Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure

BAMBOO AMPHITHEATER SPACE STRUCTURE

Bambutec Design

Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias

ARCHITECTS
Bambutec Design

CLIENT
Puc-rio

AREA
200 m²

TEAM
Mario Seixas, João Bina, Patrick Stoffel, José Luiz Mendes Ripper, Luís Eustáquio Moreira, Khosrow Ghavami, Selma Fraiman, Bruno Lopes Lima

MANUFACTURERS
Alpargatas Night & Day, Takê Cortinas

PHOTOGRAPHS
Juan Dias

LOCATION
Gávea, Brazil

CATEGORY
Amphitheater

YEAR
2014

Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias

Text description provided by architect.

The Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure is a mobile free-form roof spanning 17 x 12 meters, in a total of 200m² of covered area.

The Amphitheater is located on the banks of the Rainha River on an inclined site in the tropical climate, built in the green campus of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias

The bamboo structure was designed on the foundation previously designed by the architect Carlos Pingarrilho.

The structural design was developed through a form-finding method, using physical scale models and computer models in interaction.

Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias

The roof applies a textile hybrid bamboo structure formed by self-stressed active bending beams and tensile pantographic grids, resulting in double curved surfaces, avoiding buckling of the structural members.

Self-stressed active bending beams and pantographic grids were subjected to external loads up to an elastic limit of strain in the beams, generating a load-bearing structure.

The structure was erected by supporting bipod pylons and presents a self-supporting behaviour. Six touch-down pylons and reinforced concrete anchors fix the structure on the ground, preserving it from the direct contact of the soil moisture.

Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias

Gridshell modules were disposed of discontinuously in overlapping steps 0.5m apart, allowing air circulation and natural lighting.

The modular space frames apply resistant and naturally acoustic forms. Concave surfaces maintain and distribute the sound in the ambient. The roof employs pre-stressed acrylic membranes, protecting from the sun and rain.

Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias

The design was inspired by the forms of nature. Textile flexible connections were developed, allowing the mobility and the deployability of the pieces.

Deployable structural modules present kinetic properties as seen in the body of vertebrate animals. Flexible joints design applying polyester ropes and biocomposites allowed low mechanical stresses in the structural members, free of torsion stresses.

Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias

The structure was assembled in 25 working days, using creative techniques and an engineering design with low environmental impact. Mobile prefabricated modules, pantographic grids, textile membranes and a mobile lifting device were developed.

The assembly procedure doesn’t need cranes and heavy equipment. The built structure is also fully reversible. The structure presents a proper weigh of 1.4 tons, i.e. 7 kgf/m² and consists in a bio-based ultra-lightweight structural system. Its lightness and strength are only comparable to modern composite structures of advanced polymers.

Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias

Since it was inaugurated in 2014, the Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure hosts events, shows and lectures. The Amphitheater is used by students and the university staff for leisure, rest and reading.

The project received the financial support from the Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, FAPERJ.

Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias


Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias


Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
© Juan Dias


Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
Arches 1 and 2 Details
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
Arches 3 Details
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
Arches 4 and 5 Details
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
Roof Projection


Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
Side Elevation
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
Elevation 1
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
Elevation 2
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
Elevation 3


Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
Render
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
Section
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
Structure
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
Axonometric


Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
Planned Truss 1 and 2
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
Planned Truss 3 and 4


Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
Diagram Concept
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
Structure Diagram
Bamboo Amphitheater Space Structure
Flexible Connections Detail