Building a Bamboo Chair

The design process began by asking an AI, Midjourney, to envision a parametric bamboo chair influenced by Alvar Alto and Santiago Calatrava works. It gave me a bunch of concepts, and I picked one that felt simple but still had a unique vibe. The moment I started my carpenting journey, I consulted with the master carpenter, Moko, to assess the feasibility of this design within a four-day limit. I knew it would be a challenging project, so I wanted to make sure it was something I could handle in the time I had. All these discussions and processes led me to have a collaborative effort combining AI, the unique properties of bamboo, and Balinese traditional carpentry.

Building the chair involved a lot of trust in the process, especially as I worked with bamboo for the first time. I asked a lot of questions and got help from almost all the carpenters on site through various aspects of the process. With the skills I picked up from previous model making and carpentry workshops, I felt confident I could try, or at least learn as much as possible within the 4-day timeframe to build the chair.

The process began with an hour of planning using model-making tools and sketches, focusing on the placement of the seat and arms by observing Moko's posture to find the ergonomics that might be comfortable. Next, I traced the legs' curves on plywood to serve as a bending template for the main structure that would connect the chair to the ground and the backrest. The design process was iterative and recursive. The design part was like a loop, with each step influencing the next.

To create the bending elements, we first rolled a lot of the flat strips and then laminated them with two-part epoxy, allowing each piece to be set for at least four hours. Most of the chair involved this technique, alongside heating and bending the bamboo to fit the design for the seat, arms, and back. The final touches included a lot of gluing, filling, and sanding.  Even though it was slow and tricky, having the support from experienced carpenters and fellow classmates made a huge difference in getting the chair finished, right up until the very end. Their support was really helpful. For me, this building process was an excellent experience in collaboration and on-site decision making in real time.

This project has been a journey of discovery for me, especially when it comes to understanding bamboo as a material. But it's been more than just learning about bamboo—it's been about exploring how technology and traditional materials can come together to create something amazing. Also, it has been a personal journey for me as well. It's taught me a lot about my own abilities and limitations, especially how I can visualize my design into reality with just a limited timeframe.

So, it can be said that crafting my own chair from bamboo has given me a deeper appreciation for the material and for the skill and craftsmanship of carpenters. Overall, this experience has been enlightening and fulfilling. It's opened my eyes to the beauty and potential of bamboo, and it's given me a newfound admiration for the craftsmanship involved in working with it.