The Beauty Of Bamboo

Bamboo is often undervalued, despite its many beneficial qualities and unique visual impact. However, the wondrous potential of bamboo did not go unnoticed by the creator of The Bamboo Village, Mohammad Ramadhan Abdul Hamid.

Tucked against a hilly side in Hulu Langat is a hidden paradise of expertly designed and built bamboo structures, surrounded by fresh, crisp air and decorated by the foliage of Mother Nature herself, as observed through the lush, natural greenery and the roosters pacing about underfoot. This haven is aptly known as The Bamboo Village, and it’s owned and operated by expert bamboo builder, Mohammad Ramadhan Abdul Hamid.

The Bamboo Village is like a well-kept secret, but whoever is seeking it out will be sure to experience a newfound peace and adoration for bamboo and nature. Although Ramadhan has put a lot of effort and dedication into his village, there is an “isolated concept” at play with his location as he wants to avoid commercialising this safe, peaceful space where are welcomed by the calm rustling of leaves instead of the constant chattering from the TV. After all, he didn’t built the village in order to make profit, but instead to escape from the chaos of city life with his family.

Ramadhan believed that being one with nature would nurture a healthy lifestyle for him and his family, and now after over a decade later, he has proven that he was right. He truly started this project for a sincere love for not just bamboo as a material but bamboo as a way of life. The material is often looked down upon due to its association of being a “cheap” building material, despite it having greater tensile strength than steel. Indeed, the enormous benefits of using bamboo is too frequently overlooked. Bamboo has a natural antibacterial quality that eradicates most varieties of bacteria and bugs. Furthermore, it releases over 30 per cent more oxygen into the atmosphere compared to an equivalent mass of trees. It can’t be forgotten that bamboo is multifunctional. Have you heard of bamboo fabric and activated bamboo charcoal? These are just a couple of products that can be attained with bamboo. Although there is a conception of bamboo being “wood for the poor,” bamboo when used capably can become “wood for the future.”

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With the help of the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB), these misconceptions about bamboo are steadily being dispelled as the board provide platforms for builders like Ramadhan to showcase how versatile and beneficial using bamboo can be. Through projects such as the Bamboo Playhouse, bamboo structures can not only be recognised as an art form by locals but even by international players in the field of bamboo architecture. By creating more awareness and generating more interest in bamboo, there will be more parties who would want to venture into this field. With more research and development, bamboo in Malaysia will surely become a staple material. Just look at the Bamboo Village and see what Ramadhan has already achieved with this raw, under-appreciated material. In time, the captivating beauty of bamboo will be recognised by all.

For further information, visit www.bamboo-village.blogspot.com | 016 235 3404