Bamboo

Tubular structures that fold flat for storage may not take up much room in that form, but they also tend not to be very strong when deployed. That isn't a problem with an experimental new type of tube, that's inspired by both origami and bamboo.

The Khudi Bari is a remarkably simple and low-cost tiny house that's primarily constructed from bamboo. It has been created for people living in Bangladesh that are in danger of being displaced due to flooding.

Glass might soon have some competition from an unlikely rival – bamboo. Scientists in China have turned regular old bamboo into a transparent material that’s also resistant to fire and water, and suppresses smoke.

Romanian e-mobility startup Diodra is laying claim to making the world's lightest ebike with a bamboo frame. The S3 tips the scales at 15 kg and features an all-in-one hub drive that includes motor and battery.

Taking the form of an oversized sea creature, the recently completed Overwater Restaurant offers a superb example of the efficacy of bamboo as a building material and features an intricate structure that's topped by an undulating roof.

BambuBuild, working with architecture firm Tran Ba Tiep, was commissioned to create a visually impressive and environmentally friendly centerpiece of a large restaurant. The team has risen to the occasion with an intricate bamboo dining hall.

Though still not used in mainstream manufacturing, we've seen bike builders make use of bamboo for a number of years. My Boo tapped bamboo and flax for a cargo ebike back in May, and now the Bamboo Bicycle Club is working on a pedal-assist cargo trike.

Last year, Italian electric mobility company Reinova announced the development of a folding bamboo-bodied electric scooter called the ToMove. Well, the funky li'l vehicle is now known as the Tom, and is the subject of a Kickstarter campaign.

Vietnam's H&P Architects has produced a prototype floating dwelling that's made from bamboo. It's envisioned for river-based populations under threat from climate change, especially those living on and around the country's Mekong Delta.

The e-cargo bike is among the greenest vehicles out there, and My Boo makes it even greener with a bamboo and flax-composite frame. The Kumasi EP6 is a capable hauling machine for shuttling tools, carrying groceries, and transporting the kids.

This year has produced a bumper crop of excellent architecture projects. From a sand-dune-shaped building that rises out of the desert, to the world's tallest timber skyscraper, here's our selection of the best buildings of the past 12 months.

Back in 2017, Chiangmai Life Architects used bamboo to create a breezy sports hall at the Panyaden International School in Thailand. The firm has now returned to the same school to add a beautiful new library that's mostly constructed from bamboo.