Almost entirely constructed from bamboo and sun-powered, Tonji University Shanghai’s Bamboo House at the European Solar Decathlon is a beauty emerging from nature consciousness. The impressive solar array is capable of generating 9 kilowatts of electricity for its one bedroom, one living room layout. It’ a blend of modernity and traditionalism; traditional Chinese architecture and state of the art technology complete with temperature and humidity control systems, high-level thermal insulation systems, and a bamboo enclosed garden. This house is the result of team work with 20 members and is composed of doctors, postgraduates, and undergraduate students who range across many disciplines. Their objective is that the solar-powered house can help promote their forward-thinking ideas about renewable energy use in residential urban areas.

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It starts from scrap wood and plastic bags until the addition of two room bamboo house complete with an open courtyard. The bed is designed and placed so that one could see the moon as he or she falls asleep. The long house has a bedroom on one end and a kitchen and living space on the other, separated by an open courtyard with hammocks. The roof system consists of inverted cones of bamboo rings layered by a larger metal protective roof. This open air construction and the large overhanging tin roofs automatically serve as natural ventilation with ample shade from the hot sun. The foundation is poured concrete and the structure is formed with steel, while the bamboo rings are covered in burlap to provide more shade and protection. Design by Benjamin Garcia Saxe

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