Bamboo Urban Kits

Studio project at TU Wien, led by Daniell Schüss

During the second semester of my master’s studies, I studied abroad at TU Wien. The programme offered a wide range of elective courses, and I explored subjects such as philosophy, coding and parametric design. For the main design studio, I chose “Designing with Bamboo,” led by Daniell Schüss. Initially, I was hesitant to take on this course. My previous projects were more focused on urban design and social strategies, and I had rarely approached architecture through the lens of material craft. However, I had always been fascinated by bamboo and saw this as an opportunity to explore it in depth.

The design focused primarily on technical experimentation. I developed a series of custom connection joints that made use of the hollow interior of the bamboo poles as their structural anchor. The idea was to preserve the natural rawness of the bamboo without having to alter or recycle it through heavy processing. Each joint consisted of two parts: an aluminium base with outward extensions, and flexible rubber end pieces that adapt to the internal diameter of each bamboo element. This ensured full surface contact between connector and bamboo, making the assembly both strong and adaptable.

Through further testing, I discovered that only a few variations of these joints were needed to create a wide range of large-scale spatial structures. This led to a broader vision in which cities could invest in modular bamboo kits that allow residents to build adaptable structures in public space. These kits could be used for temporary venues such as open-air lecture halls, concert spaces, children’s playgrounds or shaded gathering areas.

This project helped me bridge the gap between material experimentation and urban imagination, showing how simple components and smart detailing can lead to complex, participatory forms of architecture.