Unboxing the Future of Construction: Global Experts Gather at the 5Th Bamboost Forum

Base Bahay Foundation, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank and the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council, leads a global exchange on innovation, engineering, and the future of sustainable construction.

As climate change demands a radical rethinking of how we build our structures, bamboo is stepping onto the frontlines of high-performance modern engineering.  On September 30, 2026, Base Bahay Foundation, Inc. (BASE), the global competence center for bamboo-based research and technology, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC), will host the 5^th Annual Bamboost Forum at the Globe Auditorium, Maybank Performing Arts Theater, BGC Arts Center, Taguig City.

Under the theme, “Bamboo Unboxed: Designing the Future of Construction”, this year’s landmark summit will shatter traditional building myths and highlight structural solutions for eco- and disaster-resilient construction. 

Where nature meets high-tech engineering

Far from being just a humble, traditional material, bamboo is rapidly proving to be the ultimate sustainable building block of the 21^st century.  The 5^th Bamboost Forum brings together global visionaries and bamboo experts to explore how bamboo systems can withstand climate disasters, lower carbon footprints, and revolutionize building codes around the globe.

The forum will bring global knowledge and real-world experience to the forefront, featuring groundbreaking international research, innovative projects shaping the future of bamboo construction, and insights from leading experts and practitioners from around the world, including: 

• Engr. Luis Felipe Lopez (Base Bahay Foundation, Inc., Philippines) who will discuss lbamboo innovations, and addressing global bamboo barriers;
• Dr. Kent Harries (University of Pittsburgh, USA) speaking on the Challenges and Opportunities in Codes and Standards Development for “Nonconventional” Materials;
• Dr. Andry Widyowijatnoko (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia) will share his expertise on connection behavior and structural reliability;
• Dr. Luisa Molari (University of Bologna, Italy) sharing her research that focuses on natural construction materials;
• Aoife O’Sullivan (Una Gama, Sri Lanka) who will showcase transformative bamboo treatment and construction initiatives in Sri Lanka;
• Diana Barrera-Salazar (Bauhaus Earth, Germany) presenting  value chain and policy pathways for bamboo projects in collaboration with BASE;
• Ar. Jed de Guzman (UAP Philippine Bamboo Projects Special Committee, Philippines) to speak on the frontiers of modern bamboo architecture;
• Carol Pobre (BGC Art Foundation, Inc., Philippines) who will highlight structural art and design through the Indayog Project;
• Russell Smith (Rizome, Philippines), Mark Sebastian (Numat, Philippines), and Emil Bolongaita (Asian Development Bank), who will discuss how digital traceability, transactions, and data can help build a more transparent, connected, and financeable bamboo value chain.

Inside the Program: what to expect

The 5^th Bamboost Forum promises an intense, full-day masterclass packed with actionable insights:

• Breaking the Supply Chain Mold: overcoming regulatory and market barriers to mainstream bamboo in massive real-world developments.
• Engineering Resilience: deep dives into constitutive modelling, joint reliability, and disaster-proof connection design
• Developing Global Codes and Standards:  how top international researchers are incorporating bamboo into national and global structural codes.
• Live Project Deep Dives:   real-world case studies from different parts of the world, pushing the boundaries of sustainable design and construction.

Join the movement

More than a gathering of experts, Bamboost Forum represents a growing movement to rethink how we build, bringing together global knowledge, groundbreaking research, real-world innovations, and diverse perspectives around bamboo and sustainable construction.

With leaders and changemakers from across the industry coming together, the event holds the promise of sparking new ideas, strengthening collaborations, and accelerating solutions that can move bamboo from possibility to greater application and impact.

As Bamboost marks its fifth year, the conversation is no longer simply about what bamboo can do. It is about how far we can take it and how the ideas, partnerships, and innovations emerging from this platform can help shape a more sustainable and resilient future for construction.Follow the Bamboost journey, share the ideas, support the innovations, and help build the momentum toward a more sustainable and resilient future, one where bamboo is no longer an alternative, but part of the solution.

For more information on Base Bahay Foundation, Inc. and its transformative projects, please visit www.base-builds.com.