ZOO Planckendael in Mechelen, Belgium, built what is said to be Europe’s tallest bamboo tower. This structure stands 28 metres tall and became the centrepiece of the zoo’s redesigned entrance. More than just an architectural highlight, the project offers valuable insights for architects, landscape designers, and product developers working with sustainable and biobased materials.

Bamboo as a Sustainable Construction Material

The tower is built using engineered bamboo—a renewable material known for its strength and ecological benefits. Often referred to as “green steel”, bamboo grows quickly and absorbs large amounts of CO₂, making it a low-impact choice for construction. Unlike traditional materials, bamboo combines sustainability with impressive structural performance.

Before construction began, the team at ZOO Planckendael collaborated with Ghent University to test the bamboo extensively. The material passed fire, compression, bending, and tension tests with excellent results. According to project manager Elizabeth Carlon, a single bamboo pole can hold the weight of three elephants. This demonstrates the material’s potential for large-scale and load-bearing applications.

A Tower Inspired by Nature

The tower’s design draws inspiration from the storks that nest throughout the zoo. These birds are known for building their homes high above the ground. The bamboo structure encourages visitors to look up, mimicking the natural behaviour of observing storks in their environment. This nature-inspired approach aligns closely with biophilic design principles, which aim to connect people with nature through architecture.

In addition to the tower, the entrance area will be significantly expanded. It will include a wider gateway, improved accessibility, and visitor facilities such as a subscription counter, first aid station, breastfeeding room, and an accessible restroom area. A new gift shop will also be part of the design, enhancing the overall visitor experience.

Lessons for Designers and Architects

For architects and landscape designers, the bamboo tower serves as a successful case study in integrating biobased materials into public architecture. It proves that bamboo can be more than a decorative element. Instead, it becomes a structural solution that is both functional and symbolic.

Product designers may find inspiration in the tower’s modular assembly and the material’s natural properties. Bamboo’s light weight, durability, and renewable nature make it suitable for a wide range of applications beyond construction, such as furniture and spatial installations.

While the project may be less directly relevant to interior, fashion, automotive, or packaging designers, its focus on circularity and ecological aesthetics offers cross-disciplinary insights. For example, the tower exemplifies how sustainability can be integrated into storytelling, branding, and visitor engagement.

Source: ZOO Planckendael, Looopings.nl, RTV.be
Images: ZOO Planckendael, Looopings.nl