Putri Wihoho - bamboo designer

I first met Putri more than 5 years ago when we worked at Ibuku, Bali. Putri is a talented and passionate designer who has now struck out on her own. She produces characteristic interior, furniture and accessory designs in bamboo that are stunning and remarkable. Working together with Widhi Nugruho of StudioWNA, they have successfully delivered bamboo buildings especially in the resorts and guesthouse sector. Putri has also founded RASS Interiors from which she designs bespoke furniture pieces and accessories. Check out their IG’s and website - details at the end of this article.

Questions:

1. Tell us about yourself/company, how it was started and why it exists.

I’m Putri Wiwoho, majoring in Architectural Engineering. Experienced in Architecture Company for 2 years, and 1 year experienced in interior and manufacture and 1 year experienced in interior and furniture manufacturing with wood specifications. My curiosity about bamboo made me find out information about bamboo that finally could join a bamboo company called "IBUKU". I worked for 7 years as Interior, furniture and product designer with an architectural background. 

And now it has been 2 years I run my small own company . I collaborate with a local bamboo architect specialist under brand STUDIO WNA and I my self focus on Interior, furniture and product designer for bamboo specialist under brand RASS Interior. 

2. Which regions do you work in and Why Bamboo?

Bali is the best island for planting bamboo and growing. And Bamboo is a sustainable material, because it only takes 5-7 years to harvest. From bamboo plantations, to continuing to harvest, to turn it into a product, architecture, to business and tourism. Actually, Indonesia is already familiar with bamboo. That is our traditional material used to build homes and their activities.  For example we can use bamboo for food, cutlery, furniture, etc. But after the Post-modern era, bamboo is known as an ancient material.

I chose bamboo, because bamboo is affordable. We can use all parts of bamboo. Bamboo itself is very unique. In Indonesia we have more than 160 species of bamboo. But we only use 10 species.

For me Bali is the best place to support bamboo again as a local material for growth. Bali is famous for tourism. This is an opportunity to develop the uniqueness and superiority of bamboo in the form of a product. Bamboo and Bali are considered very supportive. With bamboo it can also attract tourism to Bali which is known to be rich in culture and craftsmen. So, Bali is right place for me to work and develop anything about bamboo.

 3. What species of bamboo do you use and how was it treated?

We use 10 species of bamboo

• Dendrocalamus asper (Schultes f.) / Petung (Black and yellow)

• Bambusa bambos / duri

• Gigantochloa atroviolacea / wulung

• Gigantochloa pseudoarundinacea / gombong

• Gigantochloa apus / tali (black and yellow)

• Cendani / pancing

• Bambu jajang

For the treatment especially for our work we use 2 type of treatment. Usually we go to clients to choose the treatment process.

1st. Boiling the bamboo with borac boric acid. Before that we have to drill the bamboo inside to the bottom. And boil bamboo for 2 days.

2nd VSD system (vertical soak diffusion). We set the bamboo to vertical, before that we drill it but we stay close to the bottom knot. And we put water that has been mixed with boric acid. And save for 2 weeks. This system is cheaper than boiling, but takes longer than that.

4. Who builds the designs and if you can elaborate on the making process especially the artisans and special skills required, if any ?

Bali is enriched with artisan and craftsmen. Between designer and artisan has to be supporting each other to get perfect product. Especially for craftsman products and furniture, I chose the best craftsmen who have the skills, accuracy, and good taste. Having the same taste between designer and artist is important throughout the process. Because we not only want good products, but we also want to produce on time with perfect results and reasonable costs.

5. Anything special or challenging that you want to share about your designs?

We are not enough to just be a designer. We don't have enough good designs. But we also think about how our product will appeal to many people and can also be used. Not just thinking of producing designs because we like them without having any function. The challenge is running a business. I can't say bamboo is a cheap material. But bamboo is a decent material. If we control the process from the material we choose, we pay attention to the maintenance process, we carry out quality control correctly for the product, we take care of the product, so we can get results with good quality that can last more than 20 years.

6. What are the main challenges in bamboo for your work and how are you approaching these challenges?

Our design process and production process are different from other designers. The designer has been directly involved in production. I have to make a shape with actual scale based on the template from my hand directly. Like sketching on a scale of 1: 1, and earth as paper.

I have to approve a template that I made myself before the craftsman continues to produce. Because, it is important for production costs that affect business.

7. What is your favourite all time bamboo building/designer and why? 

IBUKU especially Elora Hardy is my favorite designer bamboo building so far. Not because I used to work for them. But the taste and quality I have been compared to the other bamboo product/ building is very perfect quality from IBUKU. But now, a lot of bamboo designers are born. And I happy because my dream want to make bamboo is back in the interest.   

8. What makes your work different and unique?

I am not saying that my work different or unique. Every designer has different process of that, has unique characteristic in each product. But I believe that my product cannot be copied with another. Because my team is amazing at supporting my skills and imagination. We don't just create products. We create a soul in products, we do business with that soul.

RASS Interior is an Bamboo Interior Consultant and Bamboo Furniture manufacturing. This Interior Consultant collaborate with Studio WNA as Bamboo architect consultant. We manufacturing product and furniture bamboo specialization by hiring competent bamboo craftsmen. Most of product made by handmade process. 

We have many projects in Indonesia, like in Bali, Sumba, and Lombok.  Also we have some projects out side Indonesia like in Malaysia, China and India. For last few years we also made some bamboo workshops for architecture students, bamboo lovers, and some communities in Indonesia. Our workshop ideas are shared our knowledge and experiences about how to plant bamboo, make a good bamboo preservation, making scale bamboo models and hand on training to build the bamboo buildings and Interior.

Designer   (founder)                          :   R.A. Putri Wiwoho, B.Arch

Professional Architect Affiliation               :   Indonesian Institute of Architects

Professional Worked Experience           : Arah Garis Architect Consultant

IBUKU/PT.Bamboo Pure, Ibuku.com

Valore Interior and Manufacturer

Website                                                : StudioWNA.com

IG                                                           : @rass_interior,  @StudioWNA