Uluwatu Estate | bali, indonesia
The relationship we have with this project (and client) holds dear to us. What started as a straightforward assignment for a simple holiday home more than fourteen years ago evolved into a complete undertaking of the architecture, interiors, furniture and even the display of a fully furnished eight-suite villa home that could be rented to friends and selected guests occasionally. It proved to be a labour of love – a “total work of art” in all aspects, and resulted in a lifetime of friendship with the client, up till today.
Challengingly sited on the cliffs above Nyang Nyang beach in Uluwatu, which is at the most south-western tip of Bali (“ulu” means “lands end”), the construction of the project took over a decade to complete for various reasons, one of which was because of the complexity of the site itself. The terrain naturally ran steep down towards the beach side, making it highly inaccessible, so much structural and earth work had to be done in order to bridge over an existing gully and build on the most difficult part of the site, which happened at the furthest end, in order to capture the most spectacular views overlooking the Indian Ocean. As such, much of the building materials had to be painstakingly & manually hauled into place, one step at a time.
The intention was never to create an opulent, extravagant and unfeeling design typical of luxury villas. Instead, it was to be an extension of the owner’s hospitable personality, who always welcomed family, friends and acquaintances alike into their home. The design was to encapsulate this aspect, to create an alternative experience and for their guests to feel immediately comfortable in the space.
Land area: 60,000 sq ft
