Bamboo Building Immersion

Program.

In the lectures and hands-on workshops you will learn:

* Bamboo varieties, harvesting, processing, treatment, and curing methods

*Bamboo Design and Model Making

* Bamboo splitting, bending, drilling, pegging, lashing, fish mouths and other joinery techniques

* Bamboo finishing methods, and maintenance strategies

* Bamboo & hardwood pin, and binder stick making

*Bamboo Furniture Techniques

* Bamboo wattle and split panels

* Bamboo Dome Assembly

* Specialty tools for Bamboo Construction

During this week-long course, we will construct a small bamboo structure, completing the entire framing process from start to finish. 

Daily Flow

6:30 a.m. - Yoga

8 a.m. - Breakfast

9 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Classroom Lectures/ Hands-on Workshops

12 p.m. - Lunch

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Siesta

1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Hands-On Workshops/Build

6 p.m. - Dinner

7 p.m. - Slideshows/Videos     

Fresh coconuts and fruits are available throughout the day. 

             Additional information and travel instructions will be emailed upon registration. 

Instructors

Rodolfo Saenz

Rodolfo Saenz began his career as a craftsman, furniture maker, and builder over 35 years ago. He first learned to work with wood and later received training in a variety of techniques with bamboo from a Taiwanese Master, which led him into bamboo furniture design combined with hardwoods and various other materials.

Originally trained in conventional construction, he switched gears to natural building methods and design with a concentration on bamboo, cob, and earthen plasters. Rodolfo is passionate about sharing his skills and knowledge by teaching sustainable building and design and has over a dozen years of experience teaching courses. Learn more at ConstruccionEnBarro.com.

Trey Abernethy

After 12 years of conventional construction in the US witnessing wasteful, toxic, and unsustainable methods, he knew there was a better way to build. While living in Florida, Trey began taking courses and workshops on cob, adobe, and earthen plasters. In 2013, he moved to Costa Rica and continued learning about natural building, permaculture, community, and holistic living.

After completing his Permaculture Design Course shortly after arriving in Costa Rica he attended a week-long course on building with bamboo, cob, adobe, and plasters with Rodolfo Saenz. This course inspired and encouraged him to work with bamboo and soon thereafter he joined the building crew for the Envision festival, learning from a range of experts on bamboo design and building. Trey continues to work on large-scale bamboo design and builds at the Envision festival each year. 

After participating in and leading many natural building projects in Costa Rica, Trey formed Natural Building Costa Rica in 2016 and began organizing and teaching courses with Rodolfo Saenz.