Base Bahay marks 10 years of sustainable bamboo construction

Base Bahay Foundation, Inc. (BASE), a global leader in bamboo construction, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a renewed commitment to building resilient and sustainable homes using bamboo. Founded by the Hilti Foundation in July 2014, BASE has been at the forefront of addressing the housing gap in the Philippines and beyond, while also contributing to climate change mitigation by utilizing local and sustainable materials.

Maricen Jalandoni, BASE President and Hilti Foundation Asia Liaison, reflected on the decade-long journey: “Together over the last decade, BASE and the Hilti Foundation have worked to elevate the living standards of every family in the community and enable them to have a sustainable future. We can think of no better way to celebrate than to bring sustainable shelter to more families.”

Engr. Luis Felipe Lopez, BASE General Manager, highlighted the organization’s future goals, particularly in addressing the country’s housing challenges.

“The 2023 UN-Habitat PH Country Report estimates that the Philippines will be saddled with a 22-million housing backlog by 2040. Together with our network of partners, we are putting our BASE Cement-Bamboo Framework to scale as a holistic solution to the global housing gap, climate change, and socioeconomic challenges,” Lopez said.

A central objective for BASE in the near term is to include bamboo in the National Structural Code of the Philippines, which would allow for more widespread use of this abundant material in sustainable, resilient, and affordable housing solutions.

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BASE’s work is structured around three key pillars: BASE Innovates, focusing on research and development of alternative building technologies; BASE Builds, which develops and deploys sustainable housing solutions; and BASE Enables, which fosters a robust ecosystem for scalable housing projects and supports the growth of the bamboo industry.

In 2021, BASE inaugurated its Innovation Center in Makati City, which has since become a global competence center for bamboo construction.

The center’s research has led to significant achievements, including over 20 published scientific papers and accreditation with the prestigious RILEM (Réunion Internationale des Laboratoires et Experts des Matériaux, systèmes de construction et ouvrages). The center also supports efforts to develop bamboo codes in countries like Nepal and Colombia.

In addition to research and innovation, BASE’s educational outreach through the Bamboo Academy has trained over 2,000 professionals in sustainable construction practices.

The organization has also hosted multiple conferences, such as the “Bamboost” Forum, which gathers experts from around the world to discuss advancements in green construction.

Over the past decade, BASE and its partners have built more than 2,030 homes across the Philippines, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and Nicaragua, providing shelter for approximately 10,500 individuals.

The organization has also constructed 14 special structures, including community centers, schools, and offices.

BASE’s efforts have also had a significant environmental impact, with an estimated 35,000 tons of CO2 saved through its Cement-Bamboo Frame Technology (CBFT).

As BASE enters its second decade, it remains committed to its mission of providing sustainable and resilient housing solutions, ensuring that more families can benefit from safe and environmentally friendly homes.