This new school, based on the healthy-living and sustainability focussed tenets of green schools worldwide – seeks to address the current rise of modernism in Balinese communities. Framing the use of steel and concrete in the international style as an energy-hungry and ‘place-less’ 20th century trend (on the heels of a massive influx of tourism to the island); the use of non-local materials as has been used for millennia poses an issue. Therefore, bamboo as a construction material, in conjunction with craft skills of which some are being lost, can help in the Climate Emergency and readdressing Balinese cultural identity through architecture.

This green school – orientated around the bamboo life cycle and use in architecture, product design and furniture craft – is in the rural heartland of the island, on the eastern slope of a spiritual mountain. Driving forces predominantly include giving all spaces a tailored view of the incredible landscape, open plan to work and learn alongside nature on different levels of intensity, and allowing as much natural, passive air ventilation as possible to combat the tropical climatic conditions.

The masterplan for the campus is compact to limit area disruption (to the natural beauty of the mountain) and since it comes of a pathway along two Hindu temple complexes, a capability to seem at place in the flora and fauna is key. The campus will be surrounded by cultured bamboo fields of various species, heights and uses to the students (who are fully equipped with whole-life-cycle facilities to gain a deep understanding of using it as a plant and material). The main buildings themselves also being of hybrid materials with a strong fixation of bamboo (and using every part as appropriate). The roof structure will be a grid-shell over bundled Petung primary members, giving an immediate appreciation to the craft internally and an organic, natural and Balinese aesthetic to the exterior.