Bamboo

In Girl in the Glass, Declan encounters an unexpected, plant-based timber:

Declan also examined the ladders and scaffold, constructed entirely from bamboo shoots. An unlikely building material for central Europe, leaving the professor to wonder how far afield he’d been flung.

Although it’s relatively uncommon in Western construction, bamboo is a versatile and sustainable building material. Bamboo is a giant grass, not a tree, with a strength-to-weight ratio similar to steel, and the ability to bend and flex under pressure, making it useful in earthquake-prone regions. It's also a fast-growing, renewable resource, making it an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional materials like steel, concrete, and timber. Bamboo can be used for various construction purposes, including walls, posts, beams, and even engineered products like flooring and panels. When properly treated, bamboo can be very durable and resistant to pests and decay.

In Girl in the Glass, Declan learns the woody plant’s limitations:

While the professor knew the woody grass’s reputation for incredible strength, stronger than actual wood, he didn’t realize old bamboo turned brittle.

Untreated bamboo can deteriorate quickly, especially if exposed to moisture or pests, and over time, it naturally dries out, losing its mechanical strength. Unfortunately for the professor, he learns the hard way when the bamboo ladder he’s climbing splinters under the strain.

Bamboo bridge

Bamboo scaffolding

Bamboo room

Bamboo house