Swarna Hutama Loka Wins 2025 Asia’s Best Landscape Planning at Asia Architecture Design Awards

Swarna Hutama Loka Wins 2025 Asia’s Best Landscape Planning at Asia Architecture Design Awards

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Swarna Hutama Loka is proud to announce its recent win at the Asia Architecture Design Awards (AADA) 2025, securing the title of Asia’s Best Landscape Planning for its project, Sanna Ubud  A Pramana Experience.

The Asia Architecture Design Awards (AADA) is an esteemed annual recognition platform that celebrates outstanding achievements in architecture and design across Asia. Organized by an independent professional body, AADA highlights innovative, contextual, and impactful design works that shape both the built environment and social-cultural landscapes.

The 2025 edition of AADA was held at The Shilla Seoul, South Korea, where design professionals and industry leaders from across the region gathered to honor design excellence. SHL co-founders, Jungyat and Sasta Jelantik, were present to receive the award on behalf of the entire team.

The Story Behind Sanna Ubud’s Landscape

The landscape design for Sanna Ubud was crafted by the collaborative team of SHL People, combining sensitivity to site, culture, and natural context. One of the key voices behind the narrative of this project is Ni Diah Tantri, who shared how the landscape was not only designed through spatial strategies but also through emotional intuition and cultural depth.

The design draws inspiration from the traditional Subak irrigation system and spatial principles of Balinese villages, blended with tropical elements such as natural pathways, reflective ponds, and edible gardens that are fully integrated with the guest experience. As part of the storytelling approach, the project also introduces artworks inspired by animals a visual expression that reflects the stories and values embedded in the cultural context. These creatures are not merely decorative but symbolic representations of life lessons and harmony, enriching the landscape with layers of meaning.

Through this approach, the landscape transforms into more than just an outdoor area it becomes a living stage filled with emotion and narrative, offering a deeper human-nature connection through design symbolism.

A Design Manifesto with Soul

At SHL, design goes beyond shaping space it’s about nurturing context, honoring stories, and responding to human aspirations. Guided by our Design Manifesto, every project we create is rooted in four key principles: Desa Kala Patra, Client Dreams, Storytelling, and Sustainability.

The Desa Kala Patra philosophy teaches us to respond to the specific place, time, and social-cultural circumstances, allowing each design to harmonize naturally with its surroundings. We believe great design begins with the courage to dream thus, every project starts with understanding the client’s vision and translating it into meaningful and functional space.

Storytelling is embedded in all of our works through spatial form, landscape, and artistic elements serving as a medium to convey identity, values, and experiences. Above all, we stay grounded in our commitment to sustainability, using locally sourced materials, passive strategies, and long-term thinking to create spaces that are regenerative and respectful of nature.All of these values are anchored in what we call the Soul of Our Design:
Culture, Art, and Nature. Culture gives identity, art brings expression, and nature restores balance. These three forces continue to live and breathe in every SHL project making design not just about space, but about life stories worth remembering.

Thank You to SHL People

Swarna Hutama Loka extends our deepest gratitude to the entire SHL People team for their dedication, attention to detail, and spirit of collaboration.This achievement belongs not to one individual, but to the collective spirit of the team. Thank you to every colleague who poured their time, thoughts, and energy into bringing this project to life.

This award serves as both a reminder and a motivation for SHL to continue moving forward with intention guided by our Design Manifesto to create works that are not only functional but also filled with soul.

shl asia | architecture | landscape | interior | lighting | artwork

Introducing the Newest Addition in SHL Asia

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shl asia | architecture | landscape | interior | lighting | artwork

After managing to get through the unpredictable year of 2020, SHL Asia strives to come back stronger than before. We have been clearing our vision to achieve higher goals in 2021. Aside from having a complete revolution within the company, SHL Asia is having new additions of divisions and principals. Previously, there are only three divisions and principals in SHL Asia which are architecture, landscape and artwork. This year, SHL Asia is partnered up with other consultants to establish interior and lighting division as well as welcoming the first ever, two women principals into landscape and interior division. We are proudly celebrating women power in the newest milestone of SHL Asia.

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Duo principals of landscape design, Anang & Atria

Currently, there are 2 principals for the landscape division. The first one is Anang Rahman, which we have introduced and thoroughly covered on the 7th Issue of Design by Style. On late December of 2020, we have appointed the new principal of landscape design, Atriawardhani and effective starting on January 2021. She has quite a long history with SHL Asia, it was started with her internship program during her senior year in the university and applied for an architect not long after she finished. Atria was graduated from Landscape Architecture study of Udayana University. She is and always been passionate with all things plants as she constantly showcases knowledge and skills both in the studio and out in the field.

Coming up with new divisions for SHL Asia was definitely a big step for us. With past experiences as well as many possible opportunities, however, we made the decision through careful considerations. SHL Asia intends to create design that is integrated from one element to another. The correlation between architecture, landscape, interior, lighting and artwork needs to be synergized. Not only they can complement each other but also beautifully tied up together. SHL Asia’s interior division is trusted under the interior design principal, Citra Reninta. We decided to affiliate with an interior designer partner to truly deliver expertise. She has classy taste of design and offers variety of styles on her portfolio. We admire her works very much and feel honored to be able to work together.

shl asia | architecture | landscape | interior | lighting | artwork
shl asia | architecture | landscape | interior | lighting | artwork

We believe in the people. The new principals have proven to show high work ethic while demonstrate professionalism even in this men-dominated industry. With the addition of two strong women in the front line, SHL Asia is a diverse institution that accommodates true ethic and skills. Moving forward, 2021 is a new year, new culture and new goal. We feel greatly optimistic about it and so thrilled to deliver timeless design for valuable people.

Cheers,

SHL Asia Team

shl asia | architecture | landscape | artwork

SHL Asia Reflects on 2020

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shl asia | architecture | landscape | artwork

The end of the year is near. Looking back at what happened this year, we have reflected and came to realize how much things have changed from inside and out. It changed on we think and manage things. When the pandemic struck earlier this year, everyone was at lost, including us. There was no warning nor announcement to prepare us for what has to come.

Initially, people were not sure about what was going to happen, especially Balinese people where the island is hugely supported by the tourism sector. After the travel warning was out, the economy just went downhill. Restaurants were out of business, hotels were closing down, malls and stores are closed. As a consultant that focuses on hospitality design, SHL Asia is more or less affected by the situation since many of our clients come from hospitality sector that are greatly impacted.

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Fortunately, we are surrounded by respected clients, partners and loyal friends that continuously support us through these hard times. When we surround ourselves with positivity, we can see the silver linings in every condition. We see things in a more positive way thus affect our attitude in facing certain things and attract what our mind is thinking. Hence we managed to get through this year.

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Throughout the year, we have designed various projects for both landscape and architecture. The same goes with construction project that are still going forward even with slower pace. More on that, with everything that is going in, here are some things that we are grateful about and worth celebrating this year.

2020 remarks a decade SHL Asia being in the industry. We were established in 2010 and ten years later here we are. Like a human being, SHL Asia has matured each year aiming for the better self than before, to deliver better service and design and to give back to the community. To celebrate this glorious event, together with a hospitality photographer, we are planning something really exciting in 2021, something big and never done before. (Follow us and stay updated!). Fast forward to the last quarter of the year, we got the opportunity to be featured on Lumion Indonesia’s official website and Youtube channel. We are honored yet humbled to be able to contribute and share our design to bigger audience.

shl asia | architecture | landscape | artwork

Aside from that, every year the architecture community regularly holds several design exhibitions and seminars. With the pandemic going on, big gatherings like such were not being held like normal. Just like many other activities, almost all of them have turned into an online event to avoid big crowds. Seminars turned into webinars on zoom and formal exhibition turned into Instagram panel exhibition. It did not feel the same but it obviously worked

We are astonished on how people adapt to certain condition and manage to make it work. When things like this happen, the only thing we can do to survive is to keep moving forward and adapt. We surround ourselves with good people and good vibes and overall being grateful about little things we have taken for granted. For 2021, we wish to be kinder and a better SHL Asia for everyone. So long 2020…

Cheers,

SHL Asia Team

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The Rising Popularity of Concrete on Bali Architecture Map

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Concrete in Bali

Here in Bali, the Balinese red bricks characteristic is slowly shifted to other different materials, such as concrete. Although concrete is not common in traditional Balinese buildings but it has made its way to Ujung Water Palace (Taman Ujung) in Karangasem where it was used its renovation after Mount Agung eruption. The palace was originally built by the King of Karangasem, I Gusti Bagus Jelantik and it is a privately owned by Karangasem Royal.

shl asia | architecture | landscape | artwork
Picture Courtesy of @dewandra via Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/p/CFIya4hBsl1/)

In modern architecture of Bali, concrete is usually left in its exposed state in order to create a raw, industrial statement. Using concrete to form simple but striking volumes of different shapes and sizes is a common approach, often designed to create architecture that contrasts with nature, yet feels grounded within its context.

Tropical Brutalism Architecture

Concrete is now becoming more popular in the island. One of the reasons is due for its reflective nature. Concrete reflects heat as opposed to absorbing it, making it suitable in this tropical climate of Bali.  More commercial buildings, art spaces even private houses are now implementing raw concrete finish and often adorn with tropical softscape. This concept is also known with the term of “Tropical Brutalism.”

shl asia | architecture | landscape | artwork

Some of the most interesting architecture today lies in the architects’ ability to find a connectivity of buildings and nature by combining it with other materials like wood, glass and steel for that twist of design. Concrete and wood is particularly popular pair in Bali. Combining woodwork adds warmth and ease to a massive concrete building impression. It also picks up more texture and pattern to the concrete backdrop.

shl asia | architecture | landscape | artwork
shl asia | architecture | landscape | artwork

Nicolas Schuybroek X SHL Asia

The concept is implemented for a private residence in Tabanan area, a collaboration on-going project between an international architect, Nicholas Schuybroek, as the principal architect and SHL Asia as the local architect. Nicholas’s architecture style is heavily influenced by minimalism and simplicity. His projects often use concrete material, including the one in Bali. SHL Asia will add more tropical feel to overall design through the simplistic tropical garden. Although the design looks modern and minimalistic, the details are exquisite. It may seem cool from its exterior, but the interior and furniture give warmth throughout the house creating a sense of balance.

shl asia | architecture | landscape | artwork
shl asia | architecture | landscape | artwork

With the endless possibility that concrete can offer, it is no wonder that it gotten more and more popular in the architectural map across the country especially in this island. The challenge for architects will be to ensure that such innovation would not replace or overshadow the vernacular architecture of Bali, rather it can be combined and integrated with such harmony creating an extraordinary contemporary design.

Cheers,

SHL Asia Team