OPEN CALL
For Design Proposals
A collaboration between Bamboo U and the Base Bahay Foundation.
The Bamboo Housing Challenge
Much of today's housing meets budgets but fails people and the planet. We MUST design homes that are accessible, sustainable, and truly livable.
Join us to reimagine the future of bamboo housing for all.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 15th March
Winning proposal will be built at full-scale in October 2026.
With support from The Hilti Foundation
... invite architects, designers, engineers, and creative thinkers worldwide to develop a 10,000 USD house as a prototype to scale across the tropical regions of the world.
Most designers spend years creating ideas that never leave the page. This is different.
Selected designers will see their work move from concept to construction, supported by world-class experts and build it during an immersive 11-day design-and-build course in Bali.
YOUR GOAL:
To imagine, design, and build a dignified, functional, and resilient prototype rooted in the social and environmental needs of real communities.
THE CONTEST
We challenge you to optimize bamboo’s strength, flexibility, and beauty to
design a home in Bali, Indonesia.
The home must be buildable for under $10,000 USD and within 80 sqm.
Beyond meeting these targets, your task is to design a dignified home, that is practical and responds to the local context.
It must perform structurally and environmentally while instilling pride and belonging. You must bridge innovation and tradition, aesthetics and function, budget and vision.
"But... What if I've never designed with bamboo before?"
This competition values your ideas and curiosity over technical skill.
ALL contest registrants receive FULL ACCESS to Bamboo U's online course content, valued at $1,097 USD.
Additionally, Base Bahay will be running a series of workshops to guide in the design of bamboo social housing.
Dive into the fundamentals of bamboo, while developing your concept.
Note: Access to the course content will conclude after the submission deadline on 17th April 2026.
Who is the home for?
The home is for a local resident to live in.
This is not a temporary structure. It will become someone’s home, rooted in its community.
Your design will be lived in, cared for, and carried forward.
Your design will serve as an exemplar and be used to tackle the largest architectural problem of our time.
FIRST PLACE - UNIQUE PRIZE
Your winning design will be built at full scale in Bali during Bamboo U’s
11-Day Course in October 2026.
This includes flights, accommodation, and a free 11-Day Bamboo Build and Design course (valued at $2,775 USD) for one team representative during October 2026.
Up to two additional team members may join the October 2026 11-Day Bamboo Build and Design course for free but must cover their own travel to and from Bali.
Runner-Up (Second Place)
One representative from the Runner-Up team will receive a round-trip ticket to Manila, Philippines, for an exclusive visit to the BASE Innovation Center (BIC).
The BIC is where the Base Bahay Foundation conducts research and development of innovative bamboo housing solutions to build resilient communities.
Honorary Mention
The Jury may agree to mention as many projects as it deems worthy of such a distinction.
All Proposals
All full proposals will be shared in a virtual gallery, which will be accessible through the Bamboo U Research Vault once the selection process is complete
Published by Illustrarch
The winning project will also be featured on Illustrarch, one of the world’s leading platforms for innovative architectural work.
POST-CONTEST PUBLICATION
Following the contest, Bamboo U and Base Bahay will curate and publish a printed and digital book that showcases the winning design and other outstanding entries (honorary mentions).
This publication will inspire the broader community of architects, builders, and decision-makers on the potential of bamboo for affordable housing.
The book will:
- Feature project drawings, visuals, and
descriptive texts
- Include insights from the jury
- Credit all selected authors prominently
THE JURY
Anna Heringer
Architect,
UNESCO Chair - Earthen Architecture
Anna Heringer is an Austrian architect and activist.
Her work focuses on building community resilience, supporting local economies, and creating beautiful, sustainable structures.
She has received several awards for her works, including the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and the OBEL Award.
Simón Vélez
Founder of Simón Vélez Architects
Simón Vélez is a prize-winning Colombian architect renowned for pioneering the use of Guadua bamboo in contemporary architecture.
With projects in over 11 countries, his work has transformed bamboo from a vernacular resource into a globally respected, sustainable building material.
Luis Felipe Lopez
Engineer,
General Manager at Base Bahay Foundation
Originally from Colombia, Luis Felipe is a leading bamboo engineer who developed the Colombian bamboo building code with the Colombian Association of Seismic Engineering (AIS).
For more than a decade, Luis has been working with the Base Bahay Foundation, in Manila, Philippines. He is currently the General Manager.
Orin Hardy
Director and Co-Founder
at Bamboo U
Orin co-founded Bamboo U to empower people to learn about bamboo design and construction. He also heads the Bamboo Pure construction company and set up the ChopValue Bali branch.
Orin is dedicated to inspiring and empowering people to build a better future by choosing bamboo as an alternative to conventional construction materials.
Elora Hardy
Founder & Creative Director,
IBUKU Studio
Elora is the founder and creative director at IBUKU. She designs world-class bamboo homes and structures that are changing the way we thing about buildings.
She spoke at TED Global about IBUKU's innovations in bamboo building and design.
Luis Echeverría
Architect,
General Manager at Bamboo U
Luis is a Mexican architect with over a decade of expertise in bamboo construction. He is passionate about education and sustainability, integrated into modern aesthetics with eco-building practices.
Currently, Luis is the General Manager at Bamboo U.
REGISTRATION
Architects, engineers, designers, urban planners, artists, sociologists, students and/or the like,
from all over the world, individually or as a team, are invited to participate.
Team size is limited to up to three individuals.
Each contestant or team may submit only one concept proposal.
In no case can the member of one team also be part of another.
To register, you must pay a single registration fee.
The fee will vary depending on the date of registration.
Registration
$280
From February 9th till March 15th, 2026
Registration Ends In ...
For $280, you’re not paying to just submit an idea.
You’re paying for access to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to design and
build a home that exists because you imagined it.
Got Questions? Need help registering? Want a student discount? Send us an email!
Reach out to us at [email protected]
Note:
In the payment portal, please select a quantity of 1, as teams can only submit one proposal for review.
If you are experiencing any issues with PayPal, please contact us so we can provide alternative payment options.
Limited need-based discounts are available.
If you require financial support to participate, please email [email protected] with a brief explanation of your circumstances.
RECEIVING THE BRIEF
Once the payment has been made and credited, each participant will receive an email with a confirmation and contestant CODE.
You will also receive the complementary information provided for the development of the proposal.
If your concept is selected, you will be supported by bamboo experts at the top of their field to further develop and prepare your design for construction.
IMPORTANT DATES
REGISTRATION PERIOD
January - March 2026
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
17th April 2026
WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT
15th May 2026
PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT
June - August 2026
CONSTRUCTION
23rd October -
3rd November 2026
Frequent Asked Question (FAQ)
Can someone without an architecture, design, or construction background join?
Yes! Participants from all professional backgrounds are welcome to register, so long as they are over 18 years of age.
We also will provide all applicants with access to our ALL online course content FOR FREE upon registration of the course.
How many people can be part of a team?
Design teams must have a minimum of 1 person and a maximum of 3 people. If you are part of one team already, you may not join another.
Why is there a registration fee?
The registration fees will be used to support contest operations, including funding the construction of the winning design and development of the project concept.
How will the concept and winning proposal be developed?
In April, all concepts will be submitted to the jury for review.
The winning project will be developed alongside the experts from the Base Bahay and Bamboo U teams following its selection.
Finally, the construction phase will take place in-person in Bali, as part of an 11-Day Build and Design Course in October 2026. The cost of the build, accommodation, and course fees will be covered for the winning team.
What do you need to submit for the competition?
Each team or individual must submit one digital image (poster) that clearly communicates the proposal.
This is concept proposal and therefore can include:
- Drawings such as floor plans and cross-sections
- Visual representations (renderings)
- Project description
For more details, please register for the competition. The participant handbook will then be sent to you via email with extensive details of the site and design considerations.
What are the criteria for the winning proposal?
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
1. Bamboo as the Main Material
2. Affordability and Programming
3. Durability and Climate Resilience
4. Scalability and Modularity
5. Cultural Relevance and Community Involvement
Are there discounts available for the registration?
Yes, if you're a student, you can register for 50% off the regular rate. Instead of paying $280 USD, you'll pay $140 USD for your team's registration!
Email us at [email protected] with an image of your valid student ID and we'll send you a special coupon accordingly.
Who can we reach out to for support?
Reach out to the Bamboo U team by sending us an email at [email protected]. We're happy to answer any questions you have and provide support for registration.
NEED HELP?
If you want to know more about the contest or require further assistance from our
team, do not hesitate to reach us through the helpdesk.
Helpdesk Hours:
Monday - Friday 09.00 - 16.00 (GMT+8)
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