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Bambu
BUILDING MATERIALS & CONSTRUCTIONbeginner
Definition
A fast-growing grass used as a structural and finishing material in Indonesian architecture. Bambu is strong in tension and compression, lightweight, and can be grown and harvested sustainably within 3–5 years. It has been used in vernacular construction across the archipelago for centuries, and contemporary architects have revived it as a high-design material.
Example
IBUKU's Green School in Bali (2007), designed by Elora Hardy, uses bambu for its structural arches, columns, and roof — demonstrating that the material can achieve complex curved forms at architectural scale.