The House of Bamboo Insight Hub

Only 31% of all architects in Australia are women. While that is almost twice the global average of 17%, significant work remains to achieve gender equity in the profession. We're doing better than Japan, where just 10% of architects are women, but not as well as Sweden and Norway, where the split approaches 50-50. But there is no shortage of talent in our 31%, as illustrated by these four inspiring women-led projects that demonstrate how natural materials and thoughtful design create spaces that enhance human wellbeing and environmental sustainability.

We are delighted to announce the first workshop from our Well-Being Series: Basket weaving with Veronika from Basketry Creations. This hands-on workshop introduces children to an ancient craft that builds both physical skills and mental wellbeing, providing screen-free creative time in our beautiful natural materials showroom. The workshop represents our commitment to sharing not just bamboo products but the broader craft traditions and wellbeing benefits that natural materials enable.

At House of Bamboo, we were honoured to welcome Professor Yan Xiao, one of the world's foremost authorities on structural bamboo, to speak at our recent event. His presence wasn't just symbolic, it represented a profound alignment between innovation, sustainability, and the future of the built environment, bringing decades of research and real-world construction experience to Australian architects and designers.

As Australian properties become denser and boundaries tighter, the need for privacy has never been more pressing. Yet traditional fencing solutions often feel heavy-handed, blocking light and views while doing little to enhance the aesthetic of outdoor spaces. Natural privacy screens offer an alternative approach—one that balances seclusion with sustainability, design sophistication with practical performance.

In a recent update shared directly with House of Bamboo, architect Jed Long, Co-Founder of Cave Urban, gave us a closer look at his latest project: a prototype cabin built from laminated bamboo in regional Australia. For over a decade, Jed has explored how bamboo can be used structurally, and this project marks an exciting step forward in demonstrating bamboo's readiness for mainstream Australian construction.

As the built environment turns toward renewable materials, few voices are leading with as much clarity and scientific rigour as Professor Mahmud Ashraf of Deakin University. A long-time advocate of bio-based alternatives, his research into engineered bamboo is helping shift its reputation from niche to necessary, providing the structural validation and technical framework that architects and engineers need to specify bamboo with confidence.

Three things you never knew about bamboo decking: It's a composite decking, but with no plastics. It has a 25-year warranty. And it's harder than hardwood. No wonder our stunning Dasso bamboo decking was chosen for the City of Sydney's Smart Green Apartments Programme, which is designed to improve the cost-effectiveness and environmental performance of apartment buildings. The beautiful rooftop garden upgrade at The Pyrmont showcases what happens when environmental performance, durability, and aesthetic quality align perfectly.

Pool safety regulations exist to protect children and families, requiring boundary fencing that meets strict height and structural standards. While necessary, these requirements often create design challenges—how do you satisfy safety regulations without compromising your outdoor living space's aesthetic vision? Many homeowners discover this dilemma after substantial pool investment, realizing their existing fence doesn't meet certification requirements or looks inadequate beside their beautiful new pool. Fortunately, natural bamboo solutions achieve both compliance and beauty simultaneously.

It turns out the hippies were right. Surrounding yourself with natural materials and textures doesn't just make you feel good in some sort of cosmic sense. The science is now in and it is irrefutable: when we integrate natural materials into our living and working environments, we experience measurable improvements in wellbeing, productivity, and overall life satisfaction.

Despite its tubular shape, bamboo can now be engineered into timber-like products that provide the exact same finish as the most popular softwoods and hardwoods, including spotted gum, merbau, blackbutt, and jarrah. This transformation from round culm to precision-dimensioned building material represents a significant materials engineering achievement that makes bamboo accessible for applications traditionally dominated by conventional timber.

Our Dasso bamboo decking was installed on Squillace Architects' Sydney rooftop space two years ago. Despite being totally exposed to sun and all that rain Sydney throws at outdoor surfaces, it's still strong and beautiful while containing no plastics. You can tell by the lovely silver-grey colour they haven't had to do a thing to it. This real-world performance story demonstrates what busy architects value most: materials that deliver on their promises without demanding constant attention.

You've finished landscaping your garden and installing a barbecue pit in your yard. When you step back and look at your property, however, you can't help feeling that it's still missing the finishing touches to make your property private, stylish, and welcoming all at once. How about putting up some stylish timber screens? This comprehensive guide explores timber options, design possibilities, and sustainable bamboo alternatives that might better serve your project's needs.