The future is in the hands of the young the young are molded in universities around the world to take charge of the future. As such, it is relevant to know the level of readiness the young have to deal with New World Problems. In the area of the built environment it is public knowledge that the use of cement and steel in construction is harmful to the environment due to their methods of fabrication. Thus, it is necessary to gauge the level of knowledge new and emerging architects, designers and other paraprofessionals in the construction industry have on the alternative sustainable materials which can be used in construction and hence, secure a better future. This paper, is based on a survey of students of Bachelor of architecture of the Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia testing their awareness and knowledge on the use of bamboo as a construction material, focusing on the main elements of the building, namely; the floor, wall, roof and columns. Architects and designers need to have a basic knowledge of these aspects in order to use the materials as they are conventionally or traditionally used, or begin to innovate new ways to create realistic, sustainable pieces of architecture, using this alternative material. The issue of sustainability is a concern for all and sundry and permeates all aspects of life. With buildings taking up to 30% of energy globally, hence in terms of architecture, awareness is necessary for all, not just those enrolled in specialized sustainable architecture programs. this is highly relevant because without knowledge or even basic awareness of the existence of such alternatives they will just follow the status quo of using reinforced concrete and steel, which has been proven through research to be highly harmful to the environment.

The aim of this study is to highlight the potential of Malaysian architects to use bamboo as an alternative to common modern construction materials. In order to do this, the objectives of the study are; to determine how bamboo is being used in formal architecture in Malaysia, to investigate the current state of the formal Bamboo architecture industry in Malaysia and 3. To ascertain the views of Malaysian architects towards bamboo as a building material. A qualitative research methodology was used to attain these objectives, in which; case studies of completed bamboo architectural structures were looked at, Malaysian architects with completed bamboo projects were interviewed and a survey of Malaysian architects was conducted. The case studies revealed that bamboo is currently used for the four main components of a building, namely; floors, walls, columns and roofs. From the interviews, it was surmised that the Malaysian bamboo architecture industry is still in its infancy, although it is starting to grow slowly. The survey results found a statistically significant, positive correlation between the perception of using bamboo and wood for design, but statistically insignificant correlation between constructing building components with wood against bamboo, except for flooring. The survey also found that what attracts a Malaysian architect most to bamboo, is its aesthetic qualities. There is a lack of local labour to build bamboo structures, despite bamboo suitable for construction being readily available throughout the country, hence it was concluded that the potential for bamboo as a construction material is untapped in Malaysia