Bambulance

Project Type:
industrial/product design

Project Mission/Goal:
Respond to our growing need for clean water, power, shelter, healthcare, education

Project Description:
Having successfully implemented a bicycle ambulance project in Namibia, Design for Development went to work in western Kenya on an emergency medical transportation device (EMTD) constructed of local resources-- most notably bamboo, after which the unique ambulance is named.

The Bambulance is a bicycle–pulled emergency medical transport device created in response to the lack of safe, affordable and sustainable healthcare transportation in underserved communities in the developing world.

With the aim of saving lives by improving emergency transit times for communities where motorized transport is unavailable or inappropriate, the Bambulance is a cost-efficient and sustainable trailer and stretcher combination, pared down to essential materials. Composed almost entirely of bamboo, bicycle inner tube, and reused trucking tarp, the Bambulance is designed to be affordable to community members, utilizing local materials and trade skills in its construction.

Inspired by skin-on-frame building techniques, the chassis frame and stretcher are fabricated using simple hand tools and craft processes, making the parts easy to assemble and disassemble for repair and replacement. Bamboo – an underutilized locally available resource in Western Kenya and other African regions - is inexpensive, sustainable, lightweight and strong.

The mission of the Bambulance project is to:

-Improve access to health services for HIV/AIDS patients and their communities through the production of a safe, secure and cost effective medical transport device for use in Kenya.

-Introduce bamboo as an alternative, affordable and structurally viable manufacturing material.

-Advocate for men, women and children affected by HIV and AIDS by providing income generating and skills building opportunities.

-Promote the use of the design process to address issues in underserved communities by involving design students, designers, local partners and the communities themselves in the entire project cycle.

Text from: http://plippo.com/client/bambulance/project.html and
http://www.design21sdn.com/organizations/442/posts/6183

Links and Captions:
http://designfordevelopment.org/news/20070901.html
http://www.plippo.com/client/bambulance/home.html
http://www.indexaward.dk/index.php?option=com_content_custom&view=articl...
http://openarchitecturenetwork.org/projects/bamb2010_entry-25415
http://m.treehugger.com/fashion_and_beauty/469853/:jsessiovid=49F70A4783...
http://www.design21sdn.com/organizations/442/posts/6183
http://www.indexaward.dk/index.php?option=com_content_custom&view=articl...
http://www.changeeverything.ca/blog/pbayes/vancity-member-designs-bicycl...
http://timbuktuchronicles.blogspot.com/2009/08/bambulance.html
http://timbuktuchronicles.blogspot.com/2009/04/bamboo-bike-project.html
http://peoplesdesignaward.cooperhewitt.org/2009/nominee/2044
http://www.marcopuccia.com/2009/08/daily-brief-the-bambulance/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ddrucker/2465139283
http://www.treehugger.com/2009/08/09-week/
http://grad2008.ecuad.ca/industrial_design/mileschristopher_ryan/
http://globalgreenagency.wordpress.com/
http://beyondprofit.com/?p=333
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/12/bambulance_pilo.php
http://www.flickr.com/photos/desfordev/2227344964/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/desfordev/2226555031/
http://www.utilitycycling.org/2009/11/ems-bikes/

Video:

Project Details:
Project Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Date(s): 2007 to present
Project Phase:
Client:
User Client: Kenyans without access to (safe) emergency medical transportation devices (EMTD)
Description and Number of Beneficiaries/Users:
Major Funding:
Concept/Lead Designer(s): Design for Development, Niki Dun, Philippe Schlesser, Philippa Mennell, and Chris Ryan
Project Architect(s)/Designer(s):
Structural Engineers:
Electrical/Mechanical Engineers:
Contractor/Manufacturer:
Additional Consultants:
Total Cost/Cost per Unit:
Area (if applicable):

Nominated by Satu Jackson

Location