Multipurpose Hall in Kenya

Product Description

This Multipurpose Hall in Kenya is a multi-functional building designed by Nripal Adhikary and Juan Carlos Jaramillo Patino architects from INBAR- International Network for Bamboo and Rattan. The designers intended to use the project to introduce locally sourced bamboo in Kenyan construction. The structure is made of bamboo and eucalyptus, papyrus for insulation, and concrete for the foundation. Implementation involved training events for local builders that covered construction, bamboo processing and semi-processing, and bamboo resource management. The building was designed for the University of Maseno.

*Please note that building designs are being included as “products” in the Habitat Sector of the Solutions Library to allow readers to learn from how projects were designed and constructed and how they are serving the occupants, whether effective or ineffective.

Market Suggested Retail Price

$10,000.00

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Similar bamboo and rattan-based projects have been developed by INBAR.

Manufacturing/Building Method

Architects from INBAR trained local youths to build this structure. It was built with simple tools and all the materials were locally sourced. It took 25 days to complete and it uses bamboo and eucalyptus as structural elements, papyrus for insulation, and concrete for foundation.

Intellectural Property Type

Select Type

User Provision Model

This project was developed by INBAR (International Network for Bamboo and Rattan) with funding from IDRC and built directly for the University of Maseno. Interested users can access relevant research data at INBAR’s website.

Distributions to Date Status

Unique Design (Yes/No)

Yes

Intended number of occupants (#)

50 people

Duration of construction (days)

25 days

Footprint area (m²)

65 m²

Number of storeys

Material composition

Bamboo, eucalyptus, papyrus, concrete

Flammable flash point temperature (ºC)

Unknown

Thermal insulating capacity (m²*K/W)

Papyrus fiber: R34 (1/0.029)

Maximum wind speed (km/h)

Unknown

Structural Occupancy Category

Seismic Design Category

Suitable Climates

Dry, Tropical

Design Specifications

The building is a multi-purpose hall measuring 65m² that uses bamboo and eucalyptus as structural elements, papyrus for insulation and concrete for foundation.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

The building can be maintained by local labor with bamboo construction experience.

Replacement Components

All the components such as roofing, structure and flooring can be replaced using local materials.

Lifecycle

If properly treated, designed and maintained, the bamboo structure can last for one hundred years.

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

This project aimed to assess the potential of local bamboo resources to provide a sustainable, safe, and affordable building material in Kenya.

Vetted Performance Status

No testing has been completed.

Safety

Builders should wear appropriate protective equipment such as hardhats, gloves and safety glasses while working to protect against physical injury commonly associated with heavy construction.

Complementary Technical Systems

None

Academic Research and References

Janssen, J., 2000, Designing and building with bamboo. Technical University of Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

Janssen, J., 1988, Bamboo as an Engineering Material: An annotated Bibliography. The IDRC Bamboo and Rottan Research Network.

Click here for further INBAR publications

Compliance with regulations

In 2004, INBAR work on bamboo construction was validated by the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO), which issued international standards ISO/DIS 22156 – bamboo: structural design (later updated to ISO 22156:2021 in 2021) and ISO/DIS22157 - Determination of physical and mechanical properties of bamboo (later updated to ISO 22157:2019 in 2019).

Other Information

Final Technical Project Report developed by INBAR about the Multipurpose hall in Kenya and other similar projects in Uganda and Ethiopia