Breaking Bamboo Boundaries: Elora Hardy's Visionary Nature-led Designs Redefine Luxury
Echo Main House at Green Village in Bali. Photo by Indra Wira.
The influence of the Hardys extends far beyond the deep blue waters surrounding the island of Bali. They garner international recognition for their ‘ecologically mindful’ bamboo structures in the sustainable design community.
One of the driving forces behind the Hardy family is Elora Hardy, the Founder and Creative Director of IBUKU, a cutting-edge design and architecture studio in Ubud. In her role, Elora has not only carved a niche for herself and her family’s business but has also elevated Bali's architectural landscape to new heights.
Elora Hardy. Photo by Suki Zoe.
Through her designs, Elora Hardy has seamlessly blended artistic ingenuity with environmental consciousness. Her creative prowess, coupled with the collaborative efforts of her team, has left an indelible mark on Bali through the creation of iconic bamboo hospitality structures.
IBUKU’s initial entirely bamboo bespoke homes located at Green Village became a testament to the elegance of artisan-led sustainable architecture. Ever since, her team has continuously impressed the world with a series of hospitality projects, such as the awe-inspiring Bambu Indah and Mari Beach Club in Bali, Indonesia, and the breathtaking Nayara Bocas Del Toro in Panama.
Since 2010, Elora's unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of sustainable design has not only transformed spaces but has also set a precedent for innovation and excellence in the industry.
Update as of Jan 2024: Green Village will soon have 24 bamboo houses.
Sunset Bar at Bambu Indah. Photos by Dody Suryawan.
Mari Beach Club. Photos by venue.
Bali: A Continual Source of Inspiration
Enchanted by the charm of Bali in the 1970s, Elora's parents embarked on a journey that laid the foundation for a life of creativity while raising a family. Elora's formative years in the stunning rice fields of Ubud formed the prologue to an astonishing story that unfurled across continents, from the serene mountains of Bali to the bustling landscape of New York.
Yet, the frenetic pace and cutthroat ethos of New York left Elora feeling disoriented, prompting her return to Bali in 2010. Driven by a desire to take on a fresh challenge in sustainable design, she took on her first design project with the Green School Bali, which was founded by her father John Hardy and stepmother Cynthia Hardy.
This started a prolific 13-year odyssey of bamboo, in which Elora methodically transformed Bali’s architectural landscapes with over 200 bamboo structures. Each project bears the imprint of her innovative approach, from the sanctuaries of houses and spa centers to the grandeur of resorts and beach clubs.
Today, as the Creative Director of IBUKU, Elora's focus is on integrating bamboo with local materials, resulting in seamlessly blended designs.
The Arc at Green School Bali. Photos by Tommaso Riva.
An Ambitious Mission to Shift the Perception and Use of Bamboo
Bamboo, as a building material, has been valued for its durability, accessibility, affordability, and adaptability. However, its widespread use has been curtailed by traditional treatment limitations. As Elora highlights, her team is on a mission to redefine bamboo, steering it away from the perception of a basic material to that of an aspirational one.
At the same time, her team’s interaction with bamboo has taught them to pay attention to the critical aspects of design such as prioritizing climate factors and showcasing the material in its best form.
Beyond theory, Orin Hardy, Elora's brother, takes the lead at Bamboo Pure workshops, guiding teams of artisanal builders and furniture makers in the physical construction with bamboo. This underscores the pivotal role of education and collaborative efforts as the linchpin for effecting substantial and enduring change.
Lumi Shala at Alchemy Yoga Center, photo (left) by Iker Zuñiga Alonso and photo (right) by Putu Aris Sumardiana.
Balancing the Wow Factor and Green Principles
In industries like hospitality and design, where visual impact is crucial, the challenge lies in creating the "wow" factor while adhering to sustainable principles such as minimal material usage and repurposing.
At IBUKU, Elora and her team prioritize a design philosophy centered around durability and longevity. They achieve this by employing safe and natural treatment solutions for bamboo, spearheaded by Linda Garland. As Elora explains, these techniques result in bamboo structures that can last for decades, even lifetimes, similar to wooden structures.
Additionally, the IBUKU team’s creativity has enabled them to maximize bamboo’s durability and adaptability to create beautiful structures at, just to name a few, Bambu Indah, Green School, and Mari Mari Beach Club, impressing even the most skeptical individuals.
Photos by IBUKU.
Weaving Nature into Hospitality is a Harmonious Choreography
When describing the working process with hospitality companies, Elora beautifully expresses, “Designing could feel like choreographing a series of movements. [It is a] choreography of shelter, comfort, and inspiration.”
Her team’s first step is to understand the client's ambition and vision. They then dive into logistical details while ensuring the design maintains a cohesive connection with its surroundings. They constantly explore how each aspect, from structure to texture, influences a person’s emotional experience with the entire space.
This is particularly imperative when building with bamboo and other natural materials as they are never uniform. “This inherent individuality of natural materials is what makes them compelling, and also demands adaptation and harmonization in the overall design, akin to a dance partnership,” as Elora elaborates.
“From a craftsperson perspective, there is a constant improvisation. Each piece of bamboo is a new and unique dance partner. He or she must adjust to fit with them, accommodate them, find a flow with them, and plan them into the overall dance of the item.”
— Elora Hardy
Founder & Creative Director at IBUKU
Tilem Shala at Alchemy Yoga Center. Photo by Tommaso Riva.
A Panama Connection Led to IBUKU's International Debut
In an unexpected turn, IBUKU's first international hospitality project was in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Elora explains that the founder of Nayara Bocas del Toro fell in love with her team’s work in Bali, leading to a remote collaboration during the pandemic despite the geographical distance.
By working with a local wood builder who sourced sustainable timber from the Panama Canal, her team came up with a design that repurposed and utilized the resources available in the remote area to structure the treehouses, complemented by bamboo shades. In the end, the IBUKU team crafted an off-grid and luxurious experience, showcasing nature-led design even in a tranquil island setting.
Since Nayara Bocas del Toro, they have designed restaurants in Africa, Maldives, and Thailand.
Nayara Bocas de Toro Tree Houses in Panama. Photo (left) by hotel; photo (right) by Rodney Mendez.
To Scale Nature-Led Design, Reimagine Luxury as Thoughtfulness, Not Excess
With a profound commitment to her craft, Elora goes beyond mere professional engagement, leveraging her influence and wealth of experience to catalyze a paradigm shift within the hospitality industry.
At Further East 2023, a preeminent high-end travel trade show in the Asia-Pacific region, Elora delivered a compelling address that challenged conventional notions of luxury. She fervently advocated for a recalibration towards thoughtfulness and sustainability, prioritizing them over opulence and excess.
In a post-event interview with ASTB, Elora asserts, "Scaling this movement involves a fundamental shift in how we perceive luxury. We have to reimagine what luxury means by making it more accessible and inclusive.”
But for many hotel developers and designers, the ‘how’ question remains one of the toughest unsolved puzzles. Elora further elaborates, “It's our responsibility to seek out and elevate materials that we're proud to work with, ones that excite us and challenge our creativity. Each of us holds a conscience and has the moral responsibility to leave a positive legacy.”
“While project financing inevitably influences most designs, designers have a duty to be innovative and strive for the best outcomes, sometimes even thinking beyond the immediate project brief.”
“Scaling [the nature-led design] movement involves a fundamental shift in how we perceive luxury. We have to reimagine what luxury means by making it more accessible and inclusive.
It's our responsibility to seek out and elevate materials that we're proud to work with, ones that excite us and challenge our creativity. Each of us holds a conscience and has the moral responsibility to leave a positive legacy.”
— Elora Hardy
Founder & Creative Director at IBUKU
Elora Hardy delivered a speech titled “The New Luxury: Harmony in Nature-led Design” at Further East 2023. Photo by Jeremy Tran.
Building a Green Future: Wisdom from Elora Hardy
Elora imparts wisdom gained from her journey, emphasizing the integration of sustainability into the professional ethos.
She argues that nature-led design entails embracing the innate beauty of materials unique to each environment and culture while challenging conventional norms and igniting transformative changes.
Quoting her father-in-law, “It’s not about protecting or saving nature. We are nature. Humans and nature are one.” Elora encourages aspiring professionals to immerse themselves in educational platforms that center on human-centered practices and nature-based thinking.
The journey toward a green future is not just a possibility; it's a responsibility that all designers, travelers, and hospitality professionals must share. With innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to sustainability, IBUKU is leading the way, showing that a nature-led future is not only desirable but also entirely achievable.
Main House at UMA JIWA. Photos by Tommaso Riva.
Bambu Indah in Ubud, Bali. Photos by hotel.
