3 Bamboo House Designs For The Modern Filipino Homeowner

Sustainability is becoming a priority for many homeowners here in the Philippines. Due to the growing demand for eco-friendly solutions, sustainable construction materials such as bamboo are gaining popularity in the local industry. Among these materials, bamboo stands out not only for its affordability and abundance but also for its deep connection to Filipino culture. 

Traditional homes like the ‘bahay kubo’ have long utilized bamboo, which is now making a modern comeback in local architecture. In this article, we will explore three unique bamboo house designs by renowned Filipino architects. Each design offers a fresh perspective on how bamboo can blend tradition and modernity. 

3 Bamboo House Designs For The Modern Filipino Homeowner

Design #1: Three-Clustered Bamboo Tree House & a Bamboo Home by Ar. Rosario Encarnacion-Tan 

Image from Heart of the Philippines/BBC, Facebook Antigong Kahoy by Porca

The Three-Clustered Bamboo Tree House is a simple yet innovative structure that embraces Filipino architectural traditions. Ar. Rosario Encarnacion-Tan designed and constructed this bamboo house with typhoon resilience in mind. Its open structure allows strong winds to pass through, reducing the risk of damage during extreme weather. 

Image from Heart of the Philippines/BBC 

In another one of Ar. Encarnacion-Tan’s bamboo house projects, her thoughtful design minimizes resistance, which in turn reduces the likelihood of total destruction in a storm. Replacing damaged bamboo parts is a straightforward and cost-effective repair if necessary. This design is a modern interpretation of age-old practices and serves as an affordable option for Filipino families looking for both beauty and practicality in their homes.

Design #2: CUBO by Earl Patrick Forlales (Co-founder and CEO of Cubo Modular)

Image from EARL FORLALES/TGR (Tokyo Grand Renovations Inc.)

Inspired by the traditional bahay kubo, Earl Patrick Forlales designed CUBO, a modular and eco-friendly bamboo house built for urban living. The pre-fabrication process enables assembly in just a week, and installation in as little as four hours. This bamboo house design has won the prestigious grand prize for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Cities for Our Future contest.

Images from EARL FORLALES/TGR (Tokyo Grand Renovations Inc.)

CUBO’s innovative design tackles common issues in the Philippines, like flooding and heavy rainfall. It features a stilted base to stay above floodwaters and a slanted roof to collect rainwater. Constructed from laminated bamboo, CUBO shows how modern bamboo can be fast, sustainable, and perfect for urban areas. Ar. Forlales ensures that the bamboo house remains affordable, making it a great option for Filipino families that are looking for cost-effective housing.

Design #3: MLR Polo Pavilion by Christian Salandanan and Kath Sapungay of Sangay Architects

Image from Vogue/KANTO (Creative Corners)

A grand example of bamboo architecture is the MLR Polo Pavilion, designed by Sangay Architects for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Batangas. Built to host VVIPs (including the King of Brunei and the Sultan of Malaysia), this pavilion highlights both the elegance and structural integrity of bamboo.

Images from SA (Sangay Architecture), BAMBUSA Construction Corp., MG (Marc Go) Photography

The architects, Ar. Christian Salandanan and Ar. Kath Sapungay, collaborated with Indonesian craftsmen to create a 12-meter-tall ceiling with intricate bamboo patterns that reflect Filipino craftsmanship. The use of locally sourced bamboo and the application of modern construction techniques ensured that the structure was not only beautiful but also durable, making it capable of withstanding typhoons. The pavilion showcases bamboo’s potential for luxury structures while maintaining its deep connection to traditional Filipino building methods.

Which Design Do You Like Best?

Bamboo house designs are a testament to the versatility and sustainability of this remarkable, natural material. Whether it takes the form of Ar. Rosario Encarnacion-Tan’s traditional and charming bamboo home, the modular and convenient design of Earl Forlales’ CUBO, or the grand pavilion of Sangay Architects, bamboo offers endless possibilities for modern Filipino homeowners. 

How about you, Ka-Builder? Would you consider building your own bamboo house?

References

BBC. (2018, May 17). The bamboo houses of the Philippines. BBC. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20180517-the-bamboo-houses-of-the-philippines

Carpio, A. (2022, August 27). Tomorrow’s Timber: The Future of Bamboo Architecture. Vogue Philippines. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://vogue.ph/lifestyle/travel/bamboo-architecture-in-the-philippines/

Institute of Environmental Science for Social Change. (n.d.). Pushing up bamboo. Institute of Environmental Science for Social Change. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://essc.org.ph/content/archives/7586

Kanto – Creative Corners. (2021, September 4). Next Generation Architects. Kanto – Creative Corners. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://kanto.ph/voices/anthology-shelter-dialogue-day-1/

Real Living Team. (n.d.). Meet A Bamboo Architect And A Man Who Makes Chairs Out of Trash. Real Living. https://www.realliving.com.ph/lifestyle/meet-a-bamboo-architect-a-pioneering-designer-and-a-man-who-makes-chairs-out-of-trash-a00043-20170913

Tatler. (n.d.). Earl Patrick Forlales: For using bamboo to make affordable, green homes. Tatler. https://www.tatlerasia.com/people/earl-patrick-forlales

Tokyo Grand Renovation. (2018, November 27). Low Cost Bamboo House Design By Filipino Wins International Top Prize. Tokyo Grand Renovation. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://tgr.com.ph/blogs/low-cost-bamboo-house-design-by-filipino-wins-international-top-prize