Inspired by Bamboo

Where It Began

In 2015, I watched a TED Talk by architect Elora Hardy and was captivated by the extraordinary bamboo structures designed by her team at IBUKU. Their work opened my eyes to the possibility of building with a material that was not only beautiful, but also rapidly renewable.

Bamboo had a personal connection for me, too. I was born in China and spent my childhood there until fifth grade. I grew up seeing bamboo of different varieties, although the smaller species I knew were quite different from the bamboo used to create the remarkable architecture that had caught my attention.

What began as fascination with the aesthetics of these structures soon grew into a deeper curiosity about the material itself and its potential for more sustainable construction.

From Inspiration to Understanding

In 2021, I took an in-depth online course on bamboo construction. What followed was months of studying engineering principles, understanding how bamboo could be joined and supported, and learning the carpentry techniques behind these structures.

I didn't want to simply admire bamboo architecture from a distance. I wanted to understand how it worked.

As part of the course, I built a bamboo model by hand. The process required patience, precision, and a willingness to learn something entirely unfamiliar. Seeing the principles I'd studied take shape in a physical structure made the experience all the more rewarding—and deepened my desire to work with bamboo in person someday.

Click here to learn more about the bamboo model I built and the story behind it.

11 Days Immersed in Bamboo

That opportunity finally came in October 2023, when I traveled to Bali for an immersive, 11-day bamboo construction program.

For the first time, I got to work with bamboo every day. I learned alongside people who shared my interest in environmentally conscious materials and their possibilities for furniture and architecture. Beyond the technical skills, there was something special about being surrounded by others who cared about building in a more thoughtful way.

I challenged myself to use hammers, practice unfamiliar techniques, and contribute to a real structure. It wasn't always easy, but every day brought a new opportunity to learn by doing.

One of my most memorable moments came at the end of the project: I got to hammer in the final five nails of the bamboo yurt our cohort had built together.

A Dream Made Tangible

The experience was magical. Years after first discovering Elora Hardy's work, I had gone from watching a talk, to studying construction online, to building a model, and finally to working alongside others to create something real.

I also had the opportunity to meet Elora herself—the person whose work had sparked this journey in the first place.

What stayed with me wasn't just the beauty of the finished structures. It was the joy of learning with my hands, challenging myself, and connecting with people who shared a vision for building more sustainably.

Sometimes, an idea stays with you for years before you find a way to bring it to life. This was one of those ideas.