Bamboo Design and Build at Bamboo U
The Bamboo Design and Build course at Bamboo U teaches students all the stages of building with bamboo in 11 days, culminating in a live construction project in Bali.
This course has now closed
Bamboo U’s 11-day Bamboo Design and Build course is an immersive, hands-on programme based at The Kul Kul Farm in Sibang Kaja. It is situated next to Green School Bali, which was developed in collaboration with architecture studio Ibuku.
Participants work across all processes of building with bamboo, including forestry, harvesting and treatment, model-making, carpentry and joinery techniques such as whole joints, fishmouths and lashing, and finally, a full-scale group construction project completed over five consecutive building days.
The course includes site visits to the Ibuku design office and Bamboo Pure processing factory, talks from bamboo specialists, and shared meals and accommodation in bamboo yurts.
Two intakes run in 2026, August and October, each culminating in a different structure to give returning and new participants the chance to tackle distinct design challenges.
The August cohort will build the Kul Kul Farm Pod, featuring laminated bamboo arches, earthen infill walls and a double-layered roof.
School: Bamboo U
Course: Bamboo Design and Build
Type: short course
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Course dates: 28 August to 8 September 2026, and 23 October to 3 November 2026
Application deadline: 27 August 2026
What will I learn during this course?
– Bamboo forestry and material knowledge, including sustainable harvesting cycles, species selection, and what makes bamboo viable as a structural material
– Treatment techniques, such as preserving harvested bamboo against rot and insects for long-term durability
– Design fundamentals, including principles of bamboo architecture and structural form
– Model-making skills that involve translating design concepts into scaled physical models
– Carpentry and joinery, with hands-on techniques including whole joints, fishmouths, lashing and bolt connections
– Structural systems, such as how bamboo elements combine to bear load and span space
– Full-scale construction skills, where students apply all of the above across five consecutive building days to raise a real, functioning structure
– Knowledge of the wider ecosystem behind bamboo building through site visits to the Ibuku design office and Bamboo Pure processing factory, and talks from specialists in the field
What are the requirements?
– Open to participants aged 18 and above; those under 18 may join only if accompanied by a guardian who is also enrolled in the same course
– No professional background required; the course is not only tailored for people studying or working in design, architecture, engineering, construction, or carpentry, but for anyone inspired by bamboo and looking for ways to create a better world
– Full payment of $2,775 or a three-instalment plan for bookings made at least three months in advance
What facilities and resources are available?
– In-person, on-location course held entirely at Kul Kul Farm in Sibang Kaja, Bali.
– Accommodation in shared bamboo yurts on-site at Kul Kul Farm for the full duration of the course
– Farm-to-table meals provided throughout, sourced from the surrounding area
– Workshop and construction site, with access to the farm’s building site and tools for the hands-on carpentry, joinery and full-scale construction work
– Site visit to the Ibuku design office, where students can see how bamboo architecture concepts move from sketch to build
– Site visit to the Bamboo Pure treatment and processing factory, showing the material preparation stage of the process firsthand
– Talks and sessions from visiting bamboo specialists and practitioners as part of the programme
What career prospects can I expect upon graduating?
The 11-day course is designed to give participants a practical entry point into the wider bamboo industry, rather than a single career track. Because the curriculum spans the full lifecycle of the material, graduates leave equipped to pursue several distinct paths depending on where their interest lies.
– Bamboo architecture and design: for architects and designers, the course provides hands-on grounding in bamboo’s structural behaviour and joinery techniques, supporting a shift toward specialising in bamboo or natural-material architecture
– Farming and supply: the forestry, propagation and harvesting components speak directly to those interested in bamboo cultivation and sustainable supply – growing and processing bamboo as a material source for the construction industry
– Furniture and product design: the model-making and carpentry techniques taught are also directly applicable to smaller-scale work, such as designing and building bamboo furniture or objects
– Construction and craftsmanship: the full-scale build component gives carpenters and builders direct experience with bamboo-specific techniques – joints, lashing, treatment – that differ from conventional timber construction
– Education and advocacy: the course is also positioned for educators and sustainability advocates looking to bring bamboo into their own teaching or organisational work
Who teaches this course?
– Orin Hardy, co-founder of Bamboo U
– Maria Hardy, co-founder of Bamboo U
– Mike Linthon, senior landscape architect
– Kevin Anter, landscape architect
– Ketut Darmadi, site supervisor
– Asmara Jaya, carpenter lead
– Made Suryana, carpenter
– Putu Juliadi, carpenter
– Wayan Kartana, carpenter
– Luis Echeverría, management consulting professional
– Mia Larsen, marketing advisor
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