Bamboo Research Centre at Yatiyanthota

• Name: Uditha Fernando
• Year: 2017
• Studio: Level V
• University: University of Moratuwa

The Project Issue and Background of the Project

In terms of the excess material used in building construction, the material scarcity and environmental impacts throughout the production process have been increased. Concrete and Steel that most used as construction materials are required more energy for production and releasing more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

As a solution, Wood can be introduced which need less energy than Steel and Concrete and has the lowest impact on the environmental quality. Approximately, an acre of forest can absorb 3 tons of CO2 and releases 2 tons of O2. However, the issue is the growth speed of woods and the way that people use it. For a tree need some long time to mature. Although the cutting down rate is higher than the growth rate of wood and that phenomena heavily impact on the equilibrium of nature. Therefore, Bamboo can be introduced as an alternative solution. Bamboo material is considered as one of the most dynamic and flexible material suitable for manufacture of several types of products. As a renewable source bamboo product may be considered as eco-friendly. Therefore, there are immense opportunities for future growth of bamboo sector.

The Project Approach

The vision of the project is to identify the strength of bamboo and potentials to promote as a construction material by using related communities and converting their conventional knowledge into prescriptive knowledge

The Objectives of the Project

• Introduce and promote Bamboo species as a sustainable construction material
• The Bamboo Centre can be involved in research & development in terms of new bamboo products, structural & tensile properties of bamboo, finding sustainable and eco-friendly construction products
• Develop and facilitate for effective farming of bamboo in the local climate with environmentally friendly
• Get together bamboo related parties into one place and Conducts workshops and seminars for students, artists, farmers, professionals & any other persons interested in bamboo products, construction and design
• Introduced as a socially responsible enterprise, providing working opportunities. And the main objective of the project is to empower staff through learning skills
• Supports students/ researchers who want to study bamboo more extensively, by hosting them as interns, volunteers, providing access to its workshops, knowledge and network

Yatiyantota is selected for the proposed community based Bamboo Research Centre due to,

• Availability of Bamboo along the Kelani river banks
• Bamboo related handicraft community
• Ongoing programme of National Design Centre in Yatiyantota
• Involvement of Youth in Bamboo industry

In the Master plan arrangement, the natural bamboo belt through the river bank need to preserve the bamboo belt to avoid shore erosion and launch a new bamboo plantation programme in the macro context. Proposed project of bamboo construction programme, build housing units for low income community by the trained bamboo workers as a welfare programme and Quarters units/ Accommodation facilities for bamboo consultants/ trainees. In the proposal, establishing a bamboo plant nursery unit with technology. (Bamboo tissue culture unit) and Build a ferry point for collecting bamboo harvest from other plantation area by using river transportation system and make bamboo products stalls and parking area along the Awissawella – Hatton road.

Project Programme

Phase 01: Bamboo Plantation Programme In terms of the Master Plan Proposal, Bamboo plantation can be launched in selected areas as well as the proposed site. Introducing new species with tissue culture process and important Sri Lankan species (Yellow, Green and Giant Bamboo) are planted as the first phase. First harvest of the programme can be arrange within 4-5 years. Yatiyantota Craft Society has launched this step within 2Arces of a Government land in August ,2017 (In terms of the Master Plan)

Phase 02: Empowering the Community With the involvement of Yatiyantota Craft Society, need to be developed the infrastructural facilities for existing handicraft industry. With unskilled labours, regional materials, conventional technology are asked to involve in construct the Community Centre.

Phase 03: Platform for the Researches/ Productions Build the laboratory sections for the research purposes and workshops for material productions.

Phase 04: Distributing the Knowledge/ Technology Establish the Academic Center which helps to share the bamboo related knowledge theoretical as well as practical. Also a vocational training programme is launched for Bamboo material construction with the involvement of Yatiyantota bamboo technicians and bamboo related outside experts.

Phase 05: Facilitating for the Visitors After having the progress of the project, the Center can be opened to the visitors who are interesting on Bamboo. For that purpose, establish a Visitor Centre with other related facilities. Also a parking area is arranged with bamboo products stalls zone.