BASE’s journey began in 2013 with a vision to address the country’s growing need for sustainable and affordable housing solutions. The organization’s mission is to promote the use of bamboo as a building material, advocating for its versatility, strength, and environmental benefits. Since its inception, BASE has established itself as a pioneer in bamboo construction, developing innovative and sustainable building techniques.
Luis Felipe Lopez, BASE general manager, said the 2023 UN-Habitat PH Country Report estimates 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. “Central to our short-term goals is our work to include Bamboo in the National Structural Code for construction that will then allow us to leverage the abundance of bamboo across the country to build more sustainable, resilient, and affordable housing solutions,” Lopez added.
Across the BASE organization, three key pillars define the work: BASE Innovates where as a leading global authority, BASE works with top local and international universities to develop alternative building technologies and design innovations; BASE Builds under which sustainable, resilient, and affordable solutions are developed to address the global housing crisis while also providing an inclusive better future for all; and BASE Enables which pertain to the building of a robust ecosystem for scalable housing solutions that in turn creates a network of bamboo enterprises that drive industry growth and impact. When the BASE Innovation Center in Makati City was inaugurated in 2021, it paved the way for more international and local research collaboration.
This has resulted in BASE’s accreditation with RILEM (Réunion Internationale des Laboratoires et Experts des Matériaux, systèmes de construction et ouvrages) this year. RILEM is a global network of laboratories and experts in construction materials, systems, and structures. The testing and research at the Base Innovation Center also provide critical information that supports ongoing efforts together with the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP) to include bamboo in the National Structural Code of the Philippines. Through the organization’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program under the Bamboo Academy, , professional architects and civil engineers earn CPD units that they need for their continued development. To date, Base has conducted 15 online and in-person CPD Programs and trained over 2,000 workers and professional builders.
The conference focused on the use of bamboo in building construction, highlighting its potential as a sustainable and eco-friendly material. The conference also explored the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating bamboo into existing building codes and standards. The conference featured a keynote address by renowned architect and sustainability expert, Dr. Michael S. Smith, who emphasized the importance of embracing bamboo as a key material for achieving sustainable construction goals. Dr.
BASE has also established a network of 100+ community partners, collaborating with them to provide various services to the community. These partners include NGOs, faith-based organizations, and local businesses. BASE has a strong focus on education, with a comprehensive program that includes early childhood education, primary education, and secondary education. They offer scholarships and financial aid to students who need it.
When it comes to the organization’s environmental impact, BASE has an average of 35,000 tCO2 savings from the houses built using Cement-Bamboo Frame Technology.
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