Architects: The Chinese University of Hong Kong School of Architecture
Photographs: Michael LAW, Ramon Van Der Heijden, Kevin Ng
Bamboo Construction: Sun Hip Scaffolding Eng. Co.Ltd
Main Contractor: W.M. Construction Ltd.
Principal Investigator: Kristof CROLLA
Executive Director: Christopher TO
Publicity: Yan IP
Technical Services: Margaret KAM
Co-Investigator: Adam FINGRUT
Research Assistants: IP Tsz Man Vincent, LAU Kin Keung Jason
Authorized Person: Martin TAM
Structural Engineer: George CHUNG
Project Client: Zero Carbon Building of the Construction Industry Council
Structural Engineering: Goman HO, Alfred FONG
Bamboo Consultant: Vinc MATH
Project Construction Period: 3.5 months
Region: Hong Kong
The ZCB Bamboo Pavilion, an event space designed by the Chinese University of Hong Kong School of Architecture in Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, highlights an innovative approach to sustainable design. Completed in 2015, the pavilion, part of the Construction Industry Council’s Zero Carbon Building initiative, demonstrates how traditional Cantonese bamboo scaffolding can be revitalized through modern computational design tools. The lightweight grid shell structure spans 37 meters rises 12.3 meters high and is made from 475 bamboo poles bent and hand-tied onsite. By integrating natural bamboo with digital form-finding technologies, the project promotes using renewable materials in architecture, encouraging low-carbon building methods. This pavilion is a public venue for events and performances, supporting sustainable development while preserving cultural craftsmanship.
The ZCB Bamboo Pavilion, constructed for the Construction Industry Council’s Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) in Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, during the summer of 2015, serves as a public event space. The structure is a four-story, long-span bamboo grid shell with bending-active properties, covering a footprint of roughly 350 m² and accommodating up to 200 people.
The structure is made from 475 large bamboo poles that were bent onsite to form its shape and hand-tied with metal wire, following techniques rooted in traditional Cantonese bamboo scaffolding craftsmanship. The pavilion’s form features a large diagrid shell, folding into three hollow columns, which rest on circular concrete footings. A custom-made white tensile fabric covers the structure, illuminated from within the three legs.
The project resulted from the collaborative efforts of the Construction Industry Council (CIC), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), and various contractors. A research team, led by Prof. Kristof Crolla at CUHK’s School of Architecture, designed the pavilion. Their research explored how computational design tools could be integrated into traditional construction methods to create more innovative and engaging architectural outcomes. The ZCB Bamboo Pavilion exemplifies this approach, demonstrating how the endangered craft of bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong can be enhanced through digital form-finding and real-time physics simulation tools.
The project’s design originated from an architecture student internship at the CUHK School of Architecture. The research team, working with structural engineers and bamboo consultants, further refined the design. They utilized digital physics simulation engines, physical model-making, and large-scale prototyping to develop the pavilion’s final form.
Bamboo is an abundant, eco-friendly material that grows rapidly across the Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Americas. As a renewable resource, it absorbs CO2 and releases oxygen, making it both strong and lightweight, as well as easy to process and transport. In Hong Kong, bamboo is typically used in temporary theatres, scaffolding, and festival structures. Globally, it often substitutes wood or steel, rather than being utilized for its inherent bending properties and strength. The ZCB Bamboo Pavilion, however, offers an alternative architectural application that fully harnesses these unique characteristics.
The pavilion’s geometry is highly complex, as bamboo exhibits varied geometric, dimensional, and performative properties. Furthermore, the scaffolding industry relies on intuitive construction methods rather than conventional architectural drawings. This created challenges for the architects in maintaining design control. To address these issues, new methods were developed that combined precise digital design systems with the unpredictable nature of bamboo, allowing for more effective management of these inconsistencies.
The ZCB Bamboo Pavilion promotes ecological and innovative architectural design to both the public and the design community. It serves as a venue for exhibitions, performances, and events that advocate for low-carbon living, sustainable construction, and development. By highlighting lightweight building methods for large-span structures, the project aims to advance traditional Cantonese craftsmanship into the 21st century.
| ZCB Bamboo Pavilion | Stats |
|---|---|
| Pavilion | – Function: Event Space |
| – Capacity: 200 People | |
| – Span: 37 m | |
| – Height: 12.3 m (5.65 m arch height) | |
| – Weight: 6,800 kg (107,800 kg total) | |
| Bamboo | – Poles: 475 |
| – Length: 2956 m | |
| – Diameter: 12-15 cm (base), 8-12 cm (top) | |
| – Pole Length: 7.2 m | |
| – Weight: 6,350 kg dry (7,100 kg wet) | |
| – Species: Phyllostachys edulis | |
| – Age: 3-5 years | |
| Ties | – Material: Galvanized wire |
| – Intersection Points: 1107 | |
| – Overlaps: 365 (3 ties/overlap) | |
| – Total Ties: 3321 | |
| Fabric | – Area: 910 m² |
| – Triangles: 1278 | |
| – Weight: 450 kg | |
| Concrete Footing | – Quantity: 3 |
| – Diameter: 5.4 m | |
| – Height: 0.5 m | |
| – Weight: 101 tonnes |
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: 8 Sheung Yuet Road, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong (SAR)
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
