bamboo gridshell shields lyth design's food street in india

The Hungry Caterpillar uses 3D-printed modular kitchens

Set beneath a dense canopy of trees in India’s Ashoka University, The Hungry Caterpillar by Lyth Design rethinks the idea of a food street as a place of shelter, curiosity, and ecological responsibility. Designed by architect Apoorva Shroff, the project moves beyond the logic of fast consumption, proposing a child-friendly environment shaped by nature-inspired form, low-impact construction, and material efficiency.

The concept takes shape through the simple yet evocative image of a caterpillar feeding calmly within its habitat, protected by foliage and form. From this initial intuition, the bamboo structure evolves into a cocoon-like street structure that invites lingering.

Sustainability is embedded into Ashoka University’s canteen at multiple scales, beginning with its kitchens. Inspired by food trucks, the modular cooking units are 3D printed in concrete and assembled on-site. Produced by Micob Pvt. Ltd. in Ahmedabad, the printing process uses an additive method that deposits material only where needed, reducing construction waste compared to conventional building techniques. The automated fabrication shortens construction time and lowers energy demand, while the cavity between the printed walls acts as thermal insulation, limiting heat transfer and improving energy performance.

all images courtesy of Lyth Design

bamboo gridshell by Lyth Design shields the project in India

Overhead, Mumbai-based practice Lyth Design unifies the food street by a distinctive bamboo gridshell that gives the project its caterpillar-like identity. Drawing from natural geometries, the shading structure curves in two directions, achieving strength through form rather than mass. Like a leaf that folds efficiently toward sunlight, the bamboo shells use minimal material while spanning large distances. The longest gridshell extends 19 meters and is composed of four layers of bamboo poles, each measuring 30 to 50 millimeters in diameter and laid at 45-degree angles. A crushed bamboo mat completes the surface, reinforcing the structure while maintaining a low environmental footprint.

The structural system was developed by Atelier One in London, with architectural detailing by Jurian Sustainability, and construction carried out by Jans Bamboo. The use of slender bamboo sections enables the complex double curvature, resulting in a lightweight yet expressive canopy that balances craftsmanship, engineering precision, and ecological sensitivity.

Seating elements, developed by Placyle, are made from recycled plastic waste, transforming discarded material into weather-resistant pieces suited for outdoor use. Rather than treating sustainability as an abstract principle, the furniture translates it into a tangible, everyday interaction, where reuse and longevity become part of the user’s physical experience of the space.

a bamboo gridshell canopy arches over the food street