Tag Archives: Bamboo Architecture

Macha bamboo House sits in the middle of a plantation

Posted on by

Don’t you ever want to look outside your home in the morning or for a quick afternoon break and be immediately refreshed by the view and the surroundings? For those of us who live in the urban jungle, this is such a rare occurrence and we sometimes have to resort to looking at beautiful things on our screens. Or yes, we sometimes have to take vacations. What if you had a retreat house that you can get away to every once in a while and it’s right in the middle of a farm?

Designer: Abin Design Studio

The Macha House is one such place, located in a rural region of Kolkata, India. It’s a two-bedroom house with a terrace and the entire structure is mostly made from bamboo so you have not just a refreshing space but an eco-friendly one. It is also pretty simple and minimalist so you really get the feeling of being almost one with nature. The best thing about this house is that it’s in the middle of a guava orchard so you probably have one of the best views in the area.

From the outside, it actually looks like an observation platform and that’s what you’ll probably use it for most of the time. You get a really nice view of the plantation and the orchard remains undisturbed (well, probably most of the time). While the house is mostly built from bamboo, it also uses metal to bring you a more solid foundation. This is also to lessen the possible water damage since the region suffers from flooding often. The house is built nine feet off the ground to protect from wildlife and the aforementioned flooding.

But the main material for the Macha House really is bamboo, which is a traditional and natural material and matches the surrounding plantation. The rooms and service are in the center of the structure and it is surrounded by terraces which serve as your observation deck. You’ll probably spend most of your time there reading, playing games, talking, and maybe even working. The house contains wooden and soft furniture to keep with the natural feel.

The post Macha bamboo House sits in the middle of a plantation first appeared on Yanko Design.

This bamboo cooling device combats climate change as a sustainable alternative to modern AC units!

Posted on by




French multidisciplinary firm AREP developed an alternative, energy-efficient cooling device out of bamboo as a sustainable, low-tech, and affordable means for cold air.

The ongoing threat of climate change has spurred many designers to action. Facing the imminency of prolonged storms, flooding, and recurrent heatwaves, coastal cities, and dry areas are especially vulnerable to the effects of our changing climate.

Vietnam is particularly affected by heatwaves, the city’s most chronic and cyclic of climate events. With excessive heat increasing the need for cold air, air conditioning units are constantly taking great amounts of energy to cool the city down and leaking coolant gas in the process, directly fueling the climate crisis.

Following cues from the Seoul Architecture and Urbanism Biennale 2021 “building the resilient city,” French multi-disciplinary firm AREP designed an alternative, energy-efficient cooling device for a sustainable, low-tech, and affordable solution to combatting the climate crisis. Forming a hyperboloid shape for structural stability, the cooling device stands as a bamboo tower that naturally cools air through the adiabatic principle by using, “the natural freshness of water.”

Explaining the cooling process, architects behind the bamboo tower describe, “To evaporate, water needs energy, which is ‘absorbed’ from the heat of the ambient air, thus generating the cooling effect.” More simply, the firm reasons that the process can be compared to moving closer to an open-air pool on a summer day–the closer you get, the cooler the air feels.

Inspired by the city’s local craftsmanship, the hyperboloid bamboo structure is stationed in Hanoi, Vietnam, where craft villages specialize in bamboo, silk, and pottery, among other trades. Relying on sustainable building and operation methods, AREP designed a cooling device that can be built responsibly from abundant, local resources.

Depending on the adiabatic principle for function, the bamboo tower features a grid of main poles that transfer water through gravity. Then, “at its center is installed a blower taking the hot air from above and pushing it down at human height. As it crosses the water twice, the air is naturally cooled by the adiabatic principle.”

Upon developing their own BIM parametric digital model for prototype phasing, AREP envisions the alternative cooling device in dryer climates, like near the Mediterranean basin or in the gulf, for public squares, sunny pedestrian streets, and larger buildings like train stations.

Designer: AREP

The post This bamboo cooling device combats climate change as a sustainable alternative to modern AC units! first appeared on Yanko Design.

These floating bamboo bungalows make up an eco-tourist hotel that pays homage to the local turtles!

Posted on by

Turtle Bay is an eco-tourist destination in Thailand’s Hua Hin on Khao Tao Reservoir that combines sustainable design with local building material to home in on the hotel’s commitment to preserving the ecosystem that surrounds it.

Hua Hin, a popular seaside town in Thailand, is no stranger to turtles. In Thai folklore, turtles are known for bringing good fortune and prosperity, positioning the animal and lucky icon as a generous source of inspiration for designers and architects alike.

Welding the good fortune of turtles with the lush landscape of coastal Thai towns, architect Sarawoot Jansaeng-Aram from Dersyn Studio Co., Ltd. designed and constructed Turtle Bay, an eco-tourist destination that floats atop the lotus-covered Khao Tao Reservoir.

Taking up almost an acre’s worth of land, Turtle Bay is comprised of five floating bungalows that connect to one another via wooden walking ways. In Thai, Khao translates to ‘mountain,’ and Tao translates to ‘turtle.’ Finding inspiration in the reservoir’s namesake, Jansaeng-Aram designed each bungalow to appear like oversized bamboo turtles.

Leaning into the shingle-like shell of turtles, Jansaeng-Aram topped each bungalow with shingled roofs to bring out the stone and gravel chipped texture. Moving from the roof to the bungalow’s facade, Jansaeng-Aram turned to locally sourced bamboo building material for its flexibility and easy assembly process that doesn’t require heavy machinery.

The interior of Turtle Bay bungalows finds temperate conditions from a local building secret. “Poon Tum” is a locally sourced and sustainable building method trusted for its ability to maintain a moderate interior temperature. Found in the construction of ancient temples around Thailand, “Poon Tum” provides ample ventilation and long-lasting durability.

Speaking on the creative direction behind the chosen building materials, Jansaeng-Aram notes, “These ways of designing offer sustainable architectural design aspect like natural ventilation, called “Stack Effect” and extending the roof to create sun shading. Solar cell equipment [is] also used on some [roofs] where possible. The electric power generated from natural light during the daytime will be used to light up the electric-bulb during the night-time.”

Designer: Sarawoot Jansaeng-Aram from Dersyn Studio Co., Ltd.

The post These floating bamboo bungalows make up an eco-tourist hotel that pays homage to the local turtles! first appeared on Yanko Design.

Bamboo Architecture designed to prove that this trending + sustainable material is here to stay!

Posted on by

Bamboo is gaining a lot of popularity as a sustainable material in the world of architecture! Bamboo is being used to create beautiful and majestic structures, that are green and respect their surrounding environment. It is imperative to build homes, resorts, offices and etc that are in harmony with the natural environment around them. And we’ve curated a collection of impressive architectural structures built from bamboo, that prove sustainability, comfort, and luxury can be combined together! From conic ecotourism cabins designed with bamboo framing in Mexico to bamboo villas that curve into lotus flowers  – these architectural designs truly represent the versatility and scope of bamboo!

The bamboo structure is built from a series of intersecting 14-meter tall bamboo arches spanning 19 meters, interconnected by anticlastic gridshells which derive their strength from curving in two opposite directions. It employs one of nature’s greatest strategies for creating large spaces with minimal founding pillars. For example, in a human ribcage, there are a series of ribs working in compression are held in place by a tensioned flexible layer of muscle and skin. This creates a thin but strong encasement for the lungs. Similarly in Arc, arches working in compression are held in place by tensioned anticlastic gridshells. These fields of gridshells appear to drape across the spaces between impossibly thin arches soaring overhead and although the gridshells appear to hang from the arches, they actually hold them up.

Located next to the river, the Cocoon Villas as currently envisioned offer panoramic views of the surrounding environment through a glass facade that’s crisscrossed with diamond bamboo joists. The diamond bamboo framing supports and protects each villa’s structure with natural waterproof and insect repellent properties, similar to Kevlar. Each villa comprises two floors, the ground level is reserved for social gatherings whereas the top floors are kept for sleeping and panoramic vista points. In addition to its protective measures, the bamboo joists play with the natural sunlight to form unique shadows throughout the home during the day.

Taking inspiration from lotus flowers and magical realism, Liyanage’s Hideout Lotus Bamboo Villa rises above the ground on bamboo pillars to form a raised, single-story home resembling the look of a giant rattan table with an intricate, interwoven bamboo lotus mounted on top. From an exterior perspective, the Hideout Lotus finds a common outdoor area just below its mounted single-level lotus-inspired living area. Four curved bamboo pillars stack atop one another to create borders around the common area, creating a tiered walking space that contains the villa’s canopied deck.

The Ulaman Eco-Retreat Resort made mostly from bamboo is here to show you that sustainability can be well integrated into luxury. Designed by Inspiral Architects, this eco-resort is located in Bali’s Kaba-Kaba village. It has been constructed using materials found directly on the site and the immediate locality which helped the resort become completely carbon zero. Apart from bamboo, rammed earth has been used for the resort‘s ground-level walls. Rammed earth is a wonderful green alternative to concrete which is responsible for more than 8% of the construction industry’s emissions which contributes to 30% of global greenhouse emissions.

Designed by o9 Design Studio, native bamboo and rattan clad were used to build the Chi-bu resort, on the outskirts of Saigon, Vietnam. The materials are all locally sourced, and traditional techniques were merged with cutting-edge design philosophies to construct the resort. It consists of seven bungalows surrounded by a river and wild gardens! It’s a relaxing haven!

You don’t have to be an architect to want to build a bamboo structure of your own thank to the ‘Zome building kit’ by Giant Grass! The studio has made a DIY kit that is basically a larger-than-life LEGO project which can live in your backyard or be scaled up to create a community space. The ‘zome’ is a flexible space that can be used by children to hang out in the backyard, like a gazebo for you to entertain guests in, a greenhouse for seedlings, a creative space in the office, a quiet space for yoga at home, or a glamping tent – it can be anything you want it to be. This DIY kit is perfect for those who want to live sustainability and enjoy working on projects which result in a productive reward.

Architect Julio Ignacio Paez built a community space for the indigenous people in Misiones, Argentina. It is an imposing bamboo structure, accentuated with a large bamboo roof covering. It has been described as ‘the door to the jungle’ and helps to support and empower the Guarani communities. The use of bamboo creates a symbolic and aesthetic connection with the community and allows them to be involved in the construction process as well.

The Eibche by Shomali Design takes the cabin game to a new level by incorporating the best of Balinese culture, modern architecture, and cozy interiors. The elevated structure weaves concrete and bamboo into its design. The team has used locally sourced building materials – wood for the structure and a brick-stone combination for the foundation. The frame is then ‘cemented’ by concrete which brings in a hint of modern minimalist architecture. The designers chose organic materials in order to create harmony with the environment so Eibche showcases a lot of bamboo poles, woven bamboo, coconut wood, and teak wood in both the interior as well as exterior.

Architect Rizvi Hassan utilized bamboo to build a community center for Rohingya women living in a refugee camp. The women can bathe and receive counseling at the community center. Featuring a circular courtyard, which is sheltered except for an open space in the middle, the center is called Beyond Survival: A Safe Space for Rohingya Women and Girls. It is located in Camp 25, a refugee site in Teknaf, Bangladesh.

Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari built 45,000 homes from bamboo, mud, and lime. The homes are part of ‘the world’s largest zero-carbon shelter program’. The bamboo homes were built for victims of natural disasters in Pakistan. They are free of carbon emissions, but at the same time are also very economical and affordable. Ancient wisdom and techniques were employed in the construction and creation of the homes. Lari says that these techniques are much forgotten by the major architects and firms of today.

This bamboo building in Bali is a marvel born from engineering, sustainability and architecture!

Posted on by




Bamboo-based architecture is common in Bali, but even then the Arc gymnasium by Ibuku is a feat unlike any other in the world of sustainable architecture! The structure has been designed for a private school campus featuring a complex double-curved roof made entirely from bamboo. The Green School has a 12-year history of pushing boundaries and pioneering for sustainable education and Arc is the first of its kind!

Designer: Ibuku

The bamboo structure is built from a series of intersecting 14-meter tall bamboo arches spanning 19 meters, interconnected by anticlastic gridshells which derive their strength from curving in two opposite directions. It employs one of nature’s greatest strategies for creating large spaces with minimal founding pillars. For example, in a human ribcage, there are a series of ribs working in compression are held in place by a tensioned flexible layer of muscle and skin. This creates a thin but strong encasement for the lungs. Similarly in Arc, arches working in compression are held in place by tensioned anticlastic gridshells. These fields of gridshells appear to drape across the spaces between impossibly thin arches soaring overhead and although the gridshells appear to hang from the arches, they actually hold them up.

Its unique shape forms a protective roof sheltering a multipurpose sports court with a floor area of 760 square meters. The lightweight building’s geometry brings the structure into a state of equilibrium, which means a dramatically decreased necessity for structural material. This also means an unprecedented inner volume with an impossibly thin structure and without any distracting trusses. The Arc is truly a magnificent, minimal, and organic structure that shows we can dream big, make an impact, and strive to be more sustainable on a grand scale without compromising on our purpose.

“The concept structure for The Arc is totally unprecedented,” claimed Ibuku project architect Rowland Sauls. “Embarking on a design never before executed required some bravery and optimism. We were creative and stubborn enough to research and develop the answers needed for the success of the project.”

“The gridshells use shape stiffness to form the roof enclosure and provide buckling resistance to the parabolic arches,” said Atelier One director, Neil Thomas. “The two systems together create a unique and highly efficient structure,” he added, “able to flex under load allowing the structure to redistribute weight, easing localised forces on the arches.”

Bamboo Architectural Designs that prove why this material is the future of modern, sustainable architecture: Part 2

Posted on by

Bamboo is gaining a lot of popularity as a sustainable material in the world of architecture! Bamboo is being used to create beautiful and majestic structures, that are green and respect their surrounding environment. It is imperative to build homes, resorts, offices and etc that are in harmony with the natural environment around them. And we’ve curated a collection of impressive architectural structures built from bamboo, that prove sustainability, comfort, and luxury can be combined together! From a luxury resort to a community centre for female refugees – these architectural designs truly represent the versatility and scope of bamboo!

The Ulaman Eco-Retreat Resort made mostly from bamboo is here to show you that sustainability can be well integrated into luxury. Designed by Inspiral Architects, this eco-resort is located in Bali’s Kaba-Kaba village. It has been constructed using materials found directly on the site and the immediate locality which helped the resort become completely carbon zero. Apart from bamboo, rammed earth has been used for the resort‘s ground-level walls. Rammed earth is a wonderful green alternative to concrete which is responsible for more than 8% of the construction industry’s emissions which contributes to 30% of global greenhouse emissions.

You don’t have to be an architect to want to build a bamboo structure of your own thank to the ‘Zome building kit’ by Giant Grass! The studio has made a DIY kit that is basically a larger-than-life LEGO project which can live in your backyard or be scaled up to create a community space. The ‘zome’ is a flexible space that can be used by children to hang out in the backyard, like a gazebo for you to entertain guests in, a greenhouse for seedlings, a creative space in the office, a quiet space for yoga at home, or a glamping tent – it can be anything you want it to be. This DIY kit is perfect for those who want to live sustainability and enjoy working on projects which result in a productive reward. The kit comes with all accessories needed – 350 precision-made bamboo strips, nuts, bolts, and an installation guide to make the 3m x 3m ‘zome’.

Warith Zaki and Amir Amzar plan to use the bamboo grown on Mars to actually build the first colony, named Seed of Life, on Mars. The conceptual colony design is actually a series or cluster of structures woven by autonomous robots from bamboos. The aim of the project is to create structures that do not rely on construction materials being shipped from Earth or to use 3D printing. “After doing a lot of research on Mars colonization, we realized that half of the ideas would go about deploying fully synthetic materials made on earth to build shelters, while the other half is about using the locally available regolith,” said Zaki and Amzar. “Human civilization has yet to build anything on any other planet outside of Earth. That fact alone opens up infinite possibilities of what could or should be used. Sure, 3D printing seems to be a viable proposition, but with thousands of years worth of experience and techniques in shelter construction, why shouldn’t we tap on other alternatives too?”

Architect Rizvi Hassan utilised bamboo to build a community centre for Rohingya women living in a refugee camp. The women can bathe and receive counselling at the community centre. Featuring a circular courtyard, which is sheltered except for an open space in the middle, the centre is called Beyond Survival: A Safe Space for Rohingya Women and Girls. It is located in Camp 25, a refugee site in Teknaf, Bangladesh.

Hague is a student at the University of Westminster where she is pursuing her Masters in Architecture. Her design features shellac-coated bamboo to emphasize the use of biomimicry in different disciplines of design – in her case it is providing eco-friendly architectural solutions inspired by nature. For the main structure, Hague drew inspiration from the Mimosa Pudica plant which closes its leaves when it senses danger and that is how she came up with collapsible beams featuring inflatable hinges. It gave the greenhouse a unique origami effect (it actually looks like paper too!) and also enables the structure to be easily flat-packed for transportation/storage.

This bamboo sports hall in Chiang Mai, Thailand was built by Chiangmai Life Architects. It was modeled after the petals of a lotus flower, and has been built using only bamboo! The use of bamboo ensures a cool and pleasant environment in the sports hall at all times. The structure has a zero-carbon footprint!

Designed by o9 Design Studio, native bamboo and rattan clad were used to build the Chi-bu resort, on the outskirts of Saigon, Vietnam. The materials are all locally sourced, and traditional techniques were merged with cutting edge design philosophies to construct the resort. It consists of seven bungalows surrounded by a river and wild gardens! It’s a relaxing haven!

Casa Covida is a unique home that blends these age-old construction practices with the marvels of modern technology like 3D printing to elevate sustainable architecture to a new level! Even today, earth-based houses are used by almost 30 percent of the world’s population because they are low-tech, affordable, and simple. These are not just tiny huts, they cover everything from hand-made earthen buildings to traditionally modern homes – the binding factor is the use of rammed earth techniques as well as sustainable materials like bamboo or wood. These materials are local and easy to source – what could be easier than to use the earth beneath one’s own feet?

The Eibche by Shomali Design takes the cabin game to a new level by incorporating the best of Balinese culture, modern architecture, and cozy interiors. The elevated structure weaves concrete and bamboo into its design. The team has used locally sourced building materials – wood for the structure and a brick-stone combination for the foundation. The frame is then ‘cemented’ by concrete which brings in a hint of modern minimalist architecture. The designers chose organic materials in order to create harmony with the environment so Eibche showcases a lot of bamboo poles, woven bamboo, coconut wood, and teak wood in both the interior as well as exterior.

These bamboo nest smart-towers were built for Paris…but in the future by Vincent Callebaut! These twirling towers are the perfect combination of architecture meets sustainability and nature!

For more impressive environment-friendly bamboo architectural designs, check out Part 1 of this post!

This DIY kit lets you build your own giant dome with bamboo!

Posted on by




In a world where everyone is moving toward’s sustainability, architects are also building their structures with materials that are sensitive and kind to nature with materials like bamboo! Bamboo is a durable, cost-effective, and accessible building material that is being used to create majestic structures that respect their surrounding environment. You don’t have to be an architect to want to build a bamboo structure of your own thank to the ‘Zome building kit’ by Giant Grass! The studio has made a DIY kit that is basically a larger-than-life LEGO project which can live in your backyard or be scaled up to create a community space.

The ‘zome’ is a flexible space that can be used by children to hang out in the backyard, like a gazebo for you to entertain guests in, a greenhouse for seedlings, a creative space in the office, a quiet space for yoga at home, or a glamping tent – it can be anything you want it to be. This DIY kit is perfect for those who want to live sustainability and enjoy working on projects which result in a productive reward. The kit comes with all accessories needed – 350 precision-made bamboo strips, nuts, bolts, and an installation guide to make the 3m x 3m ‘zome’. Giant Grass wanted to scale its design and building process to make it more accessible and affordable. The geometric shape of the structure is different than a traditional dome, but the lightweight structure follows similar design principles in regards to symmetry, proportions, and triangulations. ‘Zome’ creates a far more useable space compared to a dome – a 3m diameter dome spans 1.5m in the center while a 3m diameter zome around 2.8m.

It is easy to assemble and doesn’t require any special tools or construction experience. You can make your ‘zome’ in 2-3 hours and dismantled it in just 3o minutes. The bamboo strips are covered with UV-resistant coating and will grey over time like timber unless they are covered with oil which can retain the yellow aesthetic. The ‘zome’ weights less than 35kg and can be transported by two people easily. ‘Zome’ kits give you more power to create a space that you are proud of while being mindful of its environmental impact!

Designer: Giant Grass

Bamboo Architectural Designs that prove why this material is the future of modern and sustainable architecture!

Posted on by

In a world where everyone is moving toward’s sustainability, architects are also building their structures with materials that are sensitive and kind to nature. One such sustainable option is bamboo! Bamboo is being used to create beautiful and majestic structures, that are green and respect their surrounding environment. It is imperative to build homes, resorts, offices and etc that are in harmony with the natural environment around them. And we’ve curated a collection of impressive architectural structures built from bamboo, that prove sustainability, comfort and luxury can be combined together! You don’t have to sacrifice one to obtain the other. From luxurious resorts to greenhouses, there’s nothing bamboo can’t be used to build!

The Ulaman Eco-Retreat Resort made mostly from bamboo is here to show you that sustainability can be well integrated into luxury. Designed by Inspiral Architects, this eco-resort is located in Bali’s Kaba-Kaba village. It has been constructed using materials found directly on the site and the immediate locality which helped the resort become completely carbon zero. Apart from bamboo, rammed earth has been used for the resort‘s ground-level walls. Rammed earth is a wonderful green alternative to concrete which is responsible for more than 8% of the construction industry’s emissions which contributes to 30% of global greenhouse emissions.

Hague is a student at the University of Westminster where she is pursuing her Masters in Architecture. Her design features shellac-coated bamboo to emphasize the use of biomimicry in different disciplines of design – in her case it is providing eco-friendly architectural solutions inspired by nature. For the main structure, Hague drew inspiration from the Mimosa Pudica plant which closes its leaves when it senses danger and that is how she came up with collapsible beams featuring inflatable hinges. It gave the greenhouse a unique origami effect (it actually looks like paper too!) and also enables the structure to be easily flat-packed for transportation/storage. Rows of these bamboo-paper greenhouses can be connected to shared houses constructed from the soil, which has a high thermal mass, providing shelter from extreme temperatures in India.

Sitting in the heart of a forest in the beach town of Tulum Mexico, the Luum Temple serves as not just a tranquil spot to meditate and connect with nature, but also as an indication of more sustainable forms of architecture. Amidst Tulum’s rapidly-growing unchecked architectural development, the Luum is an eco-friendly bamboo structure located in a conserved area in a native jungle, within a conservation-minded residential development called Luum Zama. The temple’s design is highly influenced by parametric architecture and features five catenary arches made from Bamboo. Designed by CO-LAB Design Office, the temple’s design uses bamboo sustainably grown in the neighboring Chiapas state. Flat sections of bamboo were bent and cold-molded on site, before being shaped into the 5 catenary arches.

I’m fully aware of how bad my pun game is right now, but Thilina Liyanage’s Beach bar looks absolutely ‘fin’credible! Designed to resemble a scaled-up model of a goldfish, the Beach Bar looks stunning from every angle. The fish’s hollow body serves as the bar + counter area, while the space right beneath the tail provides ample seating. Made with an underlying bamboo structure, the Beach Bar comes with a fish-scale-inspired golden fabric clad that gives the bar its fishy appearance from the outside, while providing partial shade on the inside during the day. Once the sun sets, though, the lamps on the inside help give the fish a distinct diffused warm glow, making it look like the goldfish is glowing – a sight that’s even more fascinating when viewed from the top!

The Eibche by Shomali Design takes the cabin game to a new level by incorporating the best of Balinese culture, modern architecture, and cozy interiors. The elevated structure weaves concrete and bamboo into its design. The team has used locally sourced building materials – wood for the structure and a brick-stone combination for the foundation. The frame is then ‘cemented’ by concrete which brings in a hint of modern minimalist architecture. The designers chose organic materials in order to create harmony with the environment so Eibche showcases a lot of bamboo poles, woven bamboo, coconut wood, and teak wood in both the interior as well as exterior.

Casa Covida is a unique home that blends these age-old construction practices with the marvels of modern technology like 3D printing to elevate sustainable architecture to a new level! Even today, earth-based houses are used by almost 30 percent of the world’s population because they are low-tech, affordable, and simple. These are not just tiny huts, they cover everything from hand-made earthen buildings to traditionally modern homes – the binding factor is the use of rammed earth techniques as well as sustainable materials like bamboo or wood. These materials are local and easy to source – what could be easier than to use the earth beneath one’s own feet? While some people might think these techniques are outdated, many designers and architects are experimenting with them by mixing them up with 3D printing technology.

BiodiverCity is one of Bjarke Ingel’s most recent projects, it is a city of three islands connected by autonomous vehicles for land, water, and air to make this a transport emission-free habitat off the coast of Malaysia. Three islands will be built in Penang and will serve as cultural, business, and residential hubs. The most striking thing about the development is that all the transportation on the 4,500 acres will consist of autonomous boats, vehicles, and air travel, making the islands car-free and pedestrian-friendly. Construction is one of the biggest sources of carbon emissions, in fact, even more than the aviation industry. So to reduce the impact on the environment, most buildings will be prefabricated or 3D printed on-site and others will use a combination of bamboo, Malaysian timber, and “green concrete” which is made from recycled materials like aggregate.

Vo Trong Nghia Architects built a 16-meter high bamboo dome for the Vedana Restaurant which floats on an artificial lake. The restaurant is a part of the Vedana Resort, situated in the Cuc Phuong National Park in the Ninh Binh Province of Vietnam. 18-meters wide, the bamboo dome is an imposing and majestic roof, created from 36 bamboo modules. It seems to consist of three thatched ring-shaped structures, but in reality, it is a single structure. The dome is reminiscent of the traditional Vietnamese roofs.

Vo Trong Nghia Architects strike again with their Huong An Vien Visiting Centre which is a part of the Huong An Vien Cemetery. The cemetery is located near the city of Hue in Central Vietnam. Featuring a curved bamboo roof, the structure is a dynamic and open space surrounded by trees, flowers, and greenery. Low-hanging eaves shelter the center from harsh sunlight, rain, and other weather conditions, and at the same time, they also manage to preserve the openness of the space. The center mimics the soft and traditional architecture of the city of Hue, which is located about 10 kilometers away from it.

The Lexus Design Awards announced their winner for the 2020 edition of their award program. The winning project, Open Source Communities by Kenya-based BellTower design, captured the jury’s hearts for being innovative, well-structured, extremely detailed, and having a widespread impact by providing low-income communities with clean water. At the heart of the Open Source Communities is its water resource center – a sustainably built, community-owned structure that helps provide clean water to all residents. The center is made entirely from locally available materials like bamboo and recycled plastic composite bricks, and is entirely prefabricated, allowing for quick on-site assembly. The center’s iconic design comes from its split roof which helps harvest water as well as effectively provides shade and ventilation.