Latest Simón Vélez Stories

GIRARDOT, Colombia - Forget steel and concrete. The building material of choice for the 21st century might just be bamboo. This hollow-stemmed grass isn't just for flimsy tropical huts any more - it's getting outsized attention in the world of serious architecture. From Hawaii to Vietnam, it's used to build everything from luxury homes and holiday resorts to churches and bridges. Boosters call it "vegetal steel," with clear environmental appeal. Lighter than steel but five times...