Architects: Chiangmai Life Construction
Area: 782 m²
Year: 2017
Photographs: Alberto Cosi, Markus Roselieb
Manufacturers: Borax, PSC Commercial, Yang Ma Sports Tech
Lead Architects: Markus Roselieb, Tosapon Sittiwong
Engineers: Phuong Nguyen, Esteban Morales Montoya
Client: Panyaden International School
Budget: USD 300,000
Carbon Footprint: Zero
District: Hang Dong
Country: Thailand
The Bamboo Sports Hall by Chiangmai Life Construction for Panyaden International School in Thailand merges organic design, modern engineering, and sustainable bamboo. Inspired by the lotus flower, it integrates with the school’s natural surroundings and bamboo structures. Spanning 782 sqm, it hosts courts for various sports, a motorized stage, and viewing balconies for 300 students. Prefabricated bamboo trusses, spanning 17 meters without steel, ensure resilience to natural forces while maintaining a zero-carbon footprint. Treated with non-toxic borax salt, the bamboo structure offers natural ventilation and durability for 50 years, reflecting the school’s commitment to sustainability.
Chiangmai Life Architects’ Bamboo Sports Hall for Panyaden International School integrates modern organic design, advanced 21st-century engineering, and the natural material bamboo.
The design takes inspiration from the lotus flower, reflecting Panyaden International School’s Thai setting and its use of Buddhist teachings to instill values in its academic curriculum and explore the workings of the human mind.
The brief called for a hall large enough to accommodate 300 students while seamlessly integrating with the school’s existing earthen and bamboo structures and the surrounding natural hilly landscape. It was also required to offer modern sports facilities and rely solely on bamboo to uphold Panyaden’s low-carbon footprint and its “Green School” mission.
The hall spans 782 sqm and includes courts for futsal, basketball, volleyball, and badminton, along with a motorized stage. The stage backdrop doubles as the front wall of a storage room for sports and drama equipment. Balconies along both long sides offer seating for parents and other visitors to watch events or performances.
The design and materials provide natural ventilation and insulation, ensuring a cool and comfortable climate throughout the year. Furthermore, the exposed bamboo structure serves as a visual centerpiece, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship.
The hall was developed in collaboration with two independent engineers to meet modern safety standards for loads, shear forces, and other structural demands, ensuring resilience against local high-speed winds, earthquakes, and other natural forces.
The innovative structural design utilizes newly developed prefabricated bamboo trusses spanning over 17 meters without the use of steel reinforcements or connections. These trusses were assembled on-site and positioned with the assistance of a crane.
Panyaden’s Sports Hall achieves a zero-carbon footprint, as the bamboo used absorbed significantly more carbon during its growth than was emitted throughout its treatment, transport, and construction.
The bamboo was carefully selected for its age and treated with borax salt, ensuring no toxic chemicals were used in the process. The hall’s bamboo structure is designed to have a lifespan of at least 50 years.
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Project Location
Address: Panyaden International School, 218, 218/1, Moo 2, Nam Phrae, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai 50230, Thailand
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
