PROJECT
bamboo products as a substitute or alternative to tropical
hardwood timber has a double positive impact on the environment
and global CO 2
balance – it reduces the demand for tropical timber
and can thus help to decrease the rate of tropical deforestation,
and will also promote the cultivation of new bamboo forests (which
can be done very successfully on degraded land), resulting in
higher CO 2
absorption.
The rapid growth rate and short harvesting cycle of bamboo (four to
five years) also means that the annual yield of ‘timber-like’ products
from bamboo forests (m 3 per hectare per year) is significantly higher
than the yield from comparable (sustainable) hardwood forests. And
the yield from natural timber forests is even lower than the yield from
sustainable timber plantations, so the comparison is even more
extreme. Paige says that the vast majority of engineered bamboo
products used worldwide are made in China, from the MOSO
species, but with advances in processing technology it is likely that
many other bamboo species can be used to produce engineered
bamboo products. “Thus, the potential supply and yield of bamboo
as a construction, structural and décor material worldwide could be
many times that of timber, with production facilities in many regions
of the world,” he says.
MOSO IN A NUTSHELL
MOSO International (MOSO) was established in 1997 in The
Netherlands and has grown to become the world leader in the
supply of engineered bamboo products. MOSO products are
independently tested and certified to the applicable European
standards. MOSO supplies engineered bamboo products in a large
number of formats and profiles for a range of applications including:
• Interior flooring boards;
• Boards, panels and beams for interior furniture, cabinetry,
panelling, and other applications;
• Slats and beams for ceiling and wall systems;
• Exterior decking and cladding boards; and
• Exterior beams and slats.
The architecture at Puku Ridge aimed to incorporate the original
thatch roofs and canvas walls in the final design. However, to
guarantee longevity, materials were carefully selected to withstand
the elements.
ABOUT LUXURY FRONTIERS
Luxury Frontiers turns locations of remote beauty and wilderness
into luxurious and experiential destinations. Often aiming to craft
the seemingly impossible, Luxury Frontiers contextually designs
and develops upmarket tented camps, treetop suites, and
light-on-earth building concepts, constantly pushing the envelope
of the hospitality frontier without sacrificing comfort, style, or a
sense of place.
Each accommodation unit features a viewing tower and a mosquito netenclosed
bed that can slide out from its canvas-clad canopy into the open
air, allowing guests to sleep under a blanket of stars.
www.timberiq.co.za // OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2020 13