From a design perspective, are there exemplary building materials for dense environments?
MM: I like bamboo a lot. The more you use it, the better things get. Its deeply versed in cultures all over the world, its stronger than steel in tension, its stronger than concrete in compression, and its more stable than red oak, which is a very stable flooring. When you plant it, it acts as a bioabsorber, cleaning pollutants out of the soil; it simultaneously stabilizes the soil and prevents erosion. While its doing all of these good things, it returns more oxygen to the air through photosynthesis than almost any other deciduous plant. JL: Its clear, then, we need to plant more bamboo around the world! MM: If we did that, it could have a profound effect on carbon sequestration, which means it could sequester carbon out of the atmosphere and deal with global warming related to the problem of greenhouse gases. JL: Do you think architecture can link up with other disciplines, like manufacturing, to start addressing the global housing crisis? MM: Architects continue to attempt universal
