BaleBio Project: Reinterpreting Traditional Design with Carbon-Negative Architecture Strategies

BaleBio Pavilion in Bali: A Model of Carbon-Negative Architecture

The Cave Urban team designed a bamboo pavilion as part of Bauhaus Earth’s ReBuilt initiative, presenting an innovative model of carbon-negative architecture on the island of Bali. The 84-square-meter structure gracefully stretches over the sands of Mertasari Beach in Denpasar, transforming a former abandoned parking lot into a vibrant social hub and open meeting space, seamlessly balancing environmental innovation with social purpose.

An Alternative Vision in a Traditional Tourist Setting

In an area often dominated by tourism and concrete infrastructure, BaleBio offers a fresh perspective on sustainable architecture: buildings capable of storing carbon rather than releasing it. Inspired by the Bale Banjar, the traditional central hall in Balinese villages, the design reinterprets this open and inclusive layout in a contemporary way that respects environmental sustainability.

Integrating Culture and Sustainability

The pavilion preserves the spirit of communal gathering and social interaction while incorporating environmental conservation principles in an innovative manner. This project serves as a model that combines cultural reinterpretation with modern climate responsiveness, paving the way for future applications of buildings that support both the environment and the community simultaneously.

A Curved Roof Combining Beauty and Function

The pavilion features a barrel-shaped curved roof, rising 8.5 meters above the beach, offering a striking visual experience alongside advanced functional performance. Thin bamboo beams covered with Pelupuh (flattened bamboo) enhance natural ventilation and passive cooling, providing user comfort without the need for high-energy air conditioning systems.

A Sustainable and Efficient Structural Framework

Beneath this organic roof lies a structural framework made of locally sourced Petung bamboo, planed and bound with compressed resin to deliver strength and precision comparable to steel or traditional timber, while avoiding their high carbon footprint. This design demonstrates how natural materials can be innovatively employed to achieve genuine structural sustainability.

Local Materials and a Circular Supply Chain

All components of BaleBio were grown, processed, and assembled within Indonesia, ensuring a local and circular supply chain that reduces transportation emissions. Furthermore, traditional binding techniques seamlessly integrate with precise engineering joinery, while local volcanic rocks, limestone plaster, and recycled clay tiles contribute thermal mass and tactile warmth. Together, these materials create a cohesive system that unites biological, geographical, and reused resources into a single, integrated, and sustainable structure.

Documented Carbon-Negative Performance

A life cycle assessment conducted by Eco Mantra confirmed that BaleBio achieves a carbon-negative impact from design through to completion. The report recorded a 110% reduction in embodied carbon compared to conventional construction, with the pavilion offsetting over 53 tons of CO₂ emissions, equivalent to planting more than 2,400 trees. Measurably, the carbon balance reaches –5,907 kilograms of CO₂ equivalent, against a baseline of approximately 60,000 kilograms, providing a tangible indicator of the shift from symbolic design to practical evidence of sustainability.

Enhancing Community Engagement and Local Culture

Since its completion, BaleBio has become a gathering space for residents, students, and travelers, revitalizing community engagement through design. The project’s implementation involved collaboration with Warmadewa University, local artisans, and community organizations, ensuring its continued connection to authentic Balinese culture while enabling the application of global circular building standards.

International Recognition for Innovation and Sustainability

In 2025, BaleBio received three major awards in recognition of its achievements in material innovation, carbon performance, and social engagement. These included the Australian Good Design Award for Social Impact, a commendation from the Built by Nature Prize, and the Gold Medal at the German Design Award in the Circular Design and Fair & Exhibition categories. This international recognition reflects the appreciation for a project that combines sustainable design with genuine community value.

A Model for Systemic Change

As part of Bauhaus Earth’s ReBuilt initiative, BaleBio is more than just a pavilion; it is a blueprint for systemic change. The project demonstrates that architecture can regenerate rather than deplete, and that communities can thrive within buildings that emerge organically from their environment. Furthermore, BaleBio underscores that design quality in the era of climate emergency is measured not only by form and function but by its actual contribution to planetary sustainability and environmental restoration.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

BaleBio can be seen as a model for integrating environmental sustainability with community-oriented architecture. The project introduces innovative techniques in the use of bamboo and local materials to reduce carbon footprint, while reinterpreting traditional layouts in a contemporary way. It also demonstrates the potential of architecture to play a tangible social role by providing communal gathering spaces and encouraging interaction between residents and visitors.

However, the project raises several questions when viewed from a broader architectural perspective. Firstly, despite its success in reducing carbon emissions through design and materials, replicating such approaches in larger projects or in densely urban contexts may encounter significant logistical and financial challenges, especially in cities heavily reliant on conventional concrete and steel structures. Secondly, the focus on local materials and traditional techniques may limit design flexibility and require specialized expertise that is not readily available everywhere. Thirdly, the social impact of the project is tied to a specific context and local culture, which reduces the direct applicability of the model in different cultural or social settings.

From an architectural standpoint, BaleBio provides a foundation for thinking about projects that combine environmental sustainability with local community engagement. It encourages exploration of smart use of natural materials and available resources, and offers an opportunity to study the integration of traditional design with carbon reduction strategies. However, this requires careful assessment of costs, maintenance feasibility, and adaptability to varying urban contexts.

Prepared by the ArchUp Editorial Team

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