Hong Kong: The residential tower that was consumed by flames this week had been surrounded by the city’s signature bamboo scaffolding a centuries-old building technique that traces its roots back to China’s Han dynasty. Despite the passage of time and the rise of modern engineering, bamboo remains a dominant material on construction sites across Hong Kong.
Rising beside skyscrapers hundreds of feet tall, these lattices of hand-tied bamboo poles are wrapped in vibrant nets of green, blue and purple, creating eye-catching shells around buildings. Beyond supporting large construction projects, bamboo frames are also indispensable in the restoration of the city’s ageing “tong lau” tenement blocks, playing a central role in maintaining Hong Kong’s architectural heritage.
However, the safety of bamboo scaffolding has increasingly come under scrutiny. Its renowned flexibility a feature that allows it to sway gently with strong winds also comes with drawbacks. Bamboo is flammable, and prolonged exposure to weather can lead to gradual weakening and decay, raising concerns among engineers and regulators.
In response to these issues, Hong Kong’s Development Bureau recently announced a major policy shift: from March onwards, half of all new public building projects must use metal scaffolding. Authorities say the move is aimed at improving worker safety and bringing the city in line with construction standards seen in other developed urban centers.
But the decision has ignited debate. Many residents argue that bamboo scaffolding is more than a tool it is a cultural symbol deeply embedded in Hong Kong’s identity. Critics fear that phasing it out will erode a unique craftsmanship passed through generations.
Structural engineer Goman Ho of Arup told CNN that the solution lies not in abandoning the tradition but in modernizing it. He suggested that bamboo poles could be strengthened with epoxy or plastic coatings to reduce weather-related damage while preserving the technique’s cultural value.
As Hong Kong weighs tradition against modernization, bamboo scaffolding stands at a crossroads emblematic of the city’s wider struggle to balance safety, innovation and heritage.