In 2024, a diverse range of topics have been comprehensively explored, some focusing specifically on architectural details and construction systems. These articles provide valuable insights into architecture's often-overlooked technical and functional aspects. By shifting attention away from aesthetics, materials, and spatial massing, they reveal the importance of intricate details and the construction systems underpinning contemporary projects' larger architectural vision.
Executing these seemingly small elements is crucial in shaping how architecture is perceived and experienced. Specifying and drawing a thoughtfully designed detail is not dissimilar to determining the correct screw in building a car—its thread count, material, and length—can dramatically influence not only the success of an architectural design but also the quality of the human experience it fosters. Such details, while often dismissed as mundane and may not be the most recognizable features of stellar projects, profoundly impact the cohesiveness and functionality of architectural projects.
Over the years, through projects such as the Green School and homes at the Green Village, bamboo has become an increasingly popular material in Bali, Indonesia. While design firms in Bali such as IBUKU have most often worked with bamboo in its round-pole form, advancements and testing in recent years are looking to increase the use of bamboo split beams in the realm of construction.
Bali might most commonly be associated with its beaches and leisure sector. Rightfully so, since the Indonesian province received more than 2.9 tourists this year alone. Along with the temporary visitors, Bali also houses some longer-term inhabitants and digital nomads, which contributed to its fast population increase. This has naturally affected its urban density and its need for additional accommodation and services, offering opportunities for some creative architecture and materials exploration.
This often appears through the many bamboo-built projects, with the island being the stage for some of the oldest and most intricate bamboo vernacular construction. This knowledge can be transmitted to willing architects and professionals from all around the globe who seek to understand how this versatile material can be applied in their own countries. Many renowned global and local practices, such as IBUKU, and Bamboo U, have championed this ecologically aware architecture through their projects, which are always focused on nature preservation and the revival/ optimization of traditional building techniques.
Motivated by the shared goal of creating a better, greener future, architects, designers, and sustainability enthusiasts from all over the world came together to exchange ideas and skills regarding the future of bamboo as a construction material. Titled Bamboo U, the 11-day course included teaching participants how to grow bamboo, treatment methods, bamboo design and model making, engineering, carpentry, and construction. The ArchDaily team participated in the workshop, which ran from August 16 - 27, 2024, and documented the full course from start to finish.
A new generation of sustainable practices is transforming the architectural landscape. What is its 'secret'? The combination of innovation, ecological awareness, and, fundamentally, the revaluation of natural resources that have accompanied humanity since its earliest days. While this knowledge was never truly lost, the techniques associated with these materials have long remained in the background. Today, they are making a resurgence, adapting to modern challenges, and reestablishing themselves as essential, timeless elements in tomorrow's architecture.
https://www.archdaily.com/1022116/smart-eco-conscious-architecture-and-decor-inspired-by-natures-finest-materialsEnrique Tovar
Community benefit is among the first terms mentioned when announcing a new public project. This is especially true in the case of sports halls, promising improvements in well-being and social cohesion. At a closer look, two typologies of sports halls emerge, with varying degrees of involvement with community life: on the one hand, there are large-scale venues dedicated to hosting international competitions, often boosting the capacities of thousands of people, taking on the role of modern landmarks alongside stadiums. On the other hand, there are small-scale multi-purpose sports halls, commonly annexed to schools, dispersed throughout neighborhoods, or present in rural areas with limited access to other public amenities. Despite the often-understated presence, these venues embrace and expand their multi-purpose role by offering opportunities to play, connect, organize events, and support diverse community activities.
The Kul Kul Farm was born with the purpose of sharing knowledge of how to design, build, grow, make, and create with nature in mind. Promoting values that respect and care for the Earth while strengthening community bonds, the farm has become a beacon of sustainability and connection with the natural environment. In 2015, Maria and Orin started this project with the intention to inspire and empower both local Balinese and tourists to live a life more connected to the natural world. Although they initially promoted their values through permaculture, they soon realized the world was ready and hungry for the knowledge, skill, and inspiration to design homes and spaces connected to nature, and a whole new movement had started to grow in their own backyard—the bamboo movement.
https://www.archdaily.com/1019173/the-kul-kul-farm-and-bamboo-u-empowering-people-to-build-a-better-world-with-bambooMaría Clara Falquez
Architecture is about passion, that often turns into a lifelong journey of discovery. From places, materials, techniques, style or programs, through our interview series we’ve uncovered individual stories that show the many facets of architecture. One of our focuses has been in Indonesia, where we’ve found a new generation of architects dealing with the challenges of one of the world’s largest countries, driving innovation connected to an ever present nature and particular culture.
Early this year, Bamboo U and IBUKU launched The Bamboo Playground Design Contest, inviting architects, designers, and creative minds to submit innovative proposals for a sustainable and visually captivating playground for children exclusively constructed using bamboo. The aim of this contest was to explore the versatility of bamboo as a construction material, showcasing its potential for sustainable, aesthetically pleasing, and functional designs.
Bamboo U is an education enterprise that has grown out of the center of the world's bamboo-building movement in Bali, Indonesia. Together with renowned design firm IBUKU, they have been pioneering bamboo architecture for 10+ years, sharing everything they know about bamboo design and sustainable architecture.
Through the analysis of an innovative bamboo grid structure created using augmented reality by architects Kristof Crolla and Garvin Goepel in August 2023, we delve into the intricate world of bamboo architecture, focusing on its application in dome structures through a series of detailed illustrations that uncover the depth of this sustainable material's capabilities.
As awareness of sustainable development grows, bamboo is emerging as an attractive alternative to traditional construction materials. This innovative material is making significant inroads in the construction of sports facilities, showcasing how sustainable practices can shape a greener future.
Bamboo stands out as an eco-friendly substitute for wood, concrete, and steel. Its application in sports facility construction markedly reduces environmental impact and enhances sustainability. The use of locally sourced bamboo in certain regions further decreases carbon emissions associated with transportation. The advantages of bamboo extend beyond its environmental benefits. This material is not only strong and durable but also lightweight and flexible, making it ideal for modern construction demands.
Within this scope, much is said about the different vernacular techniques employed in architecture, whether it is the production of adobe bricks, thatched roofs, woven bamboo walls, among many others. However, while vernacular technique focuses on specific actions or skills, its meaning differs from vernacular technologies.
In her Dhaka, Bangladesh–based practice, Marina Tabassum seeks to create a language of architecture that’s simultaneously contemporary yet rooted to its place. One of the first buildings she undertook after establishing her own practice in 2005—the Bait Ur Rouf Mosque in her own city—won an Aga Khan Award for Architecture, which recognizes design that addresses the needs and aspirations of Muslim societies.
Bangladesh’s Museum of Independence, which she designed with her former partner, Kashef Mahboob Chowdhury of the practice URBANA, has become a national landmark. But Tabassum also works at the intimate scale of housing, pursuing innovative modular space-frame designs constructed of bamboo. She’s taught at architecture schools around the globe. Recently, she was recognized with an award from the Architecture, Culture, and Spirituality Forum and identified by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people for 2024 for her work in sustainable, socially responsible design.
https://www.archdaily.com/1017460/light-empathy-and-silence-the-architecture-of-marina-tabassumMichael J. Crosbie
The opening scenes of the award-winning Brazilian film "City of God" (2002) portray a newly constructed housing complex situated on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. Subsequently, this complex evolves into a hub of poverty and violence. Despite the film being set in the 1960s, the housing development depicted was a recent construction.
This choice made no difference because, despite the 40-year difference between the depicted era in the film and the time of filming, the architectural solutions employed by housing programs in the country remained stagnant. They continued to replicate outdated models, showcasing a lack of progress in the sector.
“The Mindfulness City will be a sustainable city. To be mindful is to be aware — to perform best,” said Giulia Frittoli, partner and head of landscape at BIG. The Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked Buddhist country in the eastern Himalayas, nestled between China and India. It covers 14,000 square miles and has a population of nearly 800,000.
The Royal Office of Bhutan asked BIG, Arup, and Cistri to develop a plan for a new Mindfulness City in Gelephu in southern Bhutan, near the border with India. The city will span 386 square miles and include a new international airport, railway connections, hydroelectric dam, university, spiritual center, and public spaces.
The idea of a community or public playground is about creating an accessible recreational space for all. However, in many cases, initiating a playground project might fail due to insufficient funds or regulations/restrictions. The first challenge is largely to set the project in motion and, most importantly, get the community’s positive reception and, if possible, its involvement, thus ensuring the project's success and sustainability.
Bamboo, renowned for its strength and eco-friendliness, often faces a formidable adversary: insects and fungi. Despite its resilience, these pests can compromise its durability over time. However, there exists a simple yet effective solution to bolster bamboo's longevity and sturdiness. In this article, we unveil the Vertical Soak Diffusion (VSD) method—a budget-friendly approach that ensures your bamboo projects stand the test of time.
In recent years, India has seen a resurgence of interest in natural building materials, a movement driven by escalating environmental concerns and a growing desire to revive traditional lifestyles. From the busy streets of Mumbai to the serene villages of Kerala, architects, builders, and communities are coming together to experiment with the potential of earth, bamboo, lime, and other organic materials in shaping contextually relevant structures that also embody India's contemporary ideals. The shift towards using natural materials and other vernacular resources reflects a movement towards sustainability and a deeper connection with nature.
