Crafting a Stunning Bamboo Coffee Table and Seats

My goal for this project was to keep the design simple yet unique, without making significant changes to the structure. To give the tabletop an extra special touch, I decided to incorporate bamboo bones into the design. While I appreciate the beauty and elegance of bamboo poles, I believe the real potential of bamboo to scale up lies in laminated and square forms. My design aimed to showcase the potential of laminates while honoring the original bamboo with the bones and seats.

As someone without a strong background in crafting and carpentry, this project has been both challenging and enjoyable. Throughout the process, I've learned a great deal about the practical limits and applications of bamboo, moving beyond the theories we were taught.

I started by creating a simple design to guide my project. This design served as a blueprint for discussing my ideas clearly with the carpenters at the workshop, ensuring they understood the look I wanted to achieve. We went into detail, especially about the size and materials needed. My goal for this project was to showcase as many different parts of bamboo as possible.

Next, I worked with numerous bamboo planks, laminating them together. Once dried, I carefully cut them into the specific sizes and shapes required. To add a unique touch, I incorporated two bamboo bones as a pattern on the tabletop surface and carved the pattern. It will allow the bamboo bones to sink slightly into the tabletop. After ensuring they were perfectly set, I applied epoxy to the surface and pattern to fill any small gaps.

After completing the tabletop, I proceeded to craft the legs in a Scandinavian-style design. Surprisingly, my phase moved quickly and it allowed me to assemble all the parts of the table efficiently. With some extra time available, I make two seats from bamboo culms. I cut these culms into pieces and glued them together to form square shapes that complemented the coffee table's aesthetic. Finally, I applied varnish to protect and complete the look of all the pieces.

Overall, I feel really proud of what I made and how the whole process went. This project has been an eye-opening experience for me, allowing me to dive deep and really get to know the material better.  Bamboo has always fascinated me, and its flexibility made me excited to explore it further.

I discovered how to manage my time effectively to finish the project within a tight deadline while still leaving room for creativity and experimentation. This balance of structure and freedom was incredibly rewarding and has given me a greater appreciation for both the material and my own skills.

I can honestly say that this course has been a humbling and eye-opening experience. Learning directly from master carpenters and the Bamboo U team and working together on various projects has been incredible. The entire Bamboo U team has been very helpful, answering all my questions with patience, for which I’m very appreciative. Every lesson and bit of knowledge I've gained has been incredibly valuable, making the course worth every penny.