Bali, Indonesia, 21 August 2018 ————– Amidst threatening earthquakes in nearby Lombok, Founder and Managing Director of Sepia Design Consultants Limited Thomas Schmidt graduated from Bamboo U: An 11-Day Intensive Bamboo Build & Design Course. Held near Ubud in Bali, Indonesia, this unique international course offered a diverse combination of lectures, building and factory tours, product demonstrations, and hands-on construction workshops relative to using bamboo as an architectural and construction material.
Back to Basics
The first half of Bamboo U’s 11-day intensive course concentrated on the theory and material properties of bamboo. This included the botanical properties of bamboo, methods of bamboo cultivation and harvesting, bamboo treatment and preparation for use as a construction material. The course continued with bamboo’s use as structural and architectural components. The “nature of bamboo” was complimented with an overview of architectural design strategies, model making, and bamboo carpentry basics.
Hands On Experience
The second half of the course was dedicated to hands-on construction activities. Participants engaged in both independent and group on-site bamboo construction projects to put theory into practice. As participants tried their hand at carving and assembling bamboo, various structural design lectures were delivered. These local construction experiences were led by local Balinese craftsman I Ketut Moko Sumetra, who taught basic bamboo carpentry workshops, construction of load-bearing reciprocating bamboo columns and model-making.
Group construction activities included the creation of an experimental anticlastic domed bamboo structure and a collapsible bamboo yurt. Schmidt remarked, “This course was a fantastic way to learn about every aspect of bamboo, and how to harness this sustainable resource into a viable building material — which could very well save the world.” He added, “most importantly, I was able to connect with like-minded creative people from around the world who are constantly pushing the boundaries of design and construction, which was truly inspirational.”
International Gathering
The multi-disciplinary course attracted over 35 participants and 10 educators, instructors and facilitators — collectively representing 20 different countries from around the world. The wide range of bamboo-related lectures and discussions included permaculture farming techniques, biophilic design, architectural and design applications of bamboo, and architectural guidelines relative to tropical design and bamboo construction. Lecturers included Ibuku Architects, members of the Hardy family, Arief Rabik of the Environmental Bamboo Foundation, Malaysian architect Ewe Jin Low, and American industrial designer Scott Vander Voort. A series of technical lectures by renowned structural engineer Neil Thomas, included topics of bamboo structural engineering, design of membrane structures, and structural design in nature.
Supporting Activities
The 11-day course was interspersed with a variety of supporting activities. Sean Steed, founder of Change Climate presented and demonstrated a new non-toxic bio-epoxy for use as an environmentally-friendly alternative to concrete for bamboo construction in sensitive areas. Various building tours were provided to the offices of Ibuku Architects, and the Bali Green School and Green Village — home to some of the most stunning multi-story bamboo structures in the region, if not the world. Visits were also provided to the Pure Bamboo factory and the popular bamboo-rich Bambu Indah Resort.
Contact Information
For those who are interested in attending future Bamboo U courses, please visit https://bamboou.com/ and include the following promo code to get US$100 off the total price: BBDC1808ST (Full Disclosure: the referring program graduate also receives a US$100. referral fee).
Editor’s Note: Thomas Schmidt, AIA, LEED AP is the founder of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, an award-winning design multi-disciplinary consultancy specializing in creative and sustainable design solutions for the hospitality industry. Schmidt is also author and illustrator of the award-winning Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series which seeks to promote environmental and cultural awareness through entertaining mysteries and adventures, which was recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) through a 2010 Chapter Citation.