CONSTRUCTION OF A BAMBOO GEODESIC DOME IN AN ARCHITECTURAL WORKSHOP

The geodesic dome was constructed with the participation of Ph.D. students and undergraduate students of the Department of Architecture and Urbanism in March 2013 as the experimental part of the workshop realized at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The prototype for temporary structure based on low-cost components utilized bamboo struts and steel connectors. A group of 32 persons was able to prepare the bars and the connectors for a 12 meters diameter dome in just two days. The assembly was carried out in less than five hours and the dome has approximate 105 square meters area. Both assembly and disassembly did not require specialized training and could be made collectively. The connector was based in flexible design which allowed rotation on each strut correcting small differences in length and curvature. Colorful triangles of lycra fabric were used to complete the dome. Nowadays a parametric design is being processed by the authors for future prototypes with different diameters. The experiment allowed the application of knowledge about the design of geodesic dome and the use of bamboo as a natural material of great building potential and recyclability.