Bali’s New Big Tree Chocolate Factory is the World’s Largest Commercial Bamboo Structure

<a href="http://bigtreefarms.com/" target="_blank">Big Tree Farms</a> is a sustainable farm and artisanal food company that has been producing fresh foods and delicious chocolate for over a decade. The success of the chocolate arm of the company has taken off since its inception, and growing demand for the confection has called the need for a brand new factory to house all those sweets. Built near Ubud in Bali, Indonesia, the beautiful <a href="http://inhabitat.com/barndominium-green-live-work-space-is-a-modern-update-to-the-vernacular-barn/" target="_blank">pitched-roof factory</a>, is made almost entirely of sustainable bamboo, making it the world’s largest <a href="http://inhabitat.com/vin-varavarns-striking-botanica-office-roots-itself-within-thailands-national-park/" target="_blank">commercial building constructed from the material</a>.

Owned by Ben Ripple and Frederick Schilling, the new Big Tree factory will be home to the delicious <a href="http://inhabitat.com/boom-a-political-statement-in-the-form-of-chocolate/" target="_blank">organic chocolate</a> processing plant.

Rather than building an industrial eyesore, Big Tree wanted to pay respect to their adopted home, and build a structure that would blend in with the local <a href="http://inhabitat.com/pulau-joyo-is-a-dreamy-driftwood-retreat-in-indonesia/" target="_blank">Balinese scenery</a>, and be environmentally friendly.

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/passive-bamboo-residence-keeps-cool-with-green-pixel-brise-soleils-facade/" target="_blank">Three stories of bamboo</a> makes up the 23,500 square foot space. The high pitched <a href="http://inhabitat.com/majestic-bamboo-dome-built-using-not-a-single-nail/" target="_blank">bamboo frame roof</a> is made from dried native alang-alang grass.

Most of the interior walls and the façade are made from woven bamboo strips, but then coasted with food-grade sealant to appease the building codes. The resulting factory looks more like a lush Balinese plantation house than an industrial spot.

The new plant, which opened on 11-11-11 with a big party, will process Big Tree’s organic cacao, from <a href="http://inhabitat.com/edible-chocolate-records-actually-play-music-probably-taste-even-better/" target="_blank">bean to chocolate bar</a> all under one roof. Supporting local farmers, they’ll grind down local beans and combine them with their own Big Tree sustainable sweetener, coconut-palm sugar, making a totally local organic product.

With their new <a href="http://inhabitat.com/undulating-bamboo-panyaden-school-in-thailand-teaches-kids-about-green-living/" target="_blank">sustainably beautiful factory</a>, Big Tree will support over 9,000 Indonesian cacao farmers, including 2,000 local Balinese farmers. Big Tree also makes<a href="http://inhabitat.com/food-demand-to-double-by-2050-urban-agriculture-to-become-increasingly-important/" target="_blank"> sustainable goodies</a> like Coconut Palm Nectar, Coconut Water Electrolyte Drink Mix, Exotic Honeys, Seasalts and Seedchips.