schools built with bamboo and rope

Schools built with bamboo and rope

The strength, flexiblity and low carbon footprint of bamboo has made it a popular building material in Southeast Asia and beyond.

Chiangmai Life architects and contractors designed a segmented and bumpy bamboo roof model forming lotus petals at a school in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The Bamboo Training Center for the Panyaden International School educates elementary school-aged children by using Buddhist principles.

Nestled among rice paddies, a 15-minute drive from the northern city center of Thailand, most school buildings are built from earth and bamboo.

In keeping with the school's "green" ethos, Chiangmai Life designed a sports hall without carbon and uses only bamboo.

The 17-meter-tall bamboo scrolls surround the 782-square-meter hall, including basketball, volleyball, badminton and futsal fields.

The elaborate bamboo structures are left open all over the inside and are used to create a curved opening around the edge of the aisle. However, the three-layer roof is covered externally with shingles The sweeping roof line is meant to remind the lotus flower bud, the symbol of purity in Buddhism.

"The design is based on a lotus flower depicting Panyaden International School in Thailand," the studio said.

Chiangmai Life built a hall that was supposed to be large enough to accommodate the projected capacity of 300 students.

Handycrafts

However, this hall is kept connected to the bamboo and ground buildings of the school and offers natural hilly sights.

"The design and materials allow a cool and pleasant climate throughout the year through natural ventilation and insulation," the studio said.

At the same time, the open bamboo structure spoils the eye while exhibiting the work of handicrafts.

The hall also includes a stage for drama production and storage space for sports equipment.

The balconies along the two long sides of the building provide an optimal viewing angle for parents and visitors who watch a match or a show.