The Green School / IBUKU

Architects: IBUKU: PT Bambu
Area: 7542 m²
Year: 2007
Photographs: Courtesy of PT Bambu
Regency: Badung
Country: Indonesia

The Green School in Bali, designed by IBUKU and established by John and Cynthia Hardy, focuses on sustainable living through the innovative use of bamboo as an architectural material. Supported by the Meranggi Foundation and PT Bambu, the initiative aims to protect rainforests and promote environmental consciousness. Constructed by PT Bambu, the campus, spanning the Ayung River, is powered by alternative energy sources, including bamboo sawdust systems, hydro-power, and solar panels. Featuring a variety of bamboo-built structures, the campus fosters a holistic, green environment that engages students in sustainability practices.

Environmentalists and designers John and Cynthia Hardy aimed to inspire communities to adopt sustainable living practices. A key aspect of their mission was to demonstrate the potential of building with sustainable materials, particularly bamboo. To achieve this, they founded The Green School along with two affiliates: the Meranggi Foundation, which supports bamboo plantations by providing seedlings to local rice farmers, and PT Bambu, a for-profit design and construction company that advocates for using bamboo as a primary building material to help prevent further rainforest depletion.

The Green School, designed as a vast laboratory by PT Bambu, is situated on a sustainable campus that spans both sides of the Ayung River in Sibang Kaja, Bali. Nestled within a lush jungle, the campus features native plants and sustainable organic gardens. It is powered by alternative energy sources, including a bamboo sawdust system for hot water and cooking, a hydro-powered vortex generator, and solar panels. The campus includes a variety of buildings such as classrooms, a gym, assembly spaces, faculty housing, offices, cafes, and bathrooms. The architecture showcases local bamboo, sustainably grown and utilized in innovative, experimental ways that explore its potential as a building material. The campus forms a holistic green community with a strong educational mission, aiming to inspire students to become more curious, engaged, and passionate about the environment and sustainability.