As Hong Kong starts to phase out bamboo scaffolding in aerial construction work, follow me and dive deep into the origins, history, and heritage of this iconic practice.
Few things feel as uniquely Hong Kong as the sight of bamboo scaffolding enveloping a high-rise among our dense urban landscape. Some might say it’s on par with Victoria Harbour’s million-dollar skyline and the Star Ferry, which is why the official announcement about phasing out bamboo scaffolding in aerial construction feels like we’re once again witnessing a familiar piece of our city’s identity fade into obscurity – much like the neon signs that once illuminated Hong Kong’s streets. Before these green, mesh-covered structures leave our city forever, join me in taking a nostalgic look at the origins, history, and cultural significance of the resilient material that played a vital role in building Hong Kong.
Bamboo scaffolding: The jungle to our concrete city
The history of bamboo scaffolding
Bamboo scaffolding has a long history in Hong Kong’s construction traditions. For centuries, it was used to craft Cantonese opera theatres, flower boards, paper effigies, and other cultural emblems. Following colonisation in 1841, it was adopted by Hong Kong’s construction industry for its practicality and affordability to meet rising demand for multi-storey buildings.
Even with advancements in metal scaffolding, bamboo is favoured by the local construction industry for its cost-effectiveness, quick assembly and disassembly, as well as flexibility. As Hong Kong developed into a dense urban centre, bamboo scaffolding proved ideal for large- and small-scale exterior and interior projects.
A feat of engineering: Bamboo scaffolding in construction
One of the most impressive aspects of bamboo scaffolding is its ability to form a solid and sturdy structure without screws or bolts. Instead, bamboo shoots are strategically positioned and secured in place with durable plastic fibre straps. Behind the green tarp that shrouds these structures lies an intricate network of platforms, ladders, and safety rails that allows workers to navigate construction sites up high with ease.
Anyone who’s spent a significant time in Hong Kong has likely spotted the seemingly precarious sight of bamboo scaffolding extending high up the sides of buildings, often without ground support. Here’s another key advantage: as long as the structure is anchored properly with a fulcrum, they can withstand strong winds, heavy rains, and even the typhoons that occasionally sweep through our city.
Bamboo vs metal: Which is better?
Pros of using bamboo
The advantages of bamboo scaffolding in construction is apparent. It’s a lightweight material that’s easy to transport, assemble, and disassemble. The resulting structures are sturdy and durable. Visually, the vibrant green of bamboo scaffolding completes Hong Kong’s concrete jungle. Finally, as local artist Karen Chan (a long-term bamboo artist among other materials) emphasises, its reusability and biodegradable nature make it a far more environmentally friendly material.
Cons of using bamboo and pros of using metal
However, the use of bamboo scaffolding does present drawbacks that its inorganic counterparts don’t have. The three-year maturation period for usable bamboo and the increasing scarcity of reliable suppliers in South China post logistical challenges. In contrast, metal is more readily available at increasingly competitive prices. Further, the safe and correct assembly of bamboo scaffolding requires extensive (and often underpaid) training and experience, while metal scaffolding is more straightforward to assemble, given its uniform components and bolted connections.
Are there any cons of using metal?
While metal scaffolding offers similar sturdiness, ease of assembly and disassembly, and reusability, it introduces new concerns. Metal is susceptible to corrosion in Hong Kong’s wet and humid climate, requiring specialised maintenance. While highly unlikely, the greater weight of steel or aluminium structures could potentially cause more damage if uprooted by extreme weather, compared to its bamboo counterparts.
However, the benefits of metal scaffolding for large-scale construction seems to outweigh these concerns for the government. This shift begs the question for many Hong Kongers like myself: why the sadness at seeing bamboo scaffolding go?
The brick and mortar of cultural heritage
A cultural link
As Hong Kong-based creative and entrepreneur Tarlan Amigh aptly argues, “bamboo scaffolding represents a deep connection to local craftsmanship and skills,” and the government’s decision “raises concerns about losing a vital piece of our cultural heritage.”
Fortunately, bamboo continues to bear various cultural uses, from small-scale constructions like paper effigies and lion and dragon dances, to large-scale instances like flower boards and Cantonese opera theatres at traditional festivals. Yet, bamboo scaffolding stands out as a unique application of this culturally rich material within our modern, everyday lives – a tangible link to the past that’s been allowed to participate in the construction of contemporary monuments.
Beyond a material concern
Given bamboo’s enduring presence in cultural practices, phasing out bamboo scaffolding in construction goes beyond mere safety, durability, or stability considerations. It marks a clear separation between the past and the present, the traditional and the modern – opposites that don’t quite align with the lived experience of many in Hong Kong, for whom traditions often remain seamlessly tied with contemporary life.
The future of bamboo
While the decision to phase out bamboo scaffolding has been made, it doesn’t mean these iconic green frameworks adorning our high-rises will soon disappear. Many continue to document skilled workers assembling, manoeuvring, and disassembling remaining scaffolds, while various artists are incorporating bamboo into their art, allowing its aesthetic appeal to be appreciated alongside its practicality.
In particular, Chan highlights bamboo’s adaptability as a material and its potential for artistic expression when combined with “modern” materials like steel. Chan believes that instead of discarding what might seem outdated, we should be “reconfiguring tradition” and “allow[ing] cultural heritage to evolve without being erased.”
“Phasing out bamboo scaffolding risks not just losing a material, but disconnecti[on] from the invisible cultural scaffolding that holds up our identity. I reckon it is important to preserve endangered materials and gestures, not by freezing them in time, but by letting them shift, adapt, and be reimagined – just like bamboo itself.”
What are your thoughts on this? DM @honeycombershk on Instagram or drop me an email at [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has bamboo scaffolding been so widely used in Hong Kong’s construction industry?
Bamboo scaffolding has been favoured in Hong Kong for its practical advantages. It’s a relatively inexpensive material, lightweight, and easy to transport, and can be assembled and disassembled quickly. Its inherent flexibility also makes it ideal for navigating the compact exteriors and interiors of Hong Kong’s diverse building structures.
Why is Hong Kong starting to phase out the use of bamboo scaffolding in aerial construction work?
The phase out is primarily due to bamboo’s downsides compared to metal when used in scaffolding. While reliable bamboo suppliers are becoming scarce, metal scaffolding is now more readily available and often cheaper. Further, assembling bamboo scaffolding safely requires extensive training, whereas metal scaffolding is generally easier to assemble due to its uniform components and bolted structure.
Beyond its practical use in construction, what is the cultural significance of bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong?
Bamboo scaffolding represents a deep connection to local craftsmanship and skills, having been used for centuries in traditional Cantonese opera theatres, flower boards, and other cultural emblems. Its adoption into the construction industry after colonisation further cemented its place in the city's visual landscape. Many Hong Kongers see it as an iconic part of the city’s urban environment, and its phasing out raises concerns about losing a tangible link to the city's heritage and the skilled craftsmanship it embodies.
