Bamboo in Echo, Delft University of Technology

A growing number of students and the need for larger and more flexible teaching spaces prompted the construction of Echo, Delft University of Technology's newest education building. UNStudio designed the sustainable building that stands out for its flexible use and open layout. In the interior, bamboo is the most striking material.

Bamboo is a beautiful and environmentally friendly product. To the eye, the so-called bamboo ribs, which recur throughout the building, carry the different building layers. Over 3,500 m² of bamboo was used in the floors, furniture and wall and ceiling finishes. Architect Ben van Berkel of UNStudio, explains, "We chose bamboo because it is a highly renewable and sustainable material. Bamboo is a beautiful and environmentally friendly product that we are increasingly using in our current projects."

Sustainable educational building requires sustainable use of materials

TU Delft's sustainability ambition is ambitious: by 2030 the campus must be CO2 neutral and circular. Construction projects such as the Echo education building, which will be inaugurated in May 2022, must therefore meet very high requirements. 

Echo is the first energy-generating building on campus thanks to solar panels, efficient insulation and thermal storage. TU Delft Construction Project Manager Kübra Öztürk explains, "A sustainable education building also requires sustainable use of materials and furnishings. Building materials used included bamboo and recycled PET bottles. And as much as ninety percent of the furniture in the building was reused."

Bamboo for different applications

The biggest challenge for MOSO was uniformity in the color tone of the bamboo materials. Bamboo panels and veneers were produced in different factories in China and processed into flooring, furniture and wall finishes in Europe by different companies. 

In doing so, MOSO kept control of deliveries wherever possible. Paul Vriend, commercial manager Benelux explains: "The production and processing of bamboo largely determines the color tone of the final product, which can range from very light to very dark.
Whereas some designers and users actually want a combination of color tones, here we opted for a whole within one color range. Looking at the big picture, we are satisfied with the result, but now we know even better where in the supply chain the real challenges lie."