Insider Spotlight
BASE Bahay Foundation (BASE) has partnered with Bali-based Bamboo U to launch the Bamboo Housing Challenge, an international design competition calling for affordable, disaster-resilient homes made primarily from bamboo.
Why it matters
The housing sector faces mounting pressure to deliver homes that are not only affordable but also climate-adaptive. Traditional construction materials like concrete and steel carry heavy carbon footprints and rising costs, placing resilient housing further out of reach for vulnerable communities.
The Bamboo Housing Challenge asks designers worldwide to rethink what is possible using one of the world’s most renewable materials. The brief is ambitious: create a bamboo-based home prototype that can be built for $10,000 while remaining durable, adaptable, and visually compelling.
What they’re saying
“At BASE, we firmly believe bamboo holds immense potential to revolutionize sustainable and affordable construction globally,” Luis Felipe Lopez, general manager of BASE, said in a press statement on Feb. 16, 2026.
“This challenge is a direct embodiment of our mission to push the boundaries of bamboo construction, inviting the world’s brightest minds to contribute to solutions that are not only environmentally sound but also dignified and accessible for vulnerable communities,” he added.
The big picture
The winning design will not remain theoretical. It will be constructed at full scale in Bali during Bamboo U’s 11-Day Bamboo Build & Design Course from Oct. 23 to Nov. 3, 2026 . The winner will also receive flights, accommodation, and free course participation valued at $2,775.
About BASE
BASE aims to help provide poor families and disaster victims with sustainable, affordable, disaster-resilient, environment-friendly, and comfortable socialized homes built with Cement-Bamboo Frame Technology.
BASE develops technologies using locally grown and renewable materials to create housing envelops and designs suited to the needs of local communities. Through the Base Innovation Center, Base conducts research and testing programs, as well as training courses in partnership with institutions and professionals on alternative building technologies.
What’s next
Registration closes March 15, with submissions due April 17. The winner will be announced May 15.
As climate risks escalate, BASE and its partners are betting that bamboo—long overlooked— could anchor the next generation of resilient homes. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
