Prefabricated Bamboo Cabins: A Socio-Technical Evaluation of Modular and Relocatable Shelter Systems

The growing demand for sustainable and rapidly deployable housing in Southeast Asia underscores the potential of bamboo as a renewable material for prefabricated construction. While steel, concrete, and container-based systems are well established, the socio-technical dimension of bamboo remains underexplored. This study develops and evaluates a prefabricated bamboo cabin using an integrated framework that combines Design Science Research, Research through Design, Participatory Design, and structured Prototyping. Bamboo served as the main structural material, reinforced with steel joints to achieve modular precision, while BIM simulations (Autodesk Revit and Forma) assessed solar gain, ventilation, and thermal performance in a tropical coastal setting. Workshop fabrication and field assembly demonstrated reduced material waste and rapid on-site erection, completing one cabin in 5 hours 15 minutes with a small non-professional team and minimal tools. Stakeholder and user feedback indicated strong cultural resonance and practical feasibility, though challenges persisted in thermal comfort, rain protection, and sanitation integration. Overall, this research positions bamboo prefabrication as a fast, adaptable, and environmentally responsible construction method, bridging design innovation with socio-technical insights for tropical housing advancement.