To many architects and designers, bamboo, one of the most eco-friendly materials on the planet, is much more than just a tool with which to decorate and embellish existing structures

This collection of buildings showcases the natural aesthetic beauty of bamboo architecture. But bamboo, to architects and designers, is much more than just a material with which to decorate and embellish. This eco-friendly material has the same technical performance as most timber, concrete, and steel constructions -- but with a much smaller carbon footprint. One of the fastest-growing plants found anywhere on Earth (with reported growth rates of about 100 centimeters over 24 hours), bamboo's regenerative properties are unmatched.

View the complete OpenBuildings collection: Bamboo Architecture.

Image: Iwan Baan.