‘THE ARC’, A GYMNASIUM BUILDING AT THE GREEN SCHOOL IN BALI, DESIGNED BY IBUKU, AN ARCHITECTURAL STUDIO FROM BALI, INDONESIA, ONCE AGAIN SHOWS US THE POTENTIAL OF BAMBOO IN ARCHITECTUREDESIGN
TEXT: PRATCHAYAPOL LERTWICHA
PHOTO: TOMMASO RIVA
(For Thai, press here)
Bamboo, a material that is dear to many eco architects, has been increasingly chosen as a structural material in environmental architecture. Not only is this magical grass 100% natural, but it also offers excellent solidity, flexibility and adaptability that can be built into diverse, unusual-looking structures. IBUKU, an architecture studio from Bali, Indonesia, known for their expertise in bamboo architecture, together with Jörg Stamm, a bamboo master, and the structural engineering firm, Atelier One, once again manifest the potential of the material for the world to witness. The project is called ‘The Arc,’ a gym building of The Green School in Bali.
Constructed with an arched bamboo structure, this multifunctional sports facility is 14-meters tall and spans to 19 meters. The arched framework and roof are interconnected by anti-clastic grid shells, which distribute the tensile force along the arched beams, enabling the building’s stiffness and the supporting beams to be buckling resistance.
The design team reveals that the design of the building’s structure takes inspiration from the human rib cage, where each bone is joined and connected by various skin tissues and muscles, forming a solid shell that prevents the internal organs from harm. At the same time, the design includes a series of openings on the roof to enhance heat ventilation, while other outlets can be found around the building to facilitate natural airflow, bringing thermal comfort to the indoor space.
Besides The Arc, all the major buildings on the Green School campus since its founding year of 2008 are designed by IBUKU and several of them are constructed by Bamboo Pure, the team of craftspeople who also first broke the ground on the Green School.
