Become a Master Builder
You’ll leave this workshop with the skills and confidence to bring natural building ideas into reality. Whether you’re deepening your architectural practice or taking your first hands-on steps – this is where theory meets real materials.
You’ll shape, connect and create with bamboo and adobe and walk away prepared to start your own sustainable projects.
Who is this workshop for?
This course is designed for people who want to move from theory into practice – whether you’re in the field of architecture, working on your own projects, or simply want to learn how to build with natural materials the right way.
Students & Graduates
For those who’ve studied architecture, sustainability or design – and want to deepen their knowledge through hands-on experience.
Architects & Professionals
For anyone working in construction or planning, looking to integrate bamboo and clay into modern, sustainable building solutions.
DIY Builders & Creators
For hands-on learners and project lovers who want to work with natural materials beyond YouTube – and gain real skills for their own builds.
Overview of the Course
This 7-day workshop takes place in the jungle of Costa Rica and offers a full experience of natural building, community and cultural immersion. You’ll gain practical skills in bamboo and clay, eat local food and connect with people who share your mindset.
Below, you’ll find a short overview of what’s included.
skill
Bamboo Building
Skill
Clay Work
knowledge
Tools & Techniques
experience
Community
Experience
Local Food
Experience
Nature & Animals
Our Bamboo Master
Rodolfo Sáenz has over 40 years of experience working with bamboo and adobe – combining ancient knowledge with modern possibilities. His mission is simple: To share his skills with passion and empower others to build with natural materials.
For Rodo, bamboo and clay are not just tools – they are the future of sustainable construction.
“Bamboo is the metal of the future.”
Rodolfo Sáenz
Module 1. Recognizing & Harvesting Bamboo
Start by identifying mature bamboo and learning when and how to harvest it properly. You’ll use tools like the chainsaw and learn to treat the bamboo with borax and borax acid for longevity. This module builds your awareness of the material – from forest to usable form.
Module 2. Crafting Structural Connections
Learn how to join bamboo poles using techniques like precision cuts, hand-made bamboo nails and you learn how to join pieces together with a rope (lashings). This is where you develop control and understanding for how structures come together – clean, strong and without metal.
Module 3. Identifying & Preparing Clay
Shift focus to clay – explore how to find suitable soil and how to create stable building mixtures with sand, straw, clay and water. You’ll learn what makes good clay usable and how to process it for reliable use in natural building.
Module 4. Clay Construction & Surface Work
Learn to build with clay – from base layers to finishes. You’ll work on clay floors, walls and plastering techniques to bring structure, texture and warmth into your building skillset.
Module 5. Reflection & Completion
In the final phase, refine unfinished work and reflect on what you’ve learned. You’ll also connect with the group and your instructors – and leave with a clear idea of how to apply these skills beyond the course.
Learnings
- Work confidently with bamboo and clay
- Build functional structures from raw resources
- Develop practical creativity and design thinking
- Integrate bamboo and clay into your future building projects
- Connect with like-minded builders and creatives
- Leave inspired, grounded and ready to build more
- Master a skillset that aligns with the growing global shift toward natural building
I did never work with bamboo before and I learned you can do anything with bamboo. You really showed me, that everything is possible.
Kilian
Austria
Me gustó mucho que el curso fuera tan práctico. El programa me parecía ambicioso pero lo cubrimos bien en realidad
Santiago Padilla
Mexico
I really liked the course. We learned many different things and I learned a little bit more how to work with my hands wich is very important.
Kristiyan Genchin
Bulgary
Material Mastery
Learning by doing – from raw bamboo & adobe to real structures and hands-on building experience.
Community
Build, share and grow together with people who care about natural materials and meaningful design.
Vision & Application
Discover how bamboo and adobe can shape your future projects – from small ideas to bold visions.
What is included?
Join our 7-day immersive course in natural building where you’ll work with bamboo and clay, gain real hands-on skills, and learn in a small group surrounded by jungle, tools and traditional knowledge.
The Program
A full 7-day workshop with hands-on modules in harvesting, crafting, and building – all guided by bamboo master Rodolfo Sáenz. Teaching, meals during the workshop and the base accommodation are included in the price.
Local Costarican Flavors
Enjoy traditional Costa Rican meals prepared with love by our in-house cook – fresh, regional and served between workshop blocks.
Accommodation
Standard accommodation is in a tent (1600$). For an additional price (400$) you can upgrade to a shared cabin. Cabin spots are limited – first come, first served.
Free pdf document 📄
Download your free Costa Rica Travel-Guide
In this guide we share our favorite spots and locations in Costa Rica. This is perfect when you plan to visit and haven´t informed yourself yet. After reading you will know the fundamentals of travelling to Costa Rica including important information about local do´s and don´ts, culinary tips and our favorite places.
Welcome to Finca Renacer
A Place you don’t just visit — you experience!
It’s a journey back to the pure nature and abundance. Explore the breathtaking jungle, feel it’s heartbeat, hear it’s symphony, smell and taste it’s richness. Our vision is to cultivate a world where we can live in harmony with nature, integrating sustainable practices and ancestral wisdom to create a regenerative future.
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