About
Appetite, Arts Keele and Imagineer are collaborating with a whole host of world-class experts to build a giant bamboo arch! Made from UK-grown borinda bamboo the arch will be built and raised over four days. If all goes to plan, on Saturday 18 March you can come along from 11am-2pm to have a swing from it! This impressive experiment will take place outdoors at Keele University campus during their Green Festival.
As part of the programme, you can also join the experts behind Imagine Bamboo at Keele University as they give you a fascinating glimpse into why bamboo is rapidly gaining a reputation as the next big thing in sustainable building materials, garnering commitment from scientists and engineers, climate activists and even circus performers!
Why bamboo? | Orit Azaz, Artistic Director of Imagine Bamboo
Wednesday 15 March, 12.30pm (40 mins)
Orit Azaz will introduce Imagine Bamboo at Keele University. The experiment to build a six-metre-high bamboo arch swing has been researched and developed over three years, pulling together an international team from the worlds or art, engineering, sustainability, horticulture, design and more. In a truly forward thinking collaboration, they seek to discover the full potential of bamboo as the next sustainable build and design material.
Can Creative Structural Engineering Help Fight the Climate Crisis? | Chris Matthews, Atelier One
Thursday 16 March, 2pm (40 mins)
The portfolio of Atelier One, renowned as one of the UK's most creative structural engineering consultancies, spans across buildings, art and entertainment. Structural engineer Chris Matthews has work on such varied projects as the London 2012 Olympic Ceremonies, touring sets for U2 and Beyonce, and the First Light Pavilion at Jodrell Bank. Chris will talk about these fascinating projects, and explain how Atelier One's drive to utilise better performing and lower carbon materials has led them to pursue the structural use of bamboo.
Introduction to Bamboo | Michael Brisbane, Bamboo Society Great Britain
Saturday 18 March, 12.30pm (40 mins)
Michael Brisbane, president of the Bamboo Society Great Britain, developed his passion for bamboos while travelling in the Far East and over many years has gained extensive knowledge. Michael will share his knowledge with you and introduce you to the properties, applications and green credentials of bamboo. This talk is a must for any plant lover or bamboo fan.
Book your ticket for all talks in the series via Eventbrite at www.ImagineBambooKeeleTalks.eventbrite.co.uk
For more information on Imagine Bamboo at Keele University events visit www.appetite.org.uk
Access: All talks take place in Horwood Energy Centre, Keele campus, which is wheelchair accessible. For more information, view their accessibility page here. There are two blue badge parking bays directly outside the venue. Got to bit.ly/HorwoodKeele to see their access page.
BSL interpretation is available at each talk.
