竹子蓋未來

英國結構工程師學會（Institution of Structural Engineers）近日發布研究報告指出，竹子具備取代鋼材與混凝土的潛力，是目前最具前景的低碳結構材料之一。該報告彙集來自華威大學、匹茲堡大學、工程顧問公司 Arup、國際竹藤組織（INBAR）與 BASE 的工程師與研究人員，被視為全球首本針對竹材的結構工程專業手冊。

The Institution of Structural Engineers has released a new report identifying bamboo as one of the most promising alternatives to steel and concrete in modern construction. Developed in collaboration with engineers and researchers from the University of Warwick, the University of Pittsburgh, Arup, INBAR and BASE, the publication is described as the world’s first structural engineering manual dedicated to bamboo.

報告不僅系統性整理竹材的結構性能，也深入分析其在安全性、耐久性與永續建築中的應用條件，試圖將長期被視為「傳統材料」的竹子，正式納入現代工程與城市建築體系。

The report systematically examines bamboo’s structural capabilities while outlining the conditions required to ensure safety, durability and performance, seeking to reposition the material from a traditional building resource to a credible component of contemporary engineering and urban development.

從傳統工法到現代高樓：竹材的結構實績

竹材作為建築材料已有數千年歷史。在越南、哥倫比亞、中國與印尼等地，竹子長期被用於房屋與公共建築。早在五千年前，中國已有以竹子建造樹屋的紀錄；漢代時期，漢武帝的宮殿亦曾大量使用竹構結構。明代以後，竹材進一步成為室內建材，用於地板與寢具製作。

進入現代，竹構建築逐漸出現在大型公共工程中。印度班加羅爾肯佩戈達國際機場第二航廈的天花板與立柱即大量使用竹管；中國東北的寧海塔高達 20 公尺，被視為全球首座竹構高層建築。這些案例顯示，竹材在尺度與結構強度上已突破傳統印象。

From Traditional Construction to Modern Structures

Bamboo has been used in construction for thousands of years across countries such as Vietnam, Colombia, China and Indonesia. Historical records show bamboo structures in China more than 5,000 years ago, including treehouses and imperial buildings during the Han Dynasty. By the Ming Dynasty, bamboo had become a common interior building material, used for flooring and furnishings.

In recent decades, bamboo has appeared in large-scale modern projects. India’s Kempegowda International Airport Terminal 2 features bamboo columns and ceilings, while the 20-metre-tall Ninghai Tower in north-eastern China is widely regarded as the world’s first bamboo-built high-rise. These examples demonstrate the material’s ability to perform at scale.

匹茲堡大學結構工程教授 Kent Harries 指出，竹子在力學性能上表現出色，同時也是極具潛力的生質建材，但前提是必須以嚴謹的工程設計與施工標準確保結構安全與耐久性，而本次手冊正是為此提供技術基礎。

建築減碳壓力下的材料轉向

根據數據，2022 年全球約三分之一的碳排放來自建築產業，其中超過一半與水泥使用直接相關。在都市化持續加速、住宅需求不斷上升的背景下，建築產業正面臨如何在滿足需求的同時達成淨零目標的結構性挑戰。

研究團隊認為，竹材提供了一條可行路徑。相較於需數十年成材的木材，竹子僅需三至六年即可採收，且品種多元、適用範圍廣，主要分布於熱帶與亞熱帶地區，並已因氣候變遷開始在葡萄牙等地栽培。

Kent Harries, Professor of Structural Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, noted that bamboo exhibits remarkable mechanical properties and has strong potential as a bio-based construction material, provided that rigorous engineering design and construction standards are applied - a gap the new manual aims to address.

Responding to Construction’s Carbon Challenge

The construction sector accounted for roughly 33% of global carbon emissions in 2022, with cement responsible for more than half of that total. As urbanisation accelerates and housing demand rises, the industry faces mounting pressure to meet net-zero targets.

The report suggests bamboo could help reconcile growth with climate responsibility. Unlike timber, which takes decades to mature, bamboo can be harvested within three to six years. Its wide range of species and adaptability make it suitable for diverse applications, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions, with cultivation now expanding into parts of southern Europe.

更關鍵的是，竹子在生長過程中能固定大量碳於葉片、莖幹、根系與土壤中，且採收過程不會破壞土壤碳儲量，使其在全生命週期碳表現上優於傳統木材與高碳建材。

華威大學教授、手冊主筆 David Trujillo 表示，將城市建設從高碳材料轉向低碳、甚至能固碳的材料，是降低都市化排放風險的理性選擇。

設計彈性與抗災潛力

Bamboo also offers lifecycle carbon benefits, as it sequesters carbon in its biomass and soil without releasing stored carbon during harvesting. This positions it favourably against both conventional timber and carbon-intensive materials.

David Trujillo, Professor at the University of Warwick and lead author of the manual, said shifting from high-carbon materials toward low-carbon or carbon-fixing alternatives is a rational strategy for reducing emissions associated with urbanisation.

Design Flexibility and Resilience

工程顧問公司 Atelier One 指出，竹材在設計彈性上幾乎可全面對應木構建築。該公司參與的峇里島 Green School 專案中，為校園體育館與健康空間打造名為「The Arc」的竹構建築，透過多組竹拱結構縫合而成，在結構強度與美學之間取得平衡。

Engineering firm Atelier One highlighted bamboo’s versatility, noting that most timber-based designs can be replicated using bamboo. The firm collaborated on the Green School Project in Bali, creating “The Arc,” a bamboo-arched structure for a gymnasium and wellness space that combines structural integrity with architectural expression.

由於竹子具有高度韌性與可撓性，其在地震中可隨外力彎曲而不斷裂，並回復原狀，特別適合地震頻繁或潮濕氣候地區，也較不易如木材般翹曲變形，延長建築壽命。

Bamboo’s natural flexibility allows it to bend without breaking and return to its original shape, making it well suited for earthquake-prone regions. It also performs well in humid climates, where it is less susceptible to warping than wood, extending building longevity.

英國結構工程師學會呼籲，建築師與營造產業應重新評估竹材在現代工程中的角色，將其視為兼具結構強度、耐久性與永續性的正式建材選項，而非僅限於地方性或實驗性應用。

The Institution of Structural Engineers is calling on architects and construction professionals to reassess bamboo’s role in modern building practice, recognising it as a material that combines strength, resilience and sustainability rather than limiting its use to niche or experimental projects.