Simple treatment turns bamboo into durable building material

Bamboo is strong , but susceptible to insects

Bamboo has long been praised as a building material in Asia. It is as strong as steel and concrete, grows quickly, and can be raised sustainably, but its weakness to insects has relegated it to second-class status for thousands of years.

Solution: Treat bamboo with borax to repel insects

A simple borax treatment makes bamboo indigestible for insects, allowing it to be used for elaborate, high-end construction. Elora Hardy, a designer who relocated to Bali, has been experimenting with different applications of bamboo construction. So far she has built many homes, schools, and even a university.

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• TED Talk | Elora Hardy: Magical houses made of bamboo