Decorating with bamboo

Features of Bamboo

Having traveled in Japan and being fascinated by the culture of that country (and especially by the traditional houses of wood, straw and paper), the famous designer Bruno Munari in his writings describes in detail the advantages of the furniture and furnishings in bamboo.

This material - which Munari describes as a real industrial profiled available in nature - it is easily accessible at a fraction of the cost (as the bamboo canes are widespread especially in the wetlands and marshes and grow very quickly), it is very versatile, it possesses excellent mechanical properties (especially elasticity and strength), and it can be worked with a few simple tools.

It is therefore possible to exploit the reeds - whole or specially cut and shaped - to build partitions, furniture of any type and even (by creating spigot joints to the various sections and breaking the thin internal baffles that separate the numerous segments of each rod) gutters and pipes; or exploit these segments for carved flower pots very elegant and particularly appreciated by lovers of ikebana, or even get very thin strips to weave baskets, mats and rugs.

Bamboo furniture

In particular, the range of bamboo furniture available on the market - including a catalog by the Company Bamboo Design, obviously specialized in the marketing of objects made in this material, provides a good case study - is very broad, and includes beds, sofas, armchairs, tables and coffee tables, chairs, rocking chairs, dressers, cabinets, screens, benches, chairs, beds, deck umbrellas and accessories of various kinds.

These pieces of furniture are also very versatile, because they reveal suitable for both indoor and outdoor use (ie for the garden or terrace) and being made of reeds variously cut, shaped, intertwined and linked, their style is very particular (ethnic and colonial), and therefore especially suitable for young houses, colored, very personal and with a touch deliberately retro. Examples are the bedroom shown in the photo above, formed by a bed of resistant reeds inspired by Japanese futon and a coordinated dresser, or chairs and rocking chairs of oriental inspiration.

Furnishing in Bamboo

There are also numerous furnishings made of bamboo, some of which - already known and appreciated in distant countries such as Japan - have been introduced and disseminated by Bruno Munari.

One of his most successful projects, which he described in his books and exhibited in numerous exhibitions, for example, are the flower pots inspired by the art of Ikebana: initially produced by Company Danese di Milano (well known for its objects that are already classic design), are distinguished by their forms particularly graceful and sinuous - perfectly logical and consequent to the characteristics of the material used - and the simplicity of the process, because the bamboo is simply cut with a knife in the desired points.

Obviously can not miss boxes and baskets such as those proposed by Company Cestenolvetri from Rivoli (TO), obtained by weaving the thinner fibers with processing techniques that are similar to those for the manufacture of artifacts in wicker or rattan, or by using strips very broad and thin, obtained by cutting vertically the reeds in very thin slices: their appearance may be similar to the traditional baskets (such as those presented here), or more modern and minimalist.

For lovers of the Japanese style and natural materials, are of course available - for example, the catalog by Company Casatessile - even mats and real similar to traditional tatami mats, made of thin fibers braided or from wider strips simply juxtaposed, and whose size (about one meter by two or even larger) allow its use as rugs or mats shower, coatings for garden furniture - for example sunbeds and parasols - or, finally, to cover the floors in a very comfortable way.

There are also frames of various sizes ranging from door-pictures to hang on the wall or placed on furniture, to larger ones for posters, paintings or mirrors. They can be formed by four rods simply linked to each other, and then have a decidedly rustic taste and therefore especially suited to environments very informal, or be machined and finished with care, and by joining with precision cutting straighter reeds and no obvious flaws.

Finally, for lovers of green plants, in many furniture stores, gardening articles and do-it-yourself green bamboo plants are available and/ or compositions of reeds - often grown spiral or in another form for better decorative effect - to be shown inside a vase.