Thai Building Facade Handmade From Natural Banana Fiber

In Thailand bananas are plentiful, which means that <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/28/new-leaf-paper-farm-fiber-collection/" target="_blank">sturdy banana fibers</a> are readily available for use as a building material. <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/04/29/bangkok-gourmet-shop-interior-built-from-wood-scraps/" target="_blank">Architectkidd</a>, a very creative architecture &amp; design practice in Bangkok, Thailand, has fashioned these durable fibers into an architectural facade on a residential building. The team visited communities outside of Bangkok to learn traditional techniques for harvesting and processing the banana plant material, and then figured out how they could use it to create a sustainably-crafted shade screen for the building. The hand-made result is quite beautiful and natural, and it also helps keep the building cool.

The architectural facade/shade screen installed on the ground floor.

As seen from the interior, the shade screen also adds a sense of privacy.

A closeup of the weave technique applied to make the screens.

Here is the banana plant drying before it can be woven.

One of Architectkidd's team members twisting the banana fiber into rope.

Specialists then weave the banana rope into the screens in various patterns.

Here are the specialists with the finished screens.

The finished screens before they are installed on the building.

The exterior of the Happyland Townhouse and the other residential buildings on the street.

A diagram of the facade and varying patterns of the screens.

Screens were installed on both the front and the back of the building, shading it while providing natural ventilation and privacy.