Bamboo at Scale: Building the Future

What does it take to turn bamboo from a traditional building material into a planetary-scale solution for construction and climate change?In this episode, I sit down with David Sands, architect and pioneer of round-pole bamboo construction, and Russell Smith, former software executive and co-founder of Rizome, a Philippines-based bamboo company working at the intersection of carbon removal, community development, and engineered bamboo materials.Together, we explore the full arc of bamboo’s potential: From village-scale, heart-led architecture to engineered beams capable of replacing steel, and even the possibility of future bamboo high-rises. In this episode, we discuss:How David Sands brought round-pole bamboo through U.S. building codes—a 7-year process that proved “impossible” doesn’t mean impossibleRussell Smith’s transition from software and product launches to building a bamboo-based climate businessWhy bamboo must be grown, not just planted, and how community stewardship makes long-term impact possibleRizome’s three-part model: carbon finance, community bamboo growing, and engineered bamboo productsThe role of carbon credits in funding bamboo at scale and why they’re essential in the first 10 yearsTurning bamboo into standardized materials: splits → panels → beams → buildingsPrice parity with steel, fire resistance, durability, and performance dataThe tension and complementarity between round-pole bamboo and engineered “square” bambooWhy replacing even 12% of global construction materials with bamboo could address a third of human carbon emissionsWhat’s holding bamboo back now: policy, codes, and mindset—not material performanceThis conversation is a deep dive into bamboo as infrastructure, climate strategy, and cultural material, and a reminder that the future of building doesn’t have to look like the past. In this episode, we really dive into how bamboo as a serious contender for shaping the future of cities, communities, and climate solutions. This conversation is a deep dive into bamboo as infrastructure, climate strategy, and cultural material, and a reminder that the future of building doesn’t have to look like the past. In this podcast, we demonstrate that bamboo is a serious contender for shaping the future of cities, communities, and climate solutions.

Welcome to this mini season of the Bamboo U Podcast!In this episode, I sit down with Gunter Pauli, the mind behind the concept of the Blue Economy to talk about Gunter's journey and the life experiences that shaped his optimistic, action-driven worldview. We also discuss how Gunter got involved with bamboo and how Bali was the starting point of his journey with the material. In this podcast, we discuss the following topics:Gunter Pauli’s personal journey and the life experiences that shaped his mindsetThe origins of Gunter’s work in bamboo and how Bali played a pivotal role in his bamboo journeyThe creation of the ZERI Pavilion with Simón Vélez and how it became a turning point for modern bamboo architectureOvercoming permitting, engineering, and fire safety challenges for large-scale bamboo structuresHow the term “vegetable steel” emerged from structural testing of bambooBamboo as a regenerative material for land restoration, water production, and climate resilienceScaling bamboo for social housing: lessons from Ecuador and ColombiaBamboo housing as a pathway from extreme poverty to long-term stabilityShifting the narrative from “temporary housing” to safety, dignity, and opportunityThe importance of acting quickly when windows of opportunity appearWhy “analysis leads to paralysis” and the power of prototyping with your handsUnexpected future applications of bamboo, including fiber-based products like diapersHow bamboo fits into the broader Blue Economy philosophy: Using what you have to meet immediate needsWhy trust, timing, and action matter more than perfect plans

In the final podcast of this season, I sat down with Mexico-based architect, Lucilla Aguilar to talk about her experience in working with bamboo for post-earthquake relief and how she created systems for working with bamboo that are replicable and easy for non-bamboo carpenters to work with. In This Episode We Discuss:The Beauty Of Bamboo ArchitectureMy First Bamboo ProjectCollaborating With Other Bamboo Architects In MexicoBamboo Housing For Post Earthquake ReliefWhat Bamboo Can Do For CommunitiesCreating Adaptable DesignsCreating Replicable And Easy Systems For Working With BambooBuilding Walls For Bamboo StructuresDeveloping A Bamboo WorkforceBamboo Building RegulationsBringing Bamboo Into Urban CentresBuilding A Bamboo PavilionBuilding Inspiring and Long Lasting StructuresBuilding A Bamboo CommunityThe Beauty Of Bamboo ArchitectureMy First Bamboo ProjectCollaborating With Other Bamboo Architects In MexicoBamboo Housing For Post-Earthquake ReliefWhat Bamboo Can Do For CommunitiesCreating Adaptable DesignsCreating Replicable And Easy Systems For Working With BambooBuilding Walls For Bamboo StructuresDeveloping A Bamboo WorkforceBamboo Building RegulationsBringing Bamboo Into Urban CentresBuilding A Bamboo PavilionBuilding Inspiring and Long Lasting StructuresBuilding A Bamboo Community

We dive into the world of bamboo furniture production with Rebecca Reubens, the driving force behind Rhizome. From industrial design to bamboo furniture, Rebecca shares her journey of working with bamboo; empowering collaborations with local communities, NGOs, local governments, and craftspeople. We talk about everything from colonization, the issues with industrial design, creating products with soul, and much more. In This Episode We Discuss:From Industrial Design To BambooInvestigating Bamboo Species For Furniture ProductionUsing Local BambooStandardising BambooChanging The Perception Of BambooCreating A High-Value Bamboo Product LineUplifting Local Bamboo CommunitiesWorking with INBAREmpowering CommunitiesWorking With The Local GovernmentDendrocalamus StrictusTraditional Skills And Contemporary DesignsThe Value Of CraftspeopleChallenges In Bamboo FurnitureCreating Products With SoulWhat is Next For RhizomeRebecca’s Advice For Designers Who Aspire To Work With Bamb

In This Episode We Discuss:Bamboo As A Building MaterialHow Bamboo Sits Within The Spectrum Of MaterialsCreating Rules And Codes Of Practice For BambooThe Properties Of BambooIncorporating Bamboo Into A Western ContextEngineered BambooZero Carbon BuildingsHow Bamboo GrowsHarvesting BambooThe Impact Of Bamboo On The Construction IndustryResearching The Manufacturing Of Engineered Bamboo In VancouverBamboo In North AmericaISO Standards For BambooHow Bamboo Is Superior To Wood and How It Is InferiorBamboo’s Tensile And Compression CapacitiesOpportunities With Engineered BambooBamboo And Japanese JoineryThe Limits Of Round Pole ConstructionGeometric Stiffness And Its Role In Bamboo ArchitectureBamboo TestingUniversity Research Of BambooBamboo JoineryThe Future Potential Of Round Pole ConstructionTaking Bamboo To Mars_________Learn more about Atelier One:https://www.atelierone.com/

In This Episode We Discuss:How the interest in bamboo came to beVisit to Bali and Green Village Harvesting and Treating BambooFirst Bamboo ProjectBuilding For Conscious Impact In NepalFailures and Lessons LearnedBamboo In NepalStarting BambufoliaProjects To Start WithElevating Bamboo The Biggest Challenge When Working With Bamboo Testing Bamboo To Make Sure It's Been TreatedBamboo SpeciesLocal Perception Of BambooTeam WorkFinding CraftsmanBuilding Larger ProjectsClient RelationshipsBuilding A NetworkLearn more about Paola's work at Bambufolia: http://bambufolia.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/bambufolia/

In This Episode We Discuss:Bringing High Tech Into Low Tech AreasFrom Digital To RealityHoloLensesOn-Site Design With Augmented Reality (AR)Kristof’s Work With BambooThe Golden Moon Bamboo InstallationThe ZCB Bamboo Pavilion in Hong KongUsing Complex Geometry For Creating RigidityThe Limiting Process Of Conventional Architecture And BuildingThe Importance Of Digital Design ToolsRhinocereous and Grasshopper 3D ModelersSpeeding Up Construction With Digital and Parametric DesignThe Future For Young DesignersDigital Design For Bamboo ArchitectureBuilding BIG Using Parametric Design And GeometriesMitigating The Impact Of The Irregularity Of BambooThe Potential Role Of AI In Bamboo ArchitectureDesign Methods That Account For Variability____________Learn more about Kristof’s work at LEAD Architecture: https://l-e-a-d.pro/ and the Building Simplexity Lab at Hong Kong Uni https://bsl.hku.hk/His tutorials are available here: Grasshopper: https://bsl.hku.hk/tutorials/Bending active bamboo shells: https://bsl.hku.hk/babss/Kristof is a guest speaker for The Fundamentals Of Building Bamboo Online Course and also a resident facilitator on our 11 Day Course in Bali: https://www.bamboou.com/courses

An exciting episode and topic for the future of bamboo architecture in the Americas. Jules De Laage is an architect, former Program Manager at Bamboo U and currently leading the team building Green School Tulum in Mexico. In this episode, we talk about what it’s like to bring bamboo designs into a new context that faces environmental challenges like hurricanes, which requires an entirely new design vocabulary to emerge as a response.In This Episode We Discuss:What It Is Like To Build With Bamboo In MexicoAdapting To The Local ConstraintsTurning Constraints Into Creative OpportunitiesNew Structural Systems For HurricanesBamboo Species and Heat Bending BambooBuilding Curves Without Compromising Structural IntegrityTesting The Mechanical Properties Of BambooThe Social Context For Bamboo In MexicoTraining Carpenters To Work With BambooIt Takes A Village To Grow Bamboo BuildingsBamboo U Alumni Working On Green School TulumLearn more about Green School Tulum at:https://greenschooltulum.mx/Jules’ is a guest speaker for The Fundamentals Of Building Bamboo Online Course: https://www.bamboou.com/courses

The circular economy is a set of principles which serve as a guide in how we use our resources in an efficient and sustainable way. Felix Bock is the CEO and the Founder of ChopValue and we are honored to have him as a guest on today’s episode, to talk about turning waste into a resource and building a movement around the circular economy.In This Episode We Discuss:What is Chopvalue and Why Chopsticks? The Scale Of WasteBuilding A Movement Around The Circular EconomyStarting A MicrofactoryThe Connection Between Profit And ImpactNon-Toxic ResinsCreating Modular ComponentsCreating Cradle To Cradle ProductsFrom Raw Material To High-Value End ProductDeveloping A MarketCreating Long Term PartnershipsNo Bad IdeasEmployee EngagementGrowing ResponsiblyUsing Franchising As A Tool For GrowthHungry For ChangeRedefining Waste To ResourceScaling and Doing GoodLearn more about ChopValue and Felix’ work: https://chopvalue.com/Felix is also a resident speaker and facilitator of The Bamboo U Online Course: The Fundamentals Of Building With Bamboo: https://www.bamboou.com/courses

Sanne is a Bamboo U Alumni and an architect from Amsterdam. Together with her team, she is working on building an entire bamboo industry in Uganda- from plantation and harvesting to government support and building structures._______In This Episode We Discuss:4:05 Sanne’s First Bamboo Building Project6:16 Building With Sustainable Materials In Uganda7:20 Establishing The Overall System For A Bamboo Project To Be Possible8:06 The Clients And Organisations Wanting To Build With Bamboo In Uganda10:47 Setting Up A Bamboo Supply Chain12:32 INBAR And Bamboo Seedlings13:37 Setting Up A Database For Bamboo Uganda14:43 Bamboo Species Of Africa16:00 How Does Growing Bamboo Influence Your Designs18:31 Bamboo Species Influencing Design20:55 Opening A Bamboo Factory22:18 Bamboo At The Nyege Nyege Music Festival22:45 Building a 9000 sqm Bamboo Structure Over The Old Taxi Park In Uganda25:35 Training Local Carpenters28:18 Designing Within Constraints31:35 Ubuntu: I Am Because We Are32:40 Bringing The Right People Together Learn more about Sanne and her team’s work:@bkvvarchitecten@sanneeekel Sanne is an alumni of both Bamboo U’s The Fundamentals Of Building Bamboo Online Course and our 11 Day Build and Design Course: https://www.bamboou.com/courses