A Bamboo Resort In The Philippines

The first mission was to transfer the knowledge we had learned to our local workers who are used to working with conventional wood, steel and concrete. This was quite a challenge. In the initial phase of construction we explored the use of a simple post & lintel structural system. Later, we tested the use of bundled splits for the roof curves, which we had learned during Bamboo U.

To manage the build interconnections and joining systems, we used carpenters who were familiar with wood and able to translate their skill into carving bamboo joints. Initially the progress was a bit slower compared to a conventional build however as the workers got familiar with the system, the process became more efficient and easier to manage.

The current challenges we face is the supply of good bamboo poles for construction. Many bamboo clumps are mismanaged in the field, and therefore cannot be used to build with. These challenges will be the focus in the next few months so we can continuously improve the system that works for us locally.

The learning curve for our first bamboo construction was steep, there were many challenges. However, once the initial hurdle was overcome the build became more efficient. Our confidence in exploring new design possibilities continues to grow. Building with bamboo in our context required a change in mindset for our workers, and extra effort in convincing our clients that building with bamboo is feasible. Thankfully, the incredible work of IBUKU and other bamboo buildings in Bali help show people that it can be done!

The technical knowledge and experience from the Bamboo U Immersion provided the major foundation for our current and future bamboo projects. I am looking forward to being part of this green building revolution with bamboo playing an integral role, here in the Philippines.

The Bamboo U experience was a stepping stone for us, it enabled us to achieve our goal to design and build sustainably; incorporating nature inspired designs and natural materials to reduce our carbon footprint. It must be noted however, that 11 days is not enough to fully understand all the details related to growing, harvesting, treating, designing and building with bamboo. The course gave us a strong, technical foundation to work with and the confidence to begin our own bamboo project. Furthermore, the community that was created during the Bamboo U 11 Day Immersion in Bali  was incredible and the connections we made with the Bamboo U Team, other participants and facilitators like Arief, was invaluable in helping us bring our bamboo projects to life.

If you would like to connect with Marvin about his work in the Philippines with bamboo  you can do so via the following links:

M+S Studio Co:

Instagram: @msstudioco, Facebook: msstudioco

Alhibe Farms:

Instagram: @alhibefarm, Facebook: AlhibeFarm