Bridging the gap: the Living Bridge, Bali

When architect Jonathan Mizzi took his young family to the Green School in Bali he wasn’t planning on building there. Feeling despondent at the rate of development in his birthplace of Malta where growth was coming at the cost of history, Jonathan needed a change of pace. Drawn by the Green School philosophy for a multi-generational learning ethos and a connection to nature, he was also aware of the pioneering work of IBUKU, led by Elora Hardy.

Jonathan Mizzi Director of Mizzi Studio, teaching. Image credit, Eden Rice

Unlike the traditional educational system that keeps care givers at the gate, the Green School encourages parental participation in the education of pupils. Once at the school, Jonathan was approached by a fellow parent asking if he would mentor her teenage son. It was a request that was to turn into a two-year collaboration between the school’s students, parents and educators that resulted in the creation of the Living Bridge, a space for learning and collaboration.

The Living Bridge exterior Green School entrance. Image credit, Mizzi Studio

The creation of the Living Bridge became part of the school’s curriculum; with students aged between 15 and 18 participating in the redesign and rebuilding of an existing space; The Bridge, an on-campus space hosting workshops, talks and parent-led initiatives. The project was situated as part of Jalan Jalan, a cornerstone of Green School Bali’s sustainability-focused curriculum. Named after the Indonesian term for ‘taking a journey’, Jalan Jalan allows the students the opportunity to explore hands-on, place-based projects bringing together education with real-world impact. Teams of students explored architectural design, modelling, animation, construction and filmmaking.

The school remained open during construction work which took place onsite within the academic year, in parallel to the school’s day to day activities. Once Jonathan had returned to Malta, he and his studio led remote online weekly sessions with the construction team, parents and students to oversee tendering and construction on site.

The Living Bridge construction foundation. Image credit, Eden Rice

The Living Bridge design is an exemplary combination of form and function. A space partially open to the elements and embracing the indoor-outdoor learning ethos that defines Green School, the Living Bridge was designed for versatility with a flexible layout allowing for a range of events and use. Eight arched bamboo pillars reach upwards to support a sweeping bamboo-roof that cantilevers outwards, welcoming visitors from the entrance of the school.

The Living Bridge construction. Image credit, Eden Rice

The use of local materials was key, with the majority of the bamboo used in the project harvested from the site, or locations close by, ensuring that the project's carbon footprint was minimal. 300 pieces of bamboo were shaped using advanced heat-bending techniques developed with local experts, Bamboo Pure making the structure one of the first of its kind in Bali. The roof is clad using the ‘Pelupuh’ system, flattened bamboo shingles, traditional of Indonesian architecture with a 15 cm roofline extension protecting the main structural beam from weather exposure. There were challenges to the heat-bending process as every bamboo pole reacted differently, with some cracking, breaking, or forming unpredictable curvatures and movements. The successful result of this experimentation is a beautiful sinuous structure that appears inherently part of the landscape from which it grew.

The Living Bridge drone shot. Image credit, Mizzi Studio

Sustainability was a consideration throughout the project’s realisation, with an innovative materials palette including terrazzo made from crushed glass mixed with a biocomposite blend, mycelium acoustic panels and eco-crete bricks constructed from industrial waste ash and lime plaster which lends the space its soft pink tones.

The Living Bridge Interior Booth. Image credit, Mizzi Studio

The spatial layout of the Living Bridge encourages collaboration with bespoke wooden furniture curving around the bamboo pillars. These pillars have the capacity to host the interactive digital platforms developed by the students with the intention of connecting alumni, parents and current students. The addition of booths allows privacy by providing acoustically separate working spaces.

The Living Bridge Interior. Image credit, Mizzi Studio

The Living Bridge project connected the school to skilled local Balinese craftsmen who worked alongside students on construction. Students were introduced to local producers and suppliers to learn traditional techniques, including working with locally sourced banana paper now being produced in the school. This extraordinary educational remit stretched to students furnishing the space with pieces made from recycled materials from the site to maximise creativity and minimise waste. Reuse of existing materials was key, with flagstones recycled and reused and bricks repurposed for the amphitheater seating. The opportunity to participate in the design and build of the project has led to the introduction of more workshops hosted by teachers on aligned subjects with the curriculum’s focus on sustainable fabrication methods and material research continuing to evolve. The use of mycelium has sparked the creation of a new mycelium unit with the School’s Innovation Hub (iHub).

The Living Bridge drone shot. Image credit, Mizzi Studio

For Jonathan Mizzi, the Living Bridge was a unique opportunity to share his studio's belief in architecture’s power to make a positive social and environmental impact with a young generation of students keen to make a difference. Mizzi Studio’s mission is rooted in a deep respect for community, culture and climate and the practice is working on a collection of projects in Malta, the UK and globally that make manifest this intention. The Living Bridge in Bali stands as a beautiful example of a multi-generational commitment to sustainability, shared learning and the power of building in harmony with nature alongside centuries old local craftsmanship and knowledge.

Vanessa Norwood is a curator and consultant for the built environment advocating for low-carbon architecture and materials.