Parametric Analysis of a Large Institutional Bamboo Building: Exploring Environmental, Economic, and Indoor Comfort Impacts

Abstract

Tropical regions face an acute need for housing solutions that are quick to deploy, affordable, resilient, and adaptable to the impacts of climate change. Simultaneously, these solutions must minimise environmental impact and provide a high quality of life for residents. These are the objectives stated by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) given by the United Nations. Goal 11 emphasizes the construction sector’s role in delivering sustainable buildings that are disaster-resistant and considerate of environmental and socio-economic factors. Additionally, rising global temperatures aggravates the vulnerability of regions already susceptible to extreme weather, increasing the risk of heat stress. This underscores the relevance of Goals 3 (good health and well-being) and 7 (affordable and clean energy), particularly in impoverished areas where access to cooling technologies is limited, further aggravating health risks.

In the Philippines, these challenges are especially pronounced, with low-income families often unable to afford housing. Studies indicate that a significant income increase is required before households can consider purchasing a home. This highlights a gap in the housing market and the urgent need for inclusive alternatives that move away from traditional materials like concrete and steel. Innovative construction methods leveraging low-carbon, bio-based materials, such as bamboo, are emerging as potential solutions. Bamboo’s remarkable properties — its strength, rapid growth, versatility, and lightweight nature — position it as a viable alternative for sustainable and affordable construction. Collaborations with the BASE-Bahay Foundation (BASE) have incentivised numerous studies on the mechanical and structural reliability of bamboo. These investigations cover local bamboo species, treatments to enhance resistance against fungi and insects, and techniques to improve fire resistance.

Bamboo-based buildings’ sustainability has also been evaluated through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) models tailored to the Philippines. These assessments highlight bamboo’s environmental benefits, such as reducing CO2 emissions by 70% compared to concrete buildings, while also addressing challenges like energy use in production. A parametric methodology for conducting LCAs has further streamlined environmentally optimised design decision-making for social housing. This holistic approach aligns with the milestones outlined by C. Salzer et al., emphasising structural integrity, fire resistance, and environmental evaluation before advancing to occupant comfort and quality of life.

Despite progress, gaps remain in understanding the thermal comfort in bamboo buildings, particularly in the Philippines. Studies from other tropical regions provide insights: in Malaysia, bamboo houses offer superior nighttime comfort due to better air permeability, while brick houses perform better during the day because of their thermal mass. Similarly, research in Yibin city suggests adding insulation to bamboo structures to enhance thermal performance. In Indonesia, architectural bamboo features like additional shading layers have been proposed to reduce heat gain indoors.

Locally, the interplay between design decisions for thermal comfort and their environmental impacts remains unexplored. Multi-criteria decision-making models have been applied in Malaysia to select optimal window types based on energy efficiency and emissions and in passive house designs across various climates. Adapting these approaches to the Philippine context could inform a decision-making framework for low-income tropical housing, balancing cost, occupant comfort, and environmental impact.

This thesis examines a large institutional bamboo building, functioning as a weaving center, as a case study. Previous work by D. Ayala Laverde assessed thermal comfort through empirical measurements and occupant surveys. Building on these findings, this research employs digital tools to investigate the factors influencing thermal comfort. It seeks to integrate environmental and economic considerations through life cycle assessment (LCA) and economic analysis, providing a comprehensive framework for improving quality of life. The larger scale of the building further allows for exploration of bamboo’s potential in larger-scale structures.