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We've never seen anything quite like it. Far from just a "hippie campus in the jungle"—as some sceptics are wont to call it—the Green School comes across as awe-inspiring, graceful even; there is a curvaceous, sculptural and almost malleable quality to both the buildings and interior furnishings built and crafted out of bamboo.

But after the initial oohs and ahs are over, one realises that more than just amazing architecture, the Green School has a deeper shade of Green for addressing the three 'pillars' in the triple bottom line framework—by aiming to be ecologically, economically and socially sustainable.

ENVIRONMENT
In terms of building materials, it's clear that the project is environmentally sustainable. From the enormous bridge across the Ayung River and the giant Heart of the School to the abstract-looking balustrades and 'blackboards', the Green School is made out of 98 percent bamboo, along with mud, grass and other local natural resources. The use of non-sustainable materials is minimised—very little cement is used, for reasons of its energy consumption and carbon emission during production. Mainly mud is used for walls and floors. Widely available, bamboo—the fastest growing plant in the world and one of the most sustainable resources—can last a long time when kept from the elements and bugs. Some of the buildings were built on stilts (much like the formerly ubiquitous kampung house found in this part of the world) and covered with alang-alang grass roofs to deal with the former. Bugs were kept at bay by first dipping the bamboo in borax salt, a natural 'protection' against the insects.

The classrooms have no walls, allowing for breeze and, together with fans, natural ventilation. They are also equipped with a 'rig' and sails to keep the rain out and the wind in, creating a closer connection between students and the natural surroundings. Another advantage of an open classroom concept is the observation and sometimes use of nature as interactive teaching materials—the sight and sounds of the fauna, and smell of the earth after rain for instance.

The roads leading to and around the campus ground are made from sandstone blocks carved out of the local river valley and gravel developed from encrusted stone. Again using these natural elements, rather than say asphalt, would mean less impact on the planet. Also, it allows for adaptability—the rocks can be moved and placed where people like to walk. Pretty much of the local terrain has been retained—the hike we took up and down slopes and steps to get around the school grounds attests to this. Architecturally, the School has blended in very well with the physical setting—it isn't a bamboo alien spaceship. From afar the buildings could easily be mistaken for those belonging to a local village.

While it is still on the grid, the School aims to be off the grid, striving to be as energy independent as possible. To that end, they are implementing an experiment in micro-hydro power generation, with a 9-metre vortex generator; producing methane from cow manure for fuelling stoves; installing solar panels to supply permaculture projects; and developing a gasification unit that will use rice husks and other organic materials to produce electricity.

A big part of the School's environmental sustainability agenda is to be self-sustaining in terms of food. Thus it's no surprise that the founders, teachers and students grow food in the School wherever possible. The students each have a patch in gardens around the compound where they could grow their own fruits and vegetables, harvest and eat them. Excess produce gets sold at nearby local markets, in which the kids are also involved.

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