What was the impetus behind starting Tenten?

It was a yearning to do my own thing and be fully responsible for it. It was a search for independence and self-reliance leading to the beginnings of building up a network of collaborators to embark on a journey with. Today, Tenten works predominantly with bamboo and often with non-profits and social enterprise collaborators.

What projects has Tenten completed?

To date, we have designed and completed more than 20 bamboo buildings in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. These range from restaurants and houses to resort buildings. We often engage with non-profits and foundations, but we also work with some developers/entrepreneurs and private clients.

Don't miss: Home Tour: Inside Casa Esperanza, the luxuriously green house of architect Conrad Onglao and singer Zsa Zsa Padilla

Tell us about moving Tenten to be an agile remote-working group in the last five years.

It was a special time of bamboo learning in Bali. The period positively changed my life trajectory. I reduced my possessions and baggage, and now make more effort to live lighter. When I left Ibuku, I sought out like-minded individuals to collaborate with. Tenten was the entity used to deliver projects onwards.

I did not want to set up a permanent office and liked working remotely. Therefore, Tenten is a network of people from various regions and time zones with a common interest in bamboo and working together remotely, We only meet physically when necessary.

Read more: 5 Gorgeous Malaysian Homes Built in Harmony with the Environment

How about working during the pandemic?

The pandemic caused a huge shift but it was fruitful for me. I moved back to Melbourne from Bali and was entrenched in the harsh Covid lockdowns. During the six lockdowns, our projects still continued but at a glacial pace—the positive outcome of 12 months of lockdown was the extra time I had on my hands.

I started Better Bamboo Buildings as a platform for bamboo insights and initiatives. This platform now has a blog with more than 30 bamboo articles. Under Design Better Bamboo Buildings, we run bamboo design workshops and online courses.

Another outcome of the pandemic was a book, Bamboo Ark. Bamboo Ark 1 was published in August 2022 and showcases 30 exemplary bamboo projects with useful construction information and analysis of their structure and form. It is a hybrid coffee table/reference book that I hope will eventually be used in many professional and educational establishments in the years to come.

Where is the bamboo sourced? Do you work with local makers and farmers?

Our work tends to centre around Asia Pacific, with Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia being our local project and bamboo development hubs. However, to move bamboo into mainstream architecture and construction, the whole bamboo infrastructure has to co-relate and gel together well.

Everything from planting the bamboo to harvesting, treatment, designing, building, and maintenance has to interlink and act symbiotically. Local farmers and artisans are a fundamental link in this chain. In many countries, we have to teach, rebuild skills, and provide opportunities in these sectors as urban growth has taken many away from these skills and sectors. Therefore, we prioritise using local bamboo for our projects and rarely ship bamboo too far to build.

See also: Home tour: A modern net zero energy home in Kuala Lumpur

What are the unique design outcomes only achievable with bamboo?

The first thing that comes to mind is the sinuous building forms that bamboo can produce. A common experience with showing visitors or clients bamboo buildings is that we often get a big ‘wow’, followed by silence and awe as they absorb it all in, then many more ‘wows’ as they move through the building.

As a full natural culm or pole, bamboo is a biomaterial that provides a ready structural component. It differentiates itself from timber or steel in that it is more flexible and workable as a natural and organic material. It does not require too much energy or carbon to prepare for construction.

I am fortunate to have designed, constructed and lived in my own bamboo house and I can confidently say from that first-hand experience, that a bamboo building has a unique warmth and presence. I do feel the closeness to nature as I get to touch and feel the natural and organic bamboo without the synthetic and manufactured feeling one sometimes gets in conventional buildings.

Don't miss: 5 eco-conscious furniture brands to know

What projects are you working on now?

Our team recently won a competition organised by Epic Communities Malaysia for an Orang Asli bamboo house, and we are developing the prototype for that with them and Sead Build.

We have bamboo projects (a gym, a den and a vast open warehouse) all in design development in the Philippines and also projects (two restaurants, one residence) in Indonesia.

What drives your work? 

As a mature person in re-firing (and not retiring) mode, I take care to choose suitable opportunities to interact, create and contribute. Bamboo plays a big part, and it still occupies me substantially. The desire to keep growing, learning and developing is even more crucial for this stage in my life.

I am inspired by open, genuine and honest people that align their walk with their talk—not many of them are around these days! So I will usually push hard for the underdog and the underprivileged.

What are your hopes for the future?

I want to be able to keep sharp and healthy, strengthen my family and friend circles, and age gracefully. To build and play a meaningful part in this movement to make bamboo a part of mainstream architecture. As surely as the sun rises in the morning, bamboo will also rise.

NOW READ

Home Tour: An Eco-Friendly Home in Kuala Lumpur Celebrating the Family’s Active Lifestyle

Kyoto by Design: 5 inspiring venues to visit for decor inspiration

Home Tour: A Minimalist House Built With Eco-Conscious Materials