offers excellent corrosion resistance and durability over a wide temperature range. ETFE additionally offers a high melting temperature, along with excellent electrical and high-energy radiation resistance properties.

For more information about the bamboo skyscraper, visit the site of CRG Architects.