In a world where sustainability is no longer optional but essential, bamboo continues to stand as one of the most versatile and regenerative building materials. At Strawberry Fields Festival 2024, we had the unique opportunity to push the boundaries of bamboo’s potential—reimagining aged materials into a striking architectural centerpiece for the main stage.

The Story of Aged Bamboo

Conventionally, younger bamboo is favoured for its flexibility and strength, but what happens to older bamboo past its prime? Rather than discarding 8+ year-old poles, we saw an opportunity: to transform seasoned bamboo into a dynamic, textural facade that would embody both natural beauty and structural ingenuity.

A Hyperboloid Vision

The design centered around hyperboloid grid shell structures—a geometrically complex yet highly efficient form that maximises strength while minimising material use. These intricate frameworks provided a lightweight but sturdy foundation, demonstrating how bamboo’s natural resilience allows for ambitious architectural expression.

To enhance the visual depth, we dressed the grid shells with hand-split bamboo and repurposed bamboo screening, layering textures in a way that mimicked the aged and weathered skin of a palm tree or pineapple. The result was both organic and futuristic—an evolving surface that played with light, shadow, and movement, shifting in tone as the festival atmosphere changed from day to night.

Upcycling in the Festival Landscape

Festivals are temporary by nature, yet their environmental impact can be lasting. By incorporating reclaimed materials into our design, we not only reduced waste but also demonstrated that upcycled bamboo can be just as effective—if not more striking—than freshly harvested alternatives. The project serves as a case study in how bamboo structures can embrace circular design principles, extending the lifecycle of materials while delivering an immersive aesthetic experience.

Looking Forward

This project reaffirms the boundless possibilities of bamboo when approached with creativity and sustainability in mind. Could this method be applied to urban environments, public pavilions, or even permanent structures? The success of this experiment at Strawberry Fields opens new doors for aged bamboo—proving that, much like nature itself, materials can be reborn in unexpected and beautiful ways.