on bamboo

UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, LAE, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Over five days, a group of international artists, architects and designers worked closely with the local students to produce ten structures on the grounds of the Unitech campus. The aim of the event was to explore the possibilities of bamboo's architectonic, artistic and structural qualities. Bamboo is native to PNG and is important in vernacular architecture. With this extensive tradition as a platform, the idea of the workshop was to explore new and innovative uses for the material. The week took the form of an ongoing building workshop where the final built result was regarded as a ‘three dimensional conference paper'.

The Melanesian students' vast experience and knowledge of bamboo and their connection with traditional and tribal customs were combined with the design expertise brought in by international studio leaders to provide a rich exchange of ideas. The completed structures not only challenged ideas of bamboos use and application in the building process but more importantly exposed the potentials that abound when traditional culture meets a modern sensibility to create a positive outcome.