The Arc Gymansium at the Green School Bali, Demonstrates a Strong Relationship with its Natural Setting

The Arc Gymnasium, being the latest addition to the world-renowned ‘Green School’ located in Bali, was collaboratively designed and executed by IBUKU, bamboo architect Jörg Stamm and structural engineering firm Atelier One.

September 2008 marked the beginning of the ‘Green School’ project in Bali, which now includes a wide 12-year history that has caused severe impact to the lifestyle and choices of all its users. Envisioned and developed together by master craftsmen, architects, permaculturist, academics and philosophers, this school is all about educating and raising awareness amongst the young children, about practicing sustainability in their individual lives and community.

The curving pattern of the arches in two opposite directions made them gain overall strength and stability for the 760 SQM floor area. Also, the new feature linked by antoclastic grid shells, was designed to be a sequence of intersecting 14 meter tall arches spanning 19 meters created out of bamboo. It took several months of R&D for housing such a complex roof system with efficient and custom details, that highly matched the local values of construction.

“The Arc operates like the ribs of a mammal’s chest, stabilised by tensile membranes analogous to tendons and muscles between ribs. Biologically, these highly tensile microscopic tendons transfer forces from bone to bone. In The Arc, bamboo splits transfer forces from arch to arch.”— mentioned Jörg Stamm, Design Conceptor, The Arc at Green School

The sinuous design of ‘The Arc’, works effortlessly through the principle of compression, by the anticlastic gridshells held together by the forces of tension. Further, the gridshells appear to form a drape all across the various positions between the extremely thin arches, resulting in a state of equilibrium. The structure also consciously reduces the amount of material required for the arched roof system, without any interrupting trusses.

“The concepted structure for The Arc is totally unprecedented. Embarking on a design never before executed required some bravery and optimism. We were creative and stubborn enough to research and develop the answers needed for the success of the project,” added Rowland Sauls, Project Architect, IBUKU.

The Green School at Bali focusses on three key frames of learning including thematic, proficiency and experiential. While it also lays strong emphasis on the eight values — Integrity, Responsibility, Empathy, Sustainability, Peace, Equality, Community and Trust (often abbreviated to as- ‘I Respect’ ). Overall, the newly constructed Arc gymnasium deeply reflects these values while promoting an international acceptance towards similar green schools, closely linked to natural habitats and environments.