BBF News - Issue #3, Volume I - The state of Alagoas in

Photos and more info available in PDF Format or online @

http://www.bambubrasileiro.com/bambubrasil/news/HTML/issue3.html 
 
Sunday, November 30th 2003
News Bulletin Volume I - Issue # 3
 
"70% of Brazilians live in inadequate housing"

http://www.sebrae-al.com.br/

The state of Alagoas  in Northern Brazil  is the recipient of the
first Bamboo Social Housing Unit in 13/11/2003
 
The first bamboo casa popular constructed mostly utilizing Bambusa
Vulgaris was constructed by INBAMBU (Instituto do Bambu - Bamboo
Institute), part of their project to spread the use of bamboo in civil
construction. The home was then donated to an impoverished family that
previously resided inside a tent city.
 
At first glance, the bamboo house looks like any other building.
However, upon closer inspection, it is evident that there are inherent
advantages in using this renewable non-wood resource combined with
innovative technologies. It is 40%
cheaper than a traditional home and more resistant. According to Edson
Sartori, the civil engineer responsible for the construction, the
bamboo utilized is stronger than steel.
 
In addition, the walls of the structure have a pocket of air
insulation which helps maintain the internal temperature of the home
10 degrees cooler according to Rubens Cardoso, the architect
responsible for the casa popular de bambu.

"This is a technological advance which INBAMBU has created to
facilitate the heat exchange within the home, allowing better
ventilation for the interior," reaffirms Sartori.
 
Bamboo as a renewable resource-ecologically sound and economically
feasible, presents a tremendous economic potential for Brazil. In
Asia, bamboo
is traditionally used in construction for thousands of years. In South
American countries like Colombia and Ecuador, bamboo homes are already
an exciting alternative to expensive concrete homes.
 
The cost of the home was estimated at R$4,200 ($1,428 dollars) (2.94
reais is equal to $1) -1428. According to Alejandro Pereira, the
director of INBAMBU, believes bamboo homes in civil construction could
be an alternative way to reduce housing costs in Brazil. "We would
like to prove that bamboo, despite being largely ignored in Brazil,
could be a possible solution for
our great social problems in Brazil."
 
This home built in Macei" was a joint venture developed with Lar
Juvenopolis, a NGO designed for poverty alleviation. Besides setting
the example for the potential use of bamboo in construction, this work
involves a long-term project, which includes training locals to fully
use bamboo in solving social problems.

During the construction of the bamboo house, INBAMBU taught the
residents of this community how these different techniques could be
utilized within their community. "We would like to eventually improve
their quality of life," notes
Carlos Pincho, the director of Juvenopolis.
 
Located in the neighborhood of Bebedouro, the home was donated to
families from that locale. The state governor, Ronaldo Lessa, and the
president of Sebrae/AL, Nilton Moreira, participated in the
inauguration of the historic home.

For more information on the Bamboo Institute please visit: 

http://www.inbambu.org/

--
End.
 

PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY:
 
Bamboo Brazil Foundation
2965 SW 22nd Avenue, apt 205
Delray Beach, FL 33445
Phone:(561) 243-8814
Fax:(561) 276-7327 
 
Written and edited by Joco Paulo Freire Paglione
Contributors:
Raphael Vasconcellos
Rubens Cardoso, Arq.
Edson Sartori, Eng.
INBAMBU
SEBRAE/AL 
 
http://www.bambubrasil.org/