The 16-week experimental studio “Lightweight Bamboo Structures: From Concept to Site” was conceived to integrate bamboo construction into architectural and civil engineering education by engaging students in a complete design–test–build process. Through the development of a full-scale pavilion, the studio aimed to immerse future professionals in the material’s structural challenges, positioning bamboo as a teachable structural system within the university setting.
In early planning discussions, faculty agreed that the studio would also explore the material’s potential role in composite or hybrid systems. One of the key challenges in bamboo construction is how to resolve the roofing system, particularly how to interface a bio-based, variable-dimensional material with components that typically rely on industrialized precision.
It was then decided that the course syllabus would take direct inspiration from Eladio Dieste’s vaults, particularly the Silo de Young (CADYL), built in 1978 in Uruguay. Its sinuous thin shell became a guiding reference for the pavilion’s design. While such constructions traditionally rely on timber-intensive formwork, the studio researched how other bio-based materials could support the creation of these complex geometries.
Designed as a modular and parametric system, the pavilion was conceived to serve multiple roles. It could remain in place as a permanent structure or be disassembled and reused across different builds. In cases where bamboo formwork becomes permanent, it offers added environmental value by functioning as a carbon sink.
A key pedagogical priority throughout the semester was reinforcing the importance of normative compliance. Students were introduced to national bamboo standards, the ABNT NBR 16828 series, and all structural testing was conducted in the university’s laboratories. These tests supported the engineering calculations and were also essential for obtaining the necessary approvals.
The final pavilion design is composed of two types of arches, Type A and Type B, each with distinct dimensions. Each arch is built from six vertically assembled bamboo strips. The core consists of four strips that receive diagonal bamboo dowels along their length to maintain the intended curvature. Two additional strips, placed at the top and bottom, serve as finishing layers, concealing the drill holes.
The result appears effortless. It is an arch that seems to hold its shape naturally. Behind this simplicity, however, was a complex process of prototyping, testing, and detailing that required active student participation. Many of the key decisions were made on-site, reinforcing the value of full-scale construction as a space for learning through doing.
The structure was assembled in the Bosque of Mackenzie Presbyterian University, a historic garden protected by heritage regulations that prohibit permanent foundations. Students explored alternative footing solutions that would respect these constraints. Concrete test cylinders were used as a reversible strategy that allowed the arches to be safely supported without excavation.
Once prefabrication was complete, the pavilion was assembled on site in a single day. The result is a lightweight bamboo structure that embodies technical precision, built through a transferable methodology that can be taught, adapted, and applied both within and beyond the academic setting.
Institutional Support: Mackenzie Presbyterian University
Lead Faculty: Brianna C. Bussinger, Sasquia H. Obata
Contributing Faculty: Alfonso Pappalardo Jr., Fabiola R. Beltrame, Magda A.S. Duro
Guest Faculty: Camila C. Marques
Laboratory Technicians: Julio Eiji Azuma Sueda, Paulo Felisberto Barbosa da Costa, Roger dos Santos Costa, Ruben Matheus Crivelari, Thiago Oliveira Leite
Administrative Support: Ariella Cristine Cabezas Piffer
Bamboo Suppliers: Alexandre Nogucho and Rafael Yutha (Shiguenao Bambu), Ricardo Molnar (Molbamboo)
Student Team: Fernando Gama Chuva, Fernanda Marin Vieira, Julia Ferreira Salzano, Julia Savian Serai, Lucca Jhoran Barroso Guedes, Mariana Marques de França, Maximiliano Fernandes Silva, Nara Corrêa Marques, Pedro Valim Hespanha Gonçalves, Pietra Lima Silveira Augusto Campos da Silva, Ricardo Ryuiti Kubo Amino, Samuel Papellas Szabo dos Santos, Stephanie Pessoa da Mota, Thiago Yuzo Notoya Abe, Veridiana Chiaratti Ferreira Ribeiro, Vitória Machado Storto
