AA-ITB BambooLab

The AA–ITB BambooLab Workshop is a pioneering international education and design initiative co-directed by John Naylor of the Architectural Association (AA) in London and Andry Widyowijatnoko of the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) in Indonesia. The programme is dedicated to enhancing design awareness and technical capacity for sustainable, bio-based construction materials—particularly full-culm bamboo—in bamboo-growing regions across the world.

Combining hands-on making with advanced digital tools, the workshop unites local expertise and international collaboration to promote innovative, low-carbon approaches to architecture. It provides participants with an immersive learning experience in material science, digital design, and construction, fostering new ways of thinking about sustainability and resilience in the built environment.

The AA–ITB BambooLab curriculum follows a comprehensive, material-led design process centred on full-culm bamboo. Rather than adapting bamboo to fit conventional construction standards, participants are encouraged to design for the material—embracing its natural form, geometry, and performance.

Students and professionals engage through design exercises, model-making, and full-scale construction, supported by tutorials in Rhinoceros, Grasshopper, Ladybug, and Galapagos. The lectures and workshops cover:

  • Bamboo harvesting and treatment: Sustainable methods that improve strength and durability.

  • Design awareness for full-culm bamboo: Architectural principles, joinery systems, and hands-on structural design.

  • Sustainability through durability: Ensuring long-term performance and carbon sequestration in bamboo buildings.

  • Site engagement: Context-specific projects addressing local environmental and social conditions.

  • Algorithmic design tools: Using parametric and environmental analysis software to optimise designs for beauty, efficiency, and resilience.

  • One-to-one construction: Practical experience in building full-scale bamboo structures.

This curriculum equips participants with the tools to integrate bamboo into contemporary design and construction, contributing to more sustainable, resource-efficient, and inclusive architectural practices.

AA–ITB BambooLab responds to the dual challenges of rapid urbanisation in tropical regions and the global need to reduce embodied carbon in construction. It directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

  • Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11.C) – creating jobs in local manufacturing and promoting sustainable materials.

  • Climate Action (SDG 13) – reducing greenhouse gas emissions through renewable construction resources.

  • Life on Land (SDG 15.B) – promoting responsible management of bamboo forests and renewable natural systems.