Bamboo Flower _Restroom pavillion

“Bamboo Flower” is the first of a series of organic constructions that will form Puerto Raiz project. The bamboo structure was designed to host the main restroom area for the whole property. Natural materials were used to form a 127m2 pavilion that hosts 9 private restrooms surrounded by the natural endemic nature of the place. The Bamboo Flower also seeks to create a statement on the responsible use of water, an important measure specially in a desertic area like Baja California Sur.

Puerto Raiz is a natural sanctuary formed by 10 hectares of land that have been slowly recovering from last big hurricane that flooded and devastated this area in 2014. FabrikG team seeks to contribute for this land regeneration, with a more respectful approach that enhances and respects the natural context.
Bamboo Flower is formed by an organic rounded shaped volume that grows inside a reed glade between the existing vegetation. The project starts with the idea of an open patio that welcomes visitors and distributes them in space. This small patio is protected by the rounded reed layer that defines and contains the area without creating a separation from the natural environment.
Two ramps go along the patio, leading visitors to get lost between the vertical bamboo strips that form the private capsules and the textured walls. The natural bamboo stripes create an elegant finishing that integrally form various elements in the project, from walls and luminaries to the main structure itself. The planters between the private bathrooms create privacy and also bring nature inside, keeping the sensation of being open-air between the reeds.
The central flower is formed by a series of bamboo strip columns that grow from the central concrete base column to the limits of the reed layer. Horizontal bamboo strip hoops are supported by this organic elements creating a mesh of structural interdependence. In the center, three central metal hoops with mandala shaped tensors promotes cooperation and balance between all elements. Vertical bamboo poles help to sustain vertical and lateral forces, creating rhythm and disorder at the same time, almost as they have naturally grown there.
A light removable shade mesh was also incorporated as a sun and rain protection, without compromising the entrance of natural light, allowing its proper maintenance during the rainy seasons.
San Jose del Cabo is located in a desertic land, where temperatures can go up to 34 degrees with high humidity levels. Hurricanes and big storms are also current events during the summer.
Bamboo Flower is designed as an open pavilion, where the use of the natural bamboo fibers allows the natural air flow between the elements, keeping the users naturally comfortable. Priority was given to local materials: local stone was used to elevate the foundation; locally sourced reed was applied on the external layer that can be easily replaced for new to the amount of this material in the land.
Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plant on earth with a short development cycle and easy to adapt to different climates. It was used as the main load bearing material, brought from other state of Mexico, looking forward to open the interests of local farmer, since the material is already available in place but not yet commercialized due to the lack of infrastructure and proper treatment method. Looking towards the future, the idea with this example is also to show and inspire the local artisans to use it properly and, with the proper practices, create other sustainable constructions with lower footprints, avoiding the excessive use of wood and metal always imported.
Small amounts of concrete were used as bamboo low reinforcement, letting the material be the main load bearing element and protagonist in the pavilion. The metal connectors, were used as secondary connectors secondary and can be separated when the building is demolished in the future, letting the natural material compost.

As the water consumption is a relevant issue, aggravated by its geographical localization, a natural water system is incorporated to the project so all the water dismissed can go through a natural filter that cleans it before its arrival to the existing pond. After this process, the water can be safely used for irrigation, saving significant amounts of water all year around.

Located within the northern perimeter of San Jose del Cabo Estuary (BCS, Mexico) with high risk of flooding, the pavilion was raised on masonry foundations, elevated one meter from the ground level to avoid possible damage to the building. The main bamboo flower is also raised a few centimeters from a permeable ground above to avoid possible damage in case of heavy rains. The design of the structure in a kind of interconnected mesh and the light tensed shade above allow the flow of wind between the surfaces so the material can dry easily and be kept in good condition all year around.
The high risk of hurricanes and storms was determinate in the design approach, to create a structure that could be resistant facing common local hazards such as storms and strong hurricanes. As so, the pavilion was designed to be permeable to air flow; the fibers and the bamboo flexibility allows the structure to flow with the wind without collapsing. A removable light shade mesh was incorporated as covering so it can be removed before the hurricane and avoid the hurricane forces to lift the structure.