Designer Lauris Svarups recalls his summer spent learning traditional construction techniques in the Colombian jungle.
“This summer, I spent three weeks deep in the Colombian jungle, undertaking an ecology and bamboo construction workshop in a remote part of the San Blas Valley. Living in a rural Colombian rhythm, I slept in a tent strapped between three snakewood trees as nightly thunderstorms gave way to beating sun.
“In the mornings, I was tasked with building an eight-metre covered entrance gate structure, learning traditional bamboo building techniques from a team of local craftspeople. The design included no straight bamboo poles. Instead, it employed stacked strips and spiralized woven beams, to create a naturally curving form. Watching the structure be assembled and adjusted by the local team was almost like an acrobat’s performance.
“Afternoons were spent learning from local engineers and architects about some of the natural building methods they use. From learning how to create a plant-filtered swimming pool, to making earth render by mixing soil with grated horse manure and stomping on it for hours, it was an education steeped in Colombian traditions.
“The experience confirmed to me that using local and natural materials not only elevates the beauty of a project, but also enhances its natural surroundings. Working this way allows a different, more emotional engagement with the surrounding environment, I think – not only for the designer of the building, but also for everyone who interacts with it.”
