The Luum Temple in Tulum, Mexico is a pioneering example of what happens when traditional wisdom meets modern engineering. It is designed to stand against hurricane winds and significant seismic forces. The structural system has five intersecting hyperbolic paraboloids made of bamboo arches and split bamboo beams.
Due to bamboo’s lightweight nature, particular attention must be paid to foundations, cross-bracing and structural stiffness, which are essential to counterbalance its vulnerability to wind forces.
The interconnected roof diaphragm is made of cross-layers of bamboo mats that give the structure impressive resistance to lateral loads. To account for bamboo’s natural flex and movement, the structure incorporates articulated foundations and a central compression ring.
The technical workflow of the project was facilitated by AutoCAD 3D, where the structure’s geometry…
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