‘Bamboo: From Green Design to Sustainable Design’ is a book by Rebecca Reubens, an industrial designer who has worked extensively in the fields of design, craft and sustainability. She has for a large part worked in the development sector, and has been an expert consultant for projects involving international institutions, and the governments of different countries, alongside local NGO’s and SMEs. 

The publication is supported by the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development.

Rebecca Reubens’ book expands the scope of design, and thereby design opportunity.  It inspires designers to move beyond ‘eco’ or ‘green’ design into the realm of holistically sustainable design. There are several approaches to sustainability, but no common definition of this word has been arrived at yet. The book discusses various sustainability approaches and frameworks, and how they relate to sustainable design in today’s world. 

The book focuses on bamboo - an ancient, renewable material which has been in the spotlight for quite some time now.  The new bamboo boom has led to this material being discussed, explored and applied by students and professionals, both in the fields of design and sustainability.  This book throws light on the various possible applications of bamboo, and also how they impact sustainability.  From weaving to coiling to bamboo board, understand how different technologies impact sustainability – not just in terms of ‘green design’ but also considering an integrated concept of sustainability which includes ecological, economic, social and cultural factors.

The huge potential of bamboo is has just begun to be explored by designers and technologists, and clearly this is one resource that makes ecological sense in our post-mining economy. What is lesser known is that bamboo has the potential to impact the social, cultural and economic aspects of sustainability as well. Flip through the pages of this book to learn how design can play a key role in applying bamboo to leverage all of these possibilities. Use the sustainability checklist contained within this book to guide and evaluate your design - and move from green design towards sustainable design.

The Prince Claus Fund supports this publication for its approach of sustainability as multi-faceted concept, contrary to many writings that only recognize the ecological meaning. In 2009 the Prince Claus Fund granted architect Simon Velez with the Principal Prince Claus Award for his innovative use of bamboo.

Check out the Prince Claus Fund online library for more supported publications.