FEATURES • SUPPLIERS
Altarize’s
Journey to Future-Proof
Construction
Altarize’s
Journey to Future-Proof
Construction
Tobi Klanner began his career in automotive engineering, but it didn’t take long for him
to feel the pull of something more creative. Drawn to the fashion industry for its freedom and
opportunity to explore the world, his travels led him deeper into nature and his dharma–
a desire to leave a lasting, positive impact. It was this calling that eventually brought him to Bali,
where he co-founded CoLabCo, a sustainable technology incubator. Along the way, Tobi saw
a pressing issue: the environmental toll of conventional construction materials.
m this, Altarize was born.
Tobi Klanner began his career in automotive engineering, but it didn’t take long for him to feel the pull of something more creative. Drawn to the fashion industry for its freedom and opportunity to explore the world, his travels led him deeper into nature and his dharma–a desire to leave a lasting, positive impact. It was this calling that eventually brought him to Bali, where he co-founded CoLabCo, a sustainable technology incubator. Along the way, Tobi saw a pressing issue: the environmental toll of conventional construction materials. From this, Altarize was born.
December 2024 • Words & Photography by The Punch
"We aim to empower individuals to contribute to the creation of healthier, more sustainable living environments for all."
Altarize
Altarize aims to transform the construction industry by introducing sustainable, non-toxic, and recyclable materials designed to reduce environmental impact. With a focus on locally sourced, high-performance ingredients, Altarize eliminates harmful substances and creates durable, low-maintenance products for innovative design. By tackling key challenges like carbon emissions from traditional materials and the destructive practices of sand mining, Altarize promotes alternatives like recycled waste, glass, and plant fibers. At its core, the company is devoted to making better choices and global equality, supporting initiatives like affordable housing, and maintaining transparency and integrity in every aspect of its work.
The current focus is on finishing materials from natural paints to breathable and crack and mold-resistant plasters and renders for floors, walls, and ceilings. Inspired by traditional wisdom, enhanced the local environment as a drop-in solution for common existing chemical and cement-based materials. Over the past two years, dozens of villas, hotels, and restaurants have been finished already and the plan is soon to expand to rethink entire houses with the vision to one day create spaces in complete harmony with nature.
SOURCING WITH PURPOSE
At Altarize, materials are chosen with intention–locally sourced and naturally suited for the tropical environment. Lime and clay, both used for thousands of years, take center stage for their durability and even self-healing qualities. Indonesia’s rich landscape provides an abundance of these resources, enhanced by the minerals from volcanic sites. But Altarize goes even further, using upcycled materials and natural fibers to create high-performance systems. From sugarcane waste and kenaf fibers to sawdust, fabric scraps, and even horse manure, every element is repurposed with intention. By integrating these unconventional resources–glass, stone, and crushed construction waste–the company not only builds but actively helps clean the island, capturing carbon and turning waste into something powerful and lasting that unlocks total creative freedom to create any texture or color desired.
BUILDING EMPOWERMENT: ALTARIZE'S LOCAL IMPACT
For Tobi, Altarize is more than a business–it’s a purposeful journey toward creating change for both the environment and the people. Every step is intentional, free from toxins and harmful sanding practices that expose workers to health risks. The focus is on cultivating a workspace that’s safe, clean, and inspiring, allowing everyone involved to prosper.
Tobi plans to expand regionally, building partnerships with local craftsmen and creating micro-economies that benefit the community. However, finding reliable workers and maintaining consistency across Bali’s sprawling geography is no small feat. Managing projects can become a marathon of daily drives to make sure tasks are on track, workers are focused, and project managers stay aligned.
Altarize is Tobi’s platform to leave a legacy–one where the local community holds the reins in shaping their futures. His goal is to create a self-sustaining business that empowers workers to not only excel in their trade but also inspire the next generation to take pride in their work and give back. Altarize supports its workers by providing materials for home renovations, offering loans for bikes, and sparking personal growth. Altarize’s vision is to guide the team toward leadership, with the hope that one day, they may run their businesses and collaborate.
Beyond logistics, the challenge lies in aligning work ethics. Tobi uses a flat salary structure to create a sense of shared purpose, and he encourages flexibility–allowing staff to work from home or remotely, as long as the quality of work remains high. Tobi’s approach is one of patience and adaptability, knowing that progress is built slowly, with care and intention, to make work fulfilling, rewarding, and sustainable. The rest? It’s waiting for the right pieces to fall into place.
REDEFINING PROGRESS THROUGH CHALLENGES
The rapid rate of development in Bali brings a unique set of obstacles, often ending in shortcuts with execution that undermine the integrity of projects. The landscape itself presents a host of challenges, from the lack of proper education for laborers to the extremes of tropical weather, tectonic activity, and seaside exposure. But perhaps the most disheartening aspect is the social toll this growth takes. It’s hard to ignore the reality of poorly paid workers, many of whom have traveled from across Indonesia. These individuals often live in substandard conditions, scraping by on wages barely sufficient to send money home, with the heartbreaking reality that they see their families just a few times a year.
The situation becomes even more concerning when considering the exposure these workers face–handling toxic materials without protective gear, risking their health in environments designed for profit, not people. Beyond the human impact, the environmental costs are staggering. Harmful toxins leach into the waterways and the air, while sand mining and the relentless flow of heavy trucks contribute to the destruction of ecosystems. Without intervention, this path could easily lead to a crisis that reshapes the island in irreversible ways.
Altarize stands as a response to this impending disaster, offering a technological solution that doesn’t just focus on innovation but also sustainability. The materials used are non-toxic, free of sand, and built to endure Bali’s challenging environment. This approach not only protects the environment but also shifts the narrative for workers. At Altarize, it’s not just about the product–it’s about creating a social enterprise that provides health insurance, higher wages, better food and living conditions, and a clear growth path. Workers receive English lessons, training, and a career trajectory that empowers them to take control of their futures. Through this model, Altarize offers a glimpse of what the industry could be–a balance between progress, sustainability, and human dignity.
INNOVATION & DURABILITY
One of Altarize’s early projects was a modest house built with walls and a roof made entirely from recycled cardboard, later finished with Altarize’s signature materials. Three years on, it still stands strong, proof of how durable, sustainable spaces can be made at lower costs. Another standout success came with their innovative insulation techniques. By retrofitting a roof with an insulation layer, Altarize reduced the surface temperature by over 30 degrees. This simple adjustment allowed the home to stay cool with minimal air conditioning, sharing the potential to not only create efficient homes but to contribute to cooling down entire urban areas.
HOLDING ONTO HOPE
For Tobi, hope is a quiet resilience, something that stands still even in the face of overwhelming change. The rapid overdevelopment of the island is undeniably a challenging chapter, with infrastructure struggling to keep pace. Yet, Tobi remains optimistic, believing that some of the new developments are slowly moving in the right direction. Over time, he trusts that systems tend to cleanse and rebalance themselves. Bali, he says, can only handle so much–there’s a limit, and when it’s reached, the allure of the island will shift. As the pressures of overcrowding increase, so too will the push for change, and Tobi believes that could lead to positive transformations.
For now, the focus needs to be on improving infrastructure thoughtfully, acknowledging that Bali’s resources are finite. The island’s future depends on being more responsible, and Tobi sees nature as the true force. It has its way of setting boundaries, of reminding us when we’ve gone too far. Bali, with its deep-rooted heritage, will always signal when the balance has been disrupted, and it’s up to everyone–locals and newcomers alike–to play their part in preserving its culture and environment. Maintaining a positive outlook is essential for Tobi. He sees Bali’s potential to harness all this new energy and direct it toward something meaningful. For him, it’s about holding onto hope, trusting that, with the right intentions, Bali’s future can be bountiful, where progress and preservation walk hand in hand.
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