Imagine spending 30 years working as an architect.

Then deciding to uproot your entire life from the UK to move to Bali to work in a new field of architecture - bamboo!

Because that's exactly what Ewe Jin Low.

When he made the big move to Bali, he worked as Lead architect at IBUKU covering buildings like the Green School and in 2018, began his own bamboo journey by founding his own bamboo architecture firm TENTEN and Better Bamboo Buildings in 2020 - a platform that shares information and insights on bamboo design.

Ewe Jin’s bamboo journey to date has included designing and building more than 80 bamboo buildings in many different regions.

In 2022 he published a bamboo architecture book titled ‘Bamboo Ark 1’. He continues the journey to give talks, run courses and workshops and to create more buildings and installations in bamboo.

So if you're like to learn more about this relatively new form of architecture, this is the episode for you!

Highlights:

0:00 Growing up all over the place
1:09 Bamboo groves
1:52 Architectural practice
5:06 The only Asian guy in the room
6:32 Battles fought
8:23 Prejudice against colour of skin
9:52 Moving to Bali
12:53 How bamboo has transformed his life & attitude
14:22 Letting go of everything
16:36 Assimilating into the real Bali culture
31:38 Common questions
34:21 Maintenance
41:27 Bamboo pioneers
44:01 Green School Bali
49:56 The SWAT Team of Bamboo Workers
54:42 Is it actually green architecture?
58:40 Is bamboo cheaper?
1:03:35 Construction bamboo forests?

🎙️Show notes/transcript for this episode: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/128

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WHO AM I:
I'm Ling Yah, a Malaysian lawyer & host/producer of the So This Is My Why, where I interview inspiring people about how they found their why, and their blueprint for turning that why into a reality. I’ve interviewed Olympians, Michelin-starred chefs, top entrepreneurs, VC founders, Hollywood actresses, and more.

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