When a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar last year, roads buckled and thousands of buildings collapsed. But a group of small, ultra-low-cost homes made from bamboo survived without any damage.

While bamboo has been used in construction in Asia for thousands of years, it’s starting to catch on in sustainable housing development in parts of the United States and other places in the world.

A $108 home made of bamboo could prove a lifeline for victims of natural disasters. The Heritage Foundation of Pakistan has developed zero-carbon, low-cost shelters made from bamboo. The shelters can ...