Jonathan Mizzi, Founder of Mizzi Studio, has co-designed a bamboo learning centre called Living Bridge at the Green School in Bali, Indonesia. The centre was created in collaboration with teenage students as part of the school’s Jalan Jalan programme, which empowers students to engage in hands-on learning projects.
The Living Bridge learning centre features a sweeping roof made from Pelupuh, a system of flattened bamboo shingles traditionally used in Indonesian architecture. The roof is supported by eight heat-bent pillars and cantilevers outwards, welcoming visitors from the entrance of the school. The centre is built from over 300 pieces of locally harvested bamboo, shaped using heat-bending techniques developed with local experts Bamboo Pure.
The centre has a flexible layout that allows for a range of events and uses. Circular furniture arrangements encourage collaboration, while booths create privacy, providing acoustically separate and intimate working spaces. The building also incorporates other sustainable materials, including terrazzo made from crushed glass, mycelium acoustic panels, and bricks made from waste ash and lime plaster.
The design process was a two-year “deeply collaborative journey” with students and teachers led by Mizzi. The entire school worked together to draw up a brief before students aged between 15 and 18 collaborated on the design process. The centre is furnished with pieces made by the students out of recycled materials from the site, maximising creativity through reuse while minimising waste.
“The Living Bridge isn’t just an architectural structure; it’s a vessel for possibility,” said Mizzi. “It proves what’s possible when youth are given trust, time, and mentorship.” Mizzi added, “I had the privilege of co-leading a course that empowered students to reimagine not just a space, but the future they want to live in.”
The centre is located at the Green School in Bali and is used to host events, programmes, and talks. It is one of the early landmarks on campus and has become a space of connection for parents, educators, and visitors.
