Colombian architect Simon Velez has been chosen to design Cali’s newest bus station using his signature material, bamboo.
The ambitious project is set to begin early next year, and will be as large as three football fields. The new terminal will be built in the Aguablanca neighborhood of Cali, and will feature a large tile roof resting atop a bamboo structure.
The Bogota based architect has made himself the advocate of the use of bamboo in construction. Its resistance and aesthetics make it a very convenient material, while its availability and fast growth guarantee sustainable use. In short, it is a strong and “green” material.
Velez said he continually improves his techniques when it comes to bamboo, but is convinced that “we still don’t understand bamboo’s full potential.”
The architect won the 2009 Principle Prince Claus Award in the Netherlands for his work with the panda-friendly material. The Award cited Velez’s “progressive approach to culture and development.”
So far, Velez has built bamboo structures in Germany, France, the United States, Brazil, Mexico, China, Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador and India.