Sustainability Report

BaleBio achieves a verifiably carbon-negative footprint, demonstrating the potential of bio-based materials to outcompete conventional construction. 

• A comprehensive value chain analysis was used to assess the circular potential and scalability of each material specified for BaleBio. 
• A rigorous life cycle assessment found the pavilion to be carbon-negative from Cradle to Construction (Stage A). Compared with a conventional baseline, the project achieves a 110 percent reduction in embodied carbon, avoiding more than 53 tonnes of CO2 emissions (equivalent to planting over 2,400 trees) while also storing carbon through its nature-based materials. Its reported carbon outcome is -5,907 kgCO2e, compared with an estimated conventional baseline of around 59,722 kgCO2e. 
• The result stems from both material choice and supply-chain design: Structural laminate bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper), fabricated locally by Indobamboo, stores biogenic carbon and replaces emission-intensive materials such as steel or concrete. By sourcing, processing, and assembling all bamboo domestically within Indonesia, the project significantly reduced transport-related emissions and reinforced regional circular economies.
• Complementary materials, including reclaimed volcanic rock, recycled terracotta roof tiles, and earth-lime plaster finishes, add thermal mass and further lower the embodied footprint by avoiding extraction and manufacturing impacts. 
• Prefabrication and dry assembly also minimised offcuts and on-site waste, reinforcing the project’s cradle-to-construction carbon-negative performance.

Operational emissions strategies 

• As a naturally ventilated, open-air structure requiring no mechanical systems, BaleBio operates with negligible ongoing energy demand. Its barrel-vaulted roof of slender bamboo rafters and pelupuh cladding creates deep shading, while cross-ventilation through the open floorplate maintains thermal comfort. 
• The building functions entirely through passive design strategies, eliminating the need for air conditioning or artificial lighting during daytime use. The light-coloured roof and breathable bamboo surfaces help reduce heat gain and maintain comfortable interior temperatures, while locally sourced stone and lime plaster regulate humidity and provide thermal mass. These passive principles align with traditional Balinese typologies, ensuring the pavilion performs effectively in the island’s humid tropical climate.