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Bamboo Architecture and Biophilic Design: Building Nature-Positive Hotels with Nomadic Resorts

  • Writer: Mind Hous
    Mind Hous
  • Nov 21
  • 10 min read

Updated: 3 hours ago



What if Your Next Hotel Could Absorb More Carbon Than It Produces?


Most hoteliers think sustainability means compromise—sacrificing luxury for eco-credentials, or breaking the budget to go green. But what if the most sustainable building material also created the most memorable guest experiences?


That's the reality Louis Thompson and his team at Nomadic Resorts have been proving for over two decades. Using bamboo construction and biophilic design principles, they've created award-winning resorts from Thailand to Mexico that embody regenerative design, are culturally enriching, and commercially successful.


In this episode of The Conscious Check-in, host Amy Wald sits down with Louis—currently calling in from Mauritius—to explore how hospitality can move beyond "less bad" sustainability to genuinely regenerative practices that incorporate permaculture design and rewilding principles. Whether you're planning a new build, renovation, or just wondering what biophilic design actually means in practice, this conversation offers a masterclass in designing spaces that heal both guests and the planet.


Why Bamboo Is Hospitality's Most Underrated Sustainable Material


When Louis describes bamboo, his enthusiasm is infectious. "It's like a bug," he says. "Once you get the bamboo bug, you're away." But this isn't just passion—it's backed by remarkable properties that make bamboo architecture ideal for sustainable hotel design and represent a new way of green building.


The Science Behind Bamboo's Superpowers


Bamboo isn't actually a tree—it's a grass. And that distinction matters for several reasons:

  • Extraordinary growth rate: Certain species like Dendrocalamus can grow up to one meter per day during rainy season. Compare that to trees, which take years to grow a meter.

  • Carbon sequestration: Bamboo absorbs 20% more CO2 than plants of equivalent size, making structures genuinely carbon-negative.

  • Strength: Bamboo's tensile strength is comparable to steel, with excellent compressive strength and resilience.

  • Resilience: After the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, bamboo was the first plant to grow back—a testament to its remarkable durability.

  • Versatility: From structural columns to flooring, textiles to utensils, bamboo has thousands of applications.


But here's what makes bamboo truly valuable for alternative lodging and hospitality: it's bendy. That flexibility allows designers to create organic, flowing shapes inspired by biomimicry—emulating natural forms—that would be prohibitively expensive or impossible with conventional materials.


From Marginal Land to Guest Delight


Unlike timber harvesting that often damages ecosystems, bamboo can be grown on relatively marginal land—areas not suitable for high-quality farming. It's widely dispersed across the planet, including species native to the US, South America, Africa, and Europe.


For hotel developers, this means sourcing materials locally, supporting regional bamboo farmers, and creating structures that feel authentically connected to place. As Louis explains, Nomadic Resorts often takes inspiration from the "spirit of place" (genius loci)—researching vernacular architecture and traditional building skills to create contemporary designs rooted in local context and bioclimatic design principles that respond to regional climate conditions.


This approach aligns perfectly with what guests increasingly seek: authentic sustainable hospitality that respects culture and environment while delivering exceptional comfort—creating places that celebrate culture.


Biophilic Design Isn't Decoration—It's Neuroscience


If you've heard "biophilic design" tossed around at conferences but aren't quite sure what it means beyond adding some plants, Louis offers clarity. The concept comes from E.O. Wilson's biophilia hypothesis: humans have an innate, evolutionary need to interact with the natural environment.


The Neanderthal Test


Louis uses a playful analogy: "Kurt the Neanderthal wants to go look for mushrooms, but Kurt wasn't very good at identifying key features of the environment. Kurt got lost and never came back. Meanwhile, Brock had a keener sense of his environment—he could identify biological indicators and environmental characteristics. He survived."


That evolutionary imperative is still with us. When we're surrounded by nature—or spaces that skillfully incorporate natural elements, patterns, and materials—our mental health improves measurably. Studies in prisons, hospitals, and schools all confirm this connection between sustainability in relation to wellness.


Beyond Literal: How Biophilic Design Actually Works


Here's something surprising: biophilic design doesn't have to be literal. Research shows that even an image of an animal can provide many of the same psychological benefits as having an actual animal present (though Louis notes he still recommends having animals when possible).


What matters is creating environments with:

  • Natural materials that don't off-gas toxins (more on that shortly)

  • Patterns and textures inspired by nature and biomimicry

  • Natural light and views of the outdoors, fundamental to bioclimatic design

  • Circadian lighting aligned with your natural body clock

  • Acoustic landscapes beyond generic spa music

  • Indoor plants that actively improve air quality (spider plants and Sansevieria are NASA-tested for absorbing toxins)


For hoteliers working in urban environments or dealing with existing buildings, this is encouraging news. You don't need a rainforest view to create wellness-enhancing spaces. Strategic use of materials, imagery, and design elements can significantly improve guest wellness even in dense city centers—a lesson learned from hospitality management pioneers and innovative hospitality trends.


The Playa Viva Story: From Concept to Award-Winner in Eight Months


One of Nomadic Resorts' most celebrated nomadic projects perfectly illustrates their philosophy in action. Playa Viva, located on Mexico's Pacific coast, was already operating on fully regenerative design principles when owner David Levintal (founder of the regenerative travel movement) approached Louis with an unusual request.


"Can You Design Bamboo Tree Houses That Look Like Manta Rays?"


The ask came during COVID, when site visits were impossible. Most design firms would have passed. But Louis and his partner Olav Brunn—"the bamboo ninja," as Louis calls him—had already built a large-scale bamboo kids' den at Soneva Kiri. They knew their wheelhouse.


Working remotely with bamboo master Jörg Stamm, they developed a relatively straightforward construction method using hyperbolic paraboloids—roof structures that bend in two directions simultaneously, creating even surface tension and those distinctive manta ray shapes inspired by biomimicry principles.


The timeline was aggressive: David approached them in April wanting to open by December. Remarkably, they designed and built the structures in eight months, entirely remotely, opening in December 2021.


Recognition and Results


The project won both the regional and Global Ahead Awards that year and was featured extensively in Travel + Leisure. But for Louis, the real success is the guest experience: "You really are completely interacting with the natural environment. You're experiencing fully the beachside location of the Pacific coast of Mexico, and little baby turtles come running out of the sand any moment. It's really a magical place."


This is what sustainable tourism done right looks like—commercially successful, culturally sensitive, ecologically regenerative through rewilding practices, and unforgettable for guests. The structures themselves became a draw, proving that sustainable design can be a competitive advantage rather than a compromise.


Well-Washing: The New Greenwashing Hospitality Needs to Avoid


During our conversation, Louis introduced a concept he's been mulling over: well-washing. It's a play on greenwashing, and just as problematic—representing one of the critical hospitality trends the industry must address.


The Yoga Mat and Crystal Approach

"You can take a traditional box on the beach hotel room, stick a couple of yoga mats in it, light a smelly candle, stick a crystal in the corner, and call it a wellness suite," Louis observes wryly. "But the whole room could be full of toxic adhesives and volatile organic compounds. You could literally be getting cancer whilst drinking your herbal tea."


This is more than snark—it's a genuine concern for an industry rapidly pivoting toward wellness tourism without always understanding what authentic wellness design requires, particularly the impact of tech on human wellbeing and the materials we surround ourselves with.


The New Car Smell Problem


Louis offers another vivid example: "When you get into a new car and smell that delicious new car smell, that's basically volatile organic compounds, which are really not good for your brain. It might affect your future child's math exam performance."


Most people don't realize many spaces we consider luxurious are actually toxic. Conventional building materials, adhesives, paints, and furnishings off-gas chemicals that affect cognitive function, sleep quality, and long-term health.


What Real Wellness Design Requires


Creating genuinely healthy environments that honor sustainability in relation to wellness means:

  1. Starting from the beginning with the right ethical framework, potentially incorporating Ayurveda principles and holistic management approaches

  2. Choosing the right site and partners aligned with wellness goals

  3. Using non-toxic materials throughout—not just in visible areas

  4. Understanding indoor air quality and actively managing it

  5. Applying neuroscientific research on how environments affect cognition and emotion

  6. Being honest about what you're delivering rather than engaging in well-washing


For hotels considering sustainability certification or positioning themselves in the wellness space, this distinction matters. Guests are increasingly savvy, and shallow wellness claims can damage credibility and guest trust.


The Future of Hospitality: AI-Curated Communities and Emotion-Specific Spaces


Where is all this heading? Louis offers a fascinating vision of hospitality's next decade that addresses the impact of tech on human wellbeing while creating meaningful connections.


Your AI Travel Agent Knows What You Need


"Most people are going to delegate their travel arrangements to some kind of AI agent," Louis predicts. This agent will analyze millions of reviews, align them with extensive data on your personality, preferences, spiritual beliefs, exercise habits, and more—then curate an itinerary of hotels, restaurants, spa experiences, and excursions specifically for you.


The result? "Birds of a feather will flock together." People with similar interests and values will naturally end up at the same destinations, creating stronger communities—representing a significant shift in hospitality trends.


Beyond Branded Residences to Tribal Affiliations


This shift changes what a "travel brand" means. Rather than celebrity-affiliated projects (Louis cheekily notes you probably don't want to live in "P Diddy's hip hop community" or "Jeffrey Epstein's private island residences"), brands will represent values, interests, and genuine community.


"It might be a kite surfing experience in Southern Mauritius, or a rock climbing retreat on the edge of Yosemite," Louis suggests. "When you go there, you'll find the kind of people you want to hang out with. Hospitality goes beyond being purely recreational to something more important."


Leaders like Malek Fernando, who has pioneered sustainable luxury experiences that honor cultural heritage, exemplify this evolution in hospitality management—creating properties that function as communities rather than just accommodations, from eco-conscious alternative lodging to innovative concepts like a floating eco resort in India.


Designing for Specific Emotional Needs


Perhaps most intriguingly, Louis envisions designing spaces for specific life moments and emotional states, incorporating principles from Ayurveda and holistic wellness traditions:

  • Pregnancy and birth spaces optimized for women about to give birth

  • Grief retreats designed specifically for processing loss

  • Transformation cocoons inspired by caterpillar metamorphosis (Nomadic Resorts' "looper" tents already explore this concept)


"We now have neurological studies on landscape design and its impact on cognitive function and brain health," Louis explains. "We have reliable scientific data to support these ideas. I think we'll be able to create environments that evoke certain emotions—spaces where people feel secure, spaces for growth, spaces for healing."


This is the intersection of emotional wellbeing and architecture that hospitality has barely begun to explore through regenerative design principles.


Practical Takeaways: Applying These Principles in Your Property


Whether you're planning a ground-up development or working with an existing property, here are actionable steps inspired by Louis's approach to bioclimatic design and permaculture design:

  • Start with honest assessment: If claiming "wellness" positioning, audit your property for volatile organic compounds, toxic materials, and indoor air quality issues. Real wellness design starts with eliminating harm, avoiding well-washing.

  • Think modular and prefabricated: Nomadic Resorts designs luxury tented structures that can be installed quickly with minimal site disruption. This approach works for expansions, seasonal properties, or testing new concepts in alternative lodging.

  • Research your spirit of place: Study vernacular architecture, traditional materials, and building skills in your region. Contemporary interpretations of local traditions create authentic sense of place guests crave and become places that celebrate culture.

  • Use biomimicry for problem-solving: Facing a windy, exposed site? Consider which natural forms are most aerodynamic (hint: eggs). Biomimicry offers time-tested solutions to design challenges.

  • Invest in real biophilic design: Go beyond adding plants. Consider natural materials, acoustic landscapes, circadian lighting, textures, and strategic views. Even images of nature provide measurable benefits.

  • Embrace farm-to-fork and holistic management: Properties like Soneva demonstrate how integrating food production through holistic management practices enriches guest experiences while supporting permaculture design principles.

  • Partner with specialists: Working with experts like Greenluxe can help you implement genuine sustainability practices rather than superficial "green" claims.

  • Make structures part of the experience: The Playa Viva manta ray tree houses prove bamboo architecture itself can be a reason to visit. Think about how your buildings could enhance rather than just house the guest experience.

  • Consider rewilding: Integrate rewilding strategies that allow native ecosystems to regenerate on your property, creating authentic nature experiences for guests.


Building Beauty That Regenerates


Louis's legacy aspiration is beautifully simple: "I like people to think that whichever pieces of land I was given responsibility for, I left more beautiful and more diverse than when I came in."


That's a standard hospitality should embrace—not just reducing harm, but actively improving the places and communities where we operate through regenerative design. With materials like bamboo, design principles rooted in biophilic design and human evolutionary needs, and technology enabling both better building and better guest matching, it's entirely achievable.


The hotels thriving a decade from now won't be those with the fanciest amenities or the biggest marketing budgets. They'll be the ones creating genuine wellness, authentic community, and measurable environmental benefit—proving that profit and regeneration aren't opposing forces but natural partners. These properties will represent the best of hospitality management that embraces sustainability in relation to wellness while carefully considering the impact of tech on human wellbeing.


Want to hear Louis's full insights on everything from organic architecture to future wellness communities? Listen to the complete episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.


Ready to Create Your Own Nature-Positive Property?


Whether you're exploring bamboo construction, pursuing sustainability certification, or redesigning spaces for genuine wellness, Greenluxe can guide your journey.


Amy Wald and her team specialize in helping hotels implement profitable sustainability practices that enhance guest loyalty and operational efficiency—without greenwashing or well-washing.


Book a 1:1 consultation with Amy to discuss your property's unique opportunities.


Explore Greenluxe's Services:


Download our free guide: 10 No-Cost Ways to Go Green and start your sustainability journey today.


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