The team from CAZA recently journeyed to Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines to visit the manufacturing factory and warehouse of Rizome, a global pioneer in sustainable building materials. Inside the bustling facility, the CAZA team witnessed firsthand how locally harvested bamboo is transformed into advanced engineered lumber that boasts the strength of steel, the toughness of concrete, and the aesthetic warmth of hardwood. Rizome’s manufacturing process champions sustainability by utilizing a rapidly renewable resource that sequesters massive amounts of carbon and prevents soil erosion, all while providing vital economic opportunities for native communities. For CAZA, this visit was a crucial step in overseeing the high-tech precision manufacturing of the custom beams and structural components destined for their groundbreaking new architectural venture.
These meticulously crafted engineered bamboo elements are being produced to serve as the structural backbone of CAZA’s FEU Pavilion, a multi-faith space located at the heart of Far Eastern University’s vibrant Diliman campus. During the factory tour, the architects observed how the engineered bamboo was being specially shaped and prepared to execute their complex, computer-aided design, which features sweeping petal-shaped roofs and curving clerestory windows. By assembling these natural materials—including engineered bamboo and bagol—using state-of-the-art precision, the pavilion reimagines solemn geometry into a light-filled, open-air sanctuary. Ultimately, the robust structural components manufactured in the Cagayan de Oro warehouse will come together on campus to create what is celebrated as the world’s first engineered bamboo building, resulting in a monumental structure that appears to soar with the lightness and dexterity of a living forest.
