"Kne Kash" - the Bamboo Concept
The other day I visited the showroom of a bamboo products' firm named "Kne Kash". It's a spacious place located near a railway station and some other commercial businesses. The structure used to be a barn, one of a series of seven (7) barns with pyramidal roof shape, close to the train area - the Mamgurot (Barns) area.
It was rather dim inside. I suppose the very high concrete ceiling and the special light fixtures, have something to do with it.
The concept in this showroom is different from that in their flag store situated in another region. The emphasis here is on bamboo and straw as living materials in the hands of architects. Customers come in with their house plan, and get here professional advice as to the best way to use bamboo and straw in their home design.
I love bamboo in all its forms: furniture, fences, flooring, panels, decoration items, textiles. How could one not love it? Bamboo is natural, ecological, flexible, light-weight, and practical. Its simplicity is also its beauty.
Bamboo is usually associated with far-east countries. This strong plant grows there, and the local people make good use of it. Indeed, I've seen over the years some beautiful bamboo furniture pieces made in Vietnam, India, Philippines, China etc...
The problem is that in my neck of the woods bamboo products are quite expensive, since they are imported and mostly hand made. Besides, there has been a rise in the number of environmental buyers; and if that's not enough, people that used to buy bamboo furniture for outdoors mainly , have discovered its charm for the indoors too. As the demand increases, and the supply is sometimes short, prices go up.
There is a little sign at the entrance/exit of the store which says: 'Bamboo - the wood of the future'. Why of the future? If you ask me, its' future as wood is already here and now.
What an interesting post! I don't think we have any bamboo in our home. Certainly a renewable product. Quite the factory!
ReplyDeleteJennifer A.Jilks,
ReplyDeleteThank you. Well, you should place some bamboo furniture items in your home. They are noy only beautiful but also easily manageable.
I've loved bamboo ever since hiking through it in Hawaii. It's so prolific. I'm so glad the abundant plant can be made into so many useful things.
ReplyDeleteSharon Wagner,
ReplyDelete'prolific' and 'abundant' accurately fit the plant's description. The more I see bamboo things , the more I like it. It's a wonderfully useful material.
I haven't seen much bamboo but it looks so interesting! This place is unique that you showed us....almost cozy looking
ReplyDeleteKim,
ReplyDeleteYes, it does. The display of goods is on three levels and each level has someone in charge to help the customer.
My sister-in-law has an acre of bamboo. It grows so fast but she doesn't do anything with it. I wonder if she could find a market for it here?
ReplyDeleteI've seen bamboo flooring and other things made of bamboo, but I assumed that since it grows fast, the supply would be plentiful. That's interesting.
R
No bamboo grown here, Duta and maybe it's a good thing as I've read it is very invasive, but I surely do like bamboo products. We seldom see the products here, and if we do they're very expensive, but I think they're very attractive and durable; I was surprised that there are even floors made of the material. But, I have grown Lucky Bamboo and love it, very unique and interesting such as is this post! The showroom has to be great to visit and learn all about it. Take care
ReplyDeletePretty rare in my area too. Love this post. Very informative and the pictures are excellent! I did not know places like that existed. Hope you found a rare gem!
ReplyDeleteRick Watson,
ReplyDeleteIndeed, bamboo is a fast growing plant and in building it is considered even stronger than wood, brick and cement.I suppose that in South Asia , where the bamboos grow/thrive and are of economic and cultural significance, the prices are decent and marketing is smooth. Import makes this material somehow problematic to obtain.
Pam,
ReplyDeleteLucky Bamboo is something else; it's not related to the real bamboo that is considered a strong building material. It is an ornamental plant of the lily family, long associated with the eastern practice of 'feng shui'. I also keep some lucky bamboo plants in the house, as it is said to bring luck.
Tanya Lynne Reimer,
ReplyDeleteWell, it grows in regions of warmer climates, especially in Asia where there are vast fields of bamboo. By the way, the name 'bambu' is said to come from one of India classical languages, Kannada (it sounds like Canada).
Anyway, thanks for the comment and for hoping I find "a rare gem".
I actually was quite intrigued by the building that houses this business. I love the architecture and whatever that thing is that connects the business from the roof line.
ReplyDeleteAlicia,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you've mentioned that; it's indeed a very intriguing area. The barns are all made of reinforced concrete. There's an additional eight barn, but it is in rectangular shape, built upon a deep basement. In the past, there were some round shaped barns also, but they got destroyed. Anyway the seven pyramidal barns were each rented to several commercial -design businesses, among them KneKash.
I absolutely love bamboo. It has indeed become very popular even second hand it is still expensive. I think the use of bamboo is indeed already very common and you can do so many things with it. I think you can even eat it when the plant is young
ReplyDeleteMarja,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad we're together on this one. I have two shirts made of bamboo fiber, and I love them. Price is an issue especially when it comes to furniture pieces and sets, but if you find something you love, it's word the effort.
That would be so cool to visit. I too always thought of Bamboo in far east countries. I have seen the odd thing here made of bamboo. Will have to give them a second look. Thanks Duta for this informative post. Wishing you a beautiful Monday.
ReplyDeleteNikki (Sarah),
ReplyDeleteFar East countries, indeed; but the West has long discovered its benefits. There are attempts to grow bamboo in certain western countries, so far with no great success, but it will come.
Have a wonderful week!
I was never aware of all the creative and innovative way you can use bamboo. You certainly have an abundance and i can see it is appreciated!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your comment on my blog. You are so kind! :)
Jane
ReplyDeleteYou must have had enjoyed browsing around this showroom looking at all the bamboo products. Bamboo has been around for a very long time, and it's pretty sturdy with a simple design. I really like those baskets too.
Have a lovely week, Duta.
~Sheri
Blondie's journal,
ReplyDeleteBamboo is indeed a very versatile material with countless applications in : food, textile, construction,furniture, handcraft products; you name it. Its uses were identified mostly in Asia, but it is becoming known and appreciated not only in warm, humid countries.
Red Rose Alley,
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Sheri, I have enjoyed my visit to the bamboo showroom. I've learnt some new things about this ecological , beautiful material. Looking at all those bamboo exibits, made me think, wish and make plans to buy some for my home.
Years ago when I was a designer, I used Bamboo for bars,
ReplyDeletegrass cloth on the walls and some split bamboo glued to walls.
I have seen it on ceilings. That had to be an interesting day.
yvonne
La Petite Gallery,
ReplyDeleteI suppose it was quite a challenging job to design with bamboo. Hope the payment was generous.
Yes, it was an interesting day for me, but a very hot and humid one outside.