Building Eco-Friendly Bamboo Homes: Design Innovations

This year, we’re taking things up a notch with a three-month program to build a bamboo and light-clay straw and Ecobrick “eco-tourism” structure. Our project aims to create a modest comfortable dwelling that combines an all-bamboo framework with complementary eco-materials. Bamboo is an incredible renewable material, but it comes with challenges—especially when it comes to insulation and soundproofing. Preventing furry, feathery and scaly visitors from moving in to one’s place can be a bit of a battle too. By integrating Ecobricks and clay-straw infill in a hyperboloid base, we aim to create a more robust, comfortable, animal-proof living space… while still maintaining natural ventilation and minimizing the need for energy-intensive solutions like air conditioning.

Sustainable Bamboo Design?

For Bamboo to become the “sustainable building material of the future”, we really need to come up with designs that are compatible with every-day people’s needs, and which are “prestigious” and yet “affordable” enough to draw people away from the current trend/ preference of building with “cement and tile”… When you do the math, an earth and bamboo building is way more efficient cost-wise and in terms of the energy requirements to keep a comfortable living temperature – but there aren’t many examples of such buildings that “normal” people can afford. And if you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know that this is part of what drives me… to build with bamboo!

(Above) Some examples of Bamboo Design by Jaye Irving of Barefoot Sustainable Design who we are working in collaboration with on our Bamboo4Africa programs.

For anyone who has experienced living in a bamboo building, you’re likely familiar with its shortcomings regarding sound isolation and thermal regulation. Most traditional bamboo buildings I’ve seen are in the tropics are elevated to maximise ventillation – a tropical necessity. Creating enclosed spaces without compromising ventilation is a challenge. Some designs incorporate glass or cement walls to address these issues, but this typically necessitates air conditioning… And let’s not forget the wildlife factor! Living in a bamboo house can feel a bit like a “My Family and Other Animals” experience. Urban environments add another layer of complexity with territorial cats forever on the  prowl to mark their space. (This partly explains my growing obsession with developing more substantial walls and animal-resistant screens.)

Become a Member!

In this year’s three-month program, we are trialing techniques to create an “enclosed” space that combines hyperboloid techniques for the base structure with arches and bending methods, resulting in an aesthetic yet affordable two-storey living space that can be constructed by a small work team. A larger-scale version of this design is set to be built next year in Kenya as part of our International Collaboration with Nyakio, founder of Agatha Amani House, in Naivasha, Kenya (January-February 2026). This will be an inclusive, family-friendly 3-6 week Natural Building experience, featuring workshops and activities designed to foster community and promote better change and harmony within our environment. More info coming soon!

There’s other things coming to mind with this design – like how to make the bathroom-home interface “intruder-proof”? Bathrooms here in Bali are usually placed outside a house and lack security, making them a common access point for thieves in Bali. Additionally, how to make the bathroom accessible from the sleeping area in a way that blends seamlessly with the design? So it’s not too big of a mission to go for a pee in the night, which can often be a hassle. All these questions occupy my mind, as I envision a design that balances utility, comfort, and security, creating a practical yet serene space. 🙂 We have 3 more weeks of our program to collaboratively come up with design solutions… and will be following the techniques and progress of the build in our Membership discussion forum. We will be taking this design on our Bamboo4Africa journey next year in January. Give us your feedback on the design and what you think could be improved…

Join our DesignMind group and be part of our International Collab brainstorming and demonstrating the possibilities of combining bamboo with other natural and recycled materials to make attractive AND affordable buildings! 

Become a Member!

We have been developing our Belega Eco-School over the past two years, and my dream of creating an inclusive space where my daughter and I can share time together, while being engaging in activities alongside others in the community, is becoming a reality. I aspire to establish a blueprint that allows others to enjoy this and similar spaces, with varied levels of contribution. Since 2014, my vision has evolved, presenting me with challenges on multiple fronts—financially, culturally, and emotionally. My initial expectations of how everything would “work out” have continually been turned upside-down, often feeling like a futile endeavor. Yet, what I’ve come to learn is that when we can relinquish our rigid perceptions of how things “ought to be” and embrace them as they are, unexpected shifts occur that we could never have anticipated if we had remained confined to our “small self.”

My aim now is to develop a systemic approach to cultivating regenerative communities where everyone can thrive. Where the spirit of collaboration and co-contribution intricately weaves the fabric of a holistic way of being and sharing. I envision a workplace for our local carpenters and artisans to showcase their skills in a manner that respects and honors their expertise; a space where differently-abled individuals can contribute their unique touch of magic; and a gathering place for people to learn from the richness of a community that cherishes its traditions while offering skills and wisdom in return. It feels as though I have come full circle to a new stage of evolution, reflecting on where I was nine years ago, and I intend to revisit the concepts I initially shared from the perspective I have now.

With regards to contribution—whether through financial support or the in-kind offering of physical labor and expertise—I envision how, as a collective, we can “create” and develop this place to its fullest potential. Through the bamboo building workshop programs I’ve been coordinating, we have established the fundamental structures necessary for the space. However, to enhance these bare bones, we now require further finances for the fit-out, filling, and finishing touches. Enabling investment will allow us to transition into a phase where we can maintain a stable foundation for running the creative and craft programs that initially fueled and sustained my business, Bamboo Creative Bali, when I began my journey at Freyr’s Bamboo Home in Denpasar about seven years ago.

As I reflect on this journey, it’s evident that the Universe’s “other plans,” have revealed something far more extraordinary than I ever imagined possible. As I write this, alone in Fryer’s Bamboo House, I am finally able to immerse myself in my inner connection with God. Free from the distractions of competing interests, I recognize the importance of support in fostering a healthy, holistic life alongside my daughter, Freyr, who has been living in Australia for the past two years.

When Freyr first left, and I actually had the time to hang out with the people who joined my bamboo course, and find my own identity… It actually hit me. (Well, prior to that I actually did get hit… with a motorbike altercation which sat me on my ass for a couple of weeks and forced me to rest – momentarily.) I realized that between work and home (though work here felt more like a family than a workplace – and I got to meet very interesting and lovely people through our workshops) I wasn’t able to carve out the time I (yes Me)… needed to be able to sustain caring for my daughter AND keep a healthy relationship with myself and my own inner world… I was burnt out!!!

Although my nervous system has had time to reset over the past 2 years, I still struggle with my feelings of being a “failed parent” and I miss my daughter. I worry about how to bring her closer to me physically, but with adequate support. When she visits, I am grateful she comes with support carers from Australia (though this time is limited due to government funding regulations); otherwise, I might go into overwhelm again. There’s more to this story, which I dwell on in the context of myself as parent of a beautiful daughter with a moderate to severe disability in my Facebook group Friends of Freyr… As a parent raising a child with a disability, I yearn to create a place where my daughter can spend time with me, where I can work, and where being IN COMMUNITY is natural and just What We DO! That encompasses the present stage of Bamboo Creative Bali’s workshops and strategic direction… building places where – through the process – we create and experience being IN COMMUNITY – collaboratively.

Belega Eco-School is a first step in creating a village-type environment for learning and being In Community… Our Bamboo Building Programs are just one aspect of what I hope to offer here in the broader context of this movement – Towards building regenerative villages where, as a collective, with varying levels and means of contribution, we create Real sustainability through co-operative enterprise which benefits the Whole community, not just a few.

As we approach the completion of our 3-month bamboo building program and plan for future offerings, I am excited to announce the opening of pre-bookings for our upcoming craft and eco-building programs! These engaging 2 to 11-day family-friendly experiences are perfect for smallish groups or individuals. To inspire you to join us, I’ll be offering a special early-bird 25% discount (UNTIL AUGUST 31st)!. This initiative will help us add the finishing touches to our Eco-school buildings and make repairs at Freyr’s Bamboo Home in Denpasar, where we can’t wait to host workshops again soon. Plus, enjoy 25% off your stay in one of our unique bamboo creations in Belega, giving you a wonderful opportunity to live in a bamboo building and learn from our skilled craftsmen!

Pre-purchase and receive generous discounts on accommodation and workshop packages at our Belega Eco-school (Prices in AUD):

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bamboo Creative Bali (@bamboocreativebali)

Ongoing Work:

With your support, we aim to develop this and wider Outreach projects to offer hands-on programs where participants can learn bamboo building, plastic upcycling, and circular economy principles and practices.

Our vision doesn’t stop at construction!… We’re developing a circular economy model that includes waste separation, plastic recycling, and even organic waste management using Black Soldier Fly (BSF) systems. These systems can convert organic waste into feed for chickens and fish, reducing reliance on industrial feed and supporting local food systems.

Empowering Communities: Skills, Incentives, and Outreach

The greatest need for sustainable building skills is at the village level, where people still have traditional knowledge of farming and skills to work with bamboo. Making village life regenerative and sustainable is our aim. In “the village”, people ‘own’ their own land and are not feeding the industrial complex (definition: warning giant rabbit hole). By introducing Ecobricks, bamboo treatment and modern eco-building techniques, we can make building practices more sustainable, affordable, and attractive and help communities resist the pressures of urban migration and land conversion/unsustainable development.

Imagine if people understood the value of the nature around them  – and why it is that people from the “west” pay so much money to be in a “natural” environment… and, maybe, if we developed an economic system where people benefit in a fairer manner than in the current “broken” system that leads to degradation and exploitation; we could CONTRIBUTE to and feel enriched by being a PART of a more integrated system/network. We could have ‘Rat Park’ towns and villages for Humans where there’s so much to do, see, experience and be part of (rather than being in “consumer” conditions of isolation and addiction) and people can particiapate and partake in an evolution of sorts – a collective surge arising and recognising themselves as uteruses of the universe! Co-creators and amalgamators of energies of the cosmos.

To incentivize participation and local collaboration, we are proposing a waste-separation currency system called Ebblets. For every 1.5L Ecobrick made, community members earn an Ebblet, which will be redeemable for goods at local stores. This system not only rewards plastic sequestration but also encourages the use of refillable containers and bulk goods, reducing single-use packaging even further as participating shops will be provided with bulk-dispensers and reusable containers for common products like dish soap, laundry detergent & shampoo. Together, we can build a circular economy around plastic waste through recycling, upcycling, and organic waste management. See the Ecobrickers Page for more info and how you can get involved 🙂

COMING SOON/NEXT: Be part of our educational enrichment initiatives that incorporate arts and language exchange to strengthen village cultural programs. Ecobrick POWER!!

Make a donation: