Eco Trends
The Green Evolution
Maintaining a design balance between nature and the necessities of life
By Alia Babapulle
This edition of the magazine sees me bringing you something about one of the wonderful plants which Mother Nature has given us, bamboo. I am going to feature a green school built in bamboo, in Bali, called – aptly – the Green School. More of that later…
This incredible plant is water-resistant, and fungus and mould-proof when stored and treated correctly after cutting. Storing it in the shade to dry ensures that no insects can get into the shoots. It is one of the fastest growing plants in the world, sometimes growing 35 inches (89 centimetres) in a day, and is incredibly versatile. Giant bamboo is the largest member of the grass family.
Bamboo can be arched, and manipulated into all sorts of shapes: for example, growing it in a pre-made shape, etc. – the list is really endless. The price is also much lower than for conventional woods; and, to top it all, bamboo is delicious.
Bamboo Beauty at Green School
I came across this wonderful school purely by chance. I was looking for bamboos, of which there are many, and just look at this! It’s made completely out of bamboo, and has been built taking into consideration the way the indigenous people have made their buildings for generations, which is always the best way.
The bridge is a masterpiece of beauty and the school is airy and filled with light. They teach pupils the normal curriculum but also how to respect and look after nature, and the children look very happy and content. I would love to have been schooled there.
The Green School in Bali (Indonesia) is giving its students a natural, holistic and student-centred education in one of the most amazing environments on the planet. The U.S. Green Building Council’s Centre for Green Schools awarded Green School the “2012 Greenest School on Earth“ award.
The Green School was conceived by its founders in 2006 following their exit from the jewellery business. The school opened in September 2008 with 90 students and a tailor-made campus that had only recently emerged from the jungle and rice fields. Since then it has grown physically and in student numbers.
The Green School combines the talent of several very diversely gifted individuals. Its founders, John and Cynthia Hardy, have been residents in Bali for more than 30 years and recognised a unique opportunity to create something truly inspiring and outside the structural, conceptual and physical limitations of many traditional schools.
The location is on a site in an undeveloped and natural area of gentle jungle, bisected by the Ayung River, which makes it an ideal place for students to connect with nature. The site is farmed and landscaped to make it productive while being safe and secure. The whole school has grown in leaps and bounds, with many personalities such as Dr. Jane Goodall and Ban Ki Mun visiting and showing great interest. There is so much more to see, so please take time to check out their site: www.greenschool.org
