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Atma Grove
A morning yoga session under sweeping bamboo arches at sunrise, mountains beyond.
Architecture

Built in bamboo.

A method out of Bali

The IBUKU tradition, brought to Costa Rica.

We work with builders trained in the IBUKU method out of Bali, where this kind of bamboo construction has been refined over the last 15 years. Bamboo U is the same school. Curved roof spans, exposed joinery, lime plaster floors. Most public buildings are open on at least one side.

The drawings

Concept, section, and render — three passes before we build.

  1. A pen-and-ink perspective sketch of a curved, organic bamboo pavilion in tropical landscape with figures for scale.

    01 · Concept

    Pen-and-ink perspective. The first read of the form.

  2. A technical cross-section drawing of the bamboo pavilion showing main arch, tension rods, vertical poles, and bamboo bundle members at scale 1:100.

    02 · Section

    Cross-section A-A. Spans, joints, and tensions.

  3. A loose watercolor rendering of a large bamboo pavilion with woven roof reflecting in a lily pond, palms framing the composition.

    03 · Render

    Watercolor study. Light, water, palms, scale.

Vaulted bamboo cathedral interior with light filtering through the woven roof.
Form
Curved roof spans up to 18 metres

Materials

Mostly local.

Guadua angustifolia bamboo from southern Costa Rica. Hardwoods from sustainable plantations in Guanacaste. Lime, clay, and river stone for floors and walls.

Form

No straight walls.

Curved roof spans up to 18 metres in the main pavilion. None of the public buildings have a square plan. Cabins are simpler. Rectangular footprint, vaulted ceiling.

Air

Open at the top.

Warm air rises out, breeze comes in low. Most rooms don't need fans. None of them need air conditioning. The pavilion has acoustic clay tile to absorb the morning yoga.
A curved bamboo roof rising from the canopy on a misty morning.
Reference: Bamboo U, Bali
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