The impressive Bamboo Car Park at the Slotervaart Medical Center in Amsterdam is the second of its kind but the largest built to date. The multi-storey car park has 5 levels, a total surface area of 3200 m2 and can currently accommodate nearly 1200 cars. In coming years the project will be further expanded with additional and similar structures.
Guadua was the material of choice for exterior wall cladding as the architects aimed to built a dynamic parking garage with natural and sustainable elements. Through the fan-like positioning of the bamboo poles, a dynamic is created where the facade seems transparent or closed depending on the angle it is viewed from.
The ground floor was left “naked” to generate a floating effect and to eliminate the perception of a massive, tall building. Bamboo plants surrounding the garage present a green oasis in a city that is otherwise dominated by concrete buildings.
The Bamboo Car Park project in Amsterdam was a collaboration between Ballast Nedam Parking, de Jong Gortemaker Algra, and the expert team of Masters of Bamboo1 and Guadua Bamboo as the producer of the raw materials.
All bamboo poles underwent our industrial boron-treatment process to ensure long-term resistance to infestation and decay. Special stainless steel clamps were developed by Masters of Bamboo to install the round poles against the garage’s steel frame.
The client opted to leave the bamboo poles uncoated to achieve a naturally weathered, silver-grey aesthetic over time. While Guadua Bamboo SAS always recommends protective finishes for exterior applications to maximize longevity, this project now serves as a significant industrial benchmark to monitor the natural durability and aesthetic aging of structural Guadua in high-exposure northern climates. This ongoing observation provides invaluable data on how untreated bamboo performs under the rigors of full sun and rain in a permanent urban setting.
- * Project originally executed by the expert team led by Pim van der Eng, now operating as Masters of Bamboo. ↩︎
Hello a quick question from a fellow architecture student, since it is left uncoated and the bamboo would eventually weather, what would you suggest in order to help preserve bamboo in longer periods? Say about 10-20 years ?
Just as with wood in exterior applications, bamboo needs to be maintained on a yearly basis to preserve its color. A good uv-resistant and water repellent wood oil or sealer will provide that protection.
An interesting project. I have seen several projects like this and wonder if they help improve the image of bamboo. It will only be a few months before the poles look old and worn out.
A greater understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of bamboo is necessary. Designers seem intent on aesthetics, rather than being practical. There are plenty of impressive buildings, but they are beyond the reach of all but the very rich.
Hopefully we will see more bamboo used structurally in mid-level buildings, where the emphasis is on function and practicalities.
I agree, but cultural aspects also play a role. In Europe a gray and weathered look is often not perceived as a limitation but as a popular design style.