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Published June 10, 2025 9:59am
Base Bahay Foundation, Inc., a global leader in bamboo-based research and technology, in partnership with the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP), hosted the Bamboost IV forum, “Breaking Barriers: Bamboo in Building Sustainable and Resilient Structures” last week.
The event, held at Verdure, Henry Sy Sr. Hall, De La Salle University on Friday, brought together a diverse group of experts and enthusiasts to explore the transformative potential of bamboo in the construction industry.
The annual Bamboost series is part of Base’s Bamboo Academy Program, a continuing education program for construction professionals that equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary to design, construct, and maintain safe, sustainable, and resilient bamboo structures.
The forum, hosted by Base President and Hilti Foundation Asia Liaison Maricen Jalandoni, was a platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange in creating environmentally friendly and structurally sound buildings and advancing the adoption of bamboo into the National Structural Code of the Philippines. Attendees included architects, civil engineers, researchers, developers, bamboo advocates, local government units, national government agencies, civil society organizations, and treatment facility partners. They had the opportunity to engage with experts, learn about cutting-edge research, and network with peers who share a passion for sustainable development.
Discussions began with messages from Aristotle Ubando, Ph.d., Associate Dean for Research and Advanced Studies at the Gokongwei College of Engineering at De La Salle University; and Tim Furst, Deputy Head of Mission, the Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines.
The morning session focused on the sharing of insights from the Base Innovation Center Director Dr. Nischal Pradhan; Dr. Lessandro Garciano, President of the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP) and Professor of the Department of Civil Engineering - De La Salle University; Liza Hora, Executive Director of the Mahintana Foundation; and Dominika Malkowska, research associate specialized in timber and bamboo structural engineering from the University of Bristol.
In the afternoon, three experts shared best practices in bamboo design and construction: Orin Hardy, Co-Founder, Bamboo U in Bali; Mauricio Cardenas Laverde, bamboo architecture pioneer from Italy and leader in sustainable design from Studio Cardenas in Italy; and Yan Xiao, Ph.d., global leader in sustainable engineering, a Program Director for Energy, Environment, and Infrastructure Sciences and professor at Zhejiang University.
"Bamboost IV is crucial for us each year because it gathers experts and enthusiasts, allowing us to collectively explore and unlock the way forward for bamboo in our construction industry. This platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and networking is particularly vital now as we work towards creating environmentally friendly and structurally sound buildings and advancing the adoption of bamboo into the National Structural Code of the Philippines,” said Base General Manager Luis Felipe Lopez.
A highlight of the 4th annual Bamboost Forum was the unveiling of the Philippine Guidelines on Bamboo Design and Construction, a collaboration between ASEP and Base, that is poised to play a key role in standardizing the use of bamboo in construction, facilitating its broader adoption across the nation.
Dr. Lessandro Garciano, President of ASEP, emphasized that the ongoing development and eventual implementation of comprehensive guidelines for bamboo design and construction are important to ensuring safety and promoting innovation in our industry.
Base Bahay Foundation, an initiative of the Liechtenstein-based Hilti Foundation, has successfully built over 2,000 homes using its proprietary Cement-Bamboo Frame Technology (CBFT), sheltering more than 10,000 individuals globally.
It is a non-profit organization that provides alternative building technologies to enable a network of partners to build quality homes that are comfortable, affordable, disaster-resilient, ecologically friendly, and with social impact.
Base develops technologies using locally grown and renewable materials to create housing envelopes and designs suited to the needs of local communities. It also focuses on affordable housing solutions geared toward social development and impact. —Nika Roque/JCB, GMA Integrated News
