Building of the Green Camp Meditation Space

Its design mimics the movement of a whirling dervish dress, and is structurally referred to as an anticlastic grid-shell (being simultaneously concave and convex), composed almost entirely of hand whittled thin bamboo rods - called bamboo lidis - 8mm in diameter. By reducing bamboo canes to this form, we enter the double-curvature realm, allowing it to bend in 3 dimensions (bamboo splits, in comparison, only bend in 2 dimensions - single curvature). While bamboo lidis have been used by IBUKU for over 10 years, this is the first time they have been used structurally to create a roofed grid-shell. To fit the dramatic profiles of the curves, the lidis were brought onsite having just been treated at the PT Bamboo Pure factory to allow for maximum bending potential.

At the end of last year we were working closely alongside Sean Steed, CEO and Founder of 'ChangeClimate', in developing alternative solutions in construction. The now commercialized low-VOC, BPA free Bio-Epoxy Resin is a result of waste by-products produced during refining processes.

The most efficient approach to roofing of the meditation room was by using 20 prefabricated panels of cotton canvas, each cut to size. These were then fully coated with 1kg of bio-epoxy each (using 72%  resin and 28% hardener). After being left to cure for over 24 hours the panels were secured into place on the bamboo ribbing of the structure using a staple gun and compressor.

We found the application challenging in areas where the double curvature was extreme. The panel was at times forced into position and as a result bubbled, this necessitated us to patch over the overlaps, ensuring a waterproof finish. This technique was dubbed mâché as it was a very similar process to that of papier-mâché- dry cotton fabric was placed onto the overlap and then sealed closed using bio-epoxy.

The result is both waterproof and translucent, letting a warm and diffused “mystical” light penetrate the space during the day and allowing for a lantern-like lighting effect at night. More importantly IT'S WATERPROOF!