Trần Bá Tiệp, founder and lead architect of BambuBuild, has pioneered the use of bamboo in architectural design. Based in Vietnam, BambuBuild harnesses the ecological and aesthetic potential of bamboo to drive sustainable construction across Southeast Asia. Trần Bá Tiệp’s architectural philosophy, shaped by his rural Vietnamese upbringing, prioritizes resilience and sustainability, deeply influenced by the natural and cultural landscapes of his homeland.
Educated in Vietnam, Trần Bá Tiệp’s early exposure to the devastating effects of natural disasters on the built environment led him to architecture. His professional journey is defined by the fusion of traditional Vietnamese materials and techniques with contemporary design, positioning BambuBuild as a leader in environmentally conscious construction.
Under Trần Bá Tiệp’s leadership, BambuBuild has advanced sustainable architectural practices in Vietnam while setting global standards for ecological design. Through speaking engagements and publications, Trần Bá Tiệp continues to advocate for sustainable development and the broader application of bamboo in contemporary architecture. His notable projects include Keeng Seafood Restaurant, Thailand Pavilion, Bamboo Long House Restaurant, Flamingo Bamboo Pavilion, Kim Boi Bamboo Restaurant, each demonstrating the versatility, strength, and sustainability of bamboo in modern construction.
What inspires you?
I find inspiration in the natural world and indigenous cultures. The bodies of animals and plants are nature’s perfect designs, allowing species to survive and thrive. For example, pelicans have long legs to stay dry while wading in water, webbed feet to prevent sinking into the mud, and large, elongated beaks to catch fish. Culture shapes how humans interact with the natural environment, influencing their way of living, clothing, transportation, and more to suit specific contexts. Architecture, too, is born from culture.
What inspired you to become an architect?
I was born and raised in a rural area in middle Vietnam, where annual storms and floods often damage houses and farmland. Construction is a common profession here, but the quality of living spaces is far from ideal. I have always loved drawing, imagining, and observing people’s daily activities. I see myself as a good fit for architecture, which is why I chose to become an architect.
How would you describe your design philosophy?
For me, architecture exists to serve human life. It is truly a functional structure rather than merely an artwork to be admired, like sculpture or painting. The people inside a building must be safe, and its functionality must be ensured. Architectural form is shaped by technical solutions such as structural systems, construction techniques, ventilation, and natural lighting.
What is your favorite project?
My favorite project is the Keeng Seafood Restaurant, an open architectural space that utilizes bamboo in a modern and innovative way. This project showcases the remarkable potential of bamboo as a material in architecture.
What is your favorite architectural detail?
One architectural detail that I really like is the overhanging roof of a house. This feature is essential in tropical regions with heavy rainfall, as it protects walls and windows from rain and harsh sunlight. Additionally, the interlocking connection between bamboo or wooden elements, which I often use to create larger structural components from shorter pieces, is also crucial.
Do you have a favorite material?
My favorite material, of course, is bamboo. It is readily available throughout Vietnam and is deeply embedded in the country’s culture. Growing bamboo helps combat climate change by absorbing four times more CO2 than timber trees. When used correctly, in some cases, bamboo structures can be just as effective as steel due to their flexibility, lightweight nature, and aesthetic appeal.
What is your process for starting a new project?
When starting a new project, we ask clients a series of questions, including their financial capacity, to gain a clear understanding of everything. The next step is to survey the construction site to assess how the building interacts with its surroundings, allowing us to determine the appropriate volume and form. The following steps are similar to common architectural processes, except that during the conceptual design phase, we almost already have technical solutions and construction methods in place.
How do you balance function and creativity in your designs?
Creativity must be based on functionality and technical feasibility. It is seen as the “discipline” of creativity. Creativity without “discipline” results in designs that lack functionality and cannot be constructed.
How does the environment influence your work?
We prefer using natural materials because they require little energy to produce. Bamboo structures have minimal environmental impact throughout their lifecycle—from construction and use to demolition. We often design sloped roofs to prevent water accumulation, and they are typically covered with leaves or natural plant materials to provide insulation against the tropical heat.
How do you collaborate with clients to achieve their vision?
We always listen to our clients to understand them. Some investors have already operated several restaurants or resorts before coming to us, and their operational experience provides valuable lessons.
What inspired Keeng Restaurant?
The Keeng Restaurant is inspired by the image of a boat, which is very common in the river regions of southern Vietnam. The roof-supporting structure resembles clusters of nipa palm trees, a species that typically grows along riverbanks.
How did materiality shape the design and sustainability of Keeng Restaurant?
In traditional construction methods, bamboo pole is used as post, beam, truss with some limit of span, column steps. In this project, hyperbolic paraboloid (hypars) surface is used because it is not only exceptional stiff but also extremely attractive. Hypars surfaces are capable of carrying great loads thanks to their curved shape and good resistance in all directions so they are commonly used as roof structure. The project is composed of many hypars which are used as ceiling, column. All of them are connected and interlocked with each other, allowing the overhanging roof to reach up to 4 meters at the gable roof. A hypar is a doubly-curved surface and doubly- ruled surface that can be easily constructed of straight structural members. The use of bamboo pole to built hypas structure is perfect combination. The fact that curved surfaces are constructed of straight bamboo poles mean that the construction is easy and rapid. They can achieve exceptional stiffness and appealing form without bamboo bending. However, the double curvature of the hypars makes it difficult for roofing with natural thatch because it has a convex form along one axist, and a concave form on along the other. To solve this problem, the truss and the purlin are added to the concave side to make simple sloped roofs. This combination creates two-layer structural roof, increasing the appeal of the ceiling. The bamboo structure is staged in a dramatic way.
What advice would you give to young architects?
I encourage young people to visit real construction sites as much as possible, especially those that are still under construction. This will help you gain a deep understanding of building techniques, enabling you to create designs that can actually be built and have practical value. Nowadays, AI (Artificial Intelligence) can help you generate ideas quickly, but to turn those ideas into reality, you must understand technical aspects and functionality.
