The Karma Map Dome – Building with Bamboo at Tribal Earth
The Karma Map Dome – Building with Bamboo at Tribal EarthThe Karma Map dome quickly became a focal point at Tribal Earth Festival — children played inside, friends gathered beneath its arcs, and at one point a musician even staged an impromptu gig within its walls....
The Pringle Problem: Form Studies of Hyperbolic Paraboloids
Straight lines that form a curve?The hyperbolic paraboloid—famously echoed in the shape of a Pringle—is a doubly curved surface, simultaneously concave and convex. Imagine a saddle or the twist of a torso. This deceptively complex form is actually made entirely from...
Black, Bold, and Beautiful: The Allure of Black Bamboo
The striking rich colour of black bamboo at The Oriental Bamboo in ThailandLet’s get something straight: black bamboo is drop-dead gorgeous. Possibly the most beautiful of the entire bamboo clan—and still, bizarrely, no one knows it exists. It’s like the George...
Adventures in Bamboo and Carports: How I Learned to Love the Paraboloid
I was properly stuck. I wanted to buid a bamboo carport for my brother's house here in Thailand. And for weeks, I had struggled with various curved roof designs. I had an image in my head — a kind of skirt, draped from a central column and flowing around the edges....
Confessions of a Blowtorch Bender: The Secret Life of Flexible Bamboo
I’ve explored many ways to bend bamboo—from the traditional rup-rup method to cutting-edge heat bending techniques. Here's a deep dive into the pros, cons, and structural implications of each method, with practical tips for builders aiming to create strong, beautiful,...
How the Green School Bali Was Built: A Designer’s Timeline of Bamboo Architecture and Innovation
Insights from a Visit with Ibuku to the World’s Most Iconic Bamboo CampusAs a bamboo architect and furniture designer focused on high-end sustainable structures, I’ve long admired the Green School Bali—not just for its aesthetic appeal, but for what it represents: an...
Did I Just Spend $500 on Firewood? Journeys in Bamboo Selection
Sourcing bamboo sounds romantic, doesn’t it? A noble artist wandering through misty groves, selecting the perfect stalk like a samurai choosing his blade. In reality? Try sweat, machete blisters, and an ongoing fear that of the Green Tree Snake, a small beast who’s...
Strong, Beautiful, Enduring: The Craft of High-Quality Bamboo Construction
When clients commission a bamboo structure or art piece, they aren’t just investing in a building—they’re investing in something alive with craftsmanship, design, and integrity. Bamboo is a remarkable material: strong, renewable, and full of character. But its true...
Bambu Indah Bali Review: Under the Hole in the Sky Where the Ideas Fall Down
Following John Hardy's Vision: Bamboo, Wildness, and Genius Trying to make sense of Hardy’s architectural vision is like being Martin Sheen on the trail of Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now – a wild journey into the creative jungle. Bambu Indah pulses with the energy of...
No Drill? No Problem! Traditional Bamboo Carpentry in Action
Bamboo construction has been used for centuries across Asia and beyond, prized for its strength, flexibility, and sustainability. But what happens when modern power tools aren’t available? I recently had a fascinating experience with local bamboo carpenters in Koh...