It is no coincidence that we remain closely connected to our roots in Balinese architecture. In his book, ‘Traditional Architecture of Bali’, I Nyoman Gelebet once summarized that the enduring relevance of traditional architecture, still significant after five centuries, speaks volumes about its sustainability across time and eras.
We have ‘taksu’, or the closest equivalent in English, which is ‘the soul’. It refers to the total ambiance and appearance of a building that gives ‘taksu’—resulting in our hearts being moved by the experience. It appears spiritual and rich with meaning, somehow recharging our energy.
When we were commissioned to design resort facilities on a 5800m² plot of land in Tabanan, our client reminded us that the strongest amenities a resort could provide are its traditions. We are on the same page to give this project its ‘soul’ or ‘taksu’ to live inside the hearts of guests – because location-wise, the resort is not in a tourism zone. The plot is located deep in a rural area; building regulations classify this area as ‘residential’. Therefore, major structures and facilities need to proceed carefully as long as they promote Balinese culture and concern for Nature.
We write “Nature” with a capital ‘N’ because the nature of the site is very serene. It appears as a nestled area unknown to the rest of the world. The jungle is ancient, and the river is pure. We can imagine this resort becoming a modern expression of ‘silent luxury’, giving its own pride to the guests who discover it.
Indeed, we intend the guest to discover the new expression of tradition. In this process, we arrange an storyline that guide us into our goal. We highlight the concept with a tagline ‘The Serendipity of Wanadesa’s Solitude’. The main highlight is the word Wanadesa that means a ‘forrest village’ – a concept where wellness and serendipity seamlessly come together. This concept is enhanced by the site’s unique features and potential: a natural, endless spring within the site; the Yeh River flowing nearby; and Pura Beji located next to the site. The ambiance resembles a forest, where no trees were cut during the conceptualization and design phase.
The idea is to incorporate an authentic Tabanan-style architecture from the Majapahit era, characterized by its masculinity and bulkiness, fused with local materials such as sandstones, paras stones, and woods. Incorporating elements like the Meru and Pura-like shapes, we aim to achieve a robust architectural presence.
In the solitude of the forrest in the infuse of Tabanan-style, the bulkiness resembles a monastic atmosphere that gives safety and protection. The use of local stone material adds harmony to the region – also it blends perfectly with greeneries in the background. The entrance will give present of Tabanan’s soul as first impression.
Further exploring Balinese architecture, the design study implements the ‘meru’ as the main theme of the roof. In traditional architecture, ‘undagi’, or traditional architects, signify ‘roof’ as ‘the head’ and ‘a wall’ as ‘the body’. This is why the structure of a traditional house’s roof is often more complicated and holds significant meaning. For ‘meru’, it signifies the spiritual height of a building. The more ‘meru’ tiers there are, the more sacred the building is considered.
We still have the freedom to how the original form inspired a design. But the idea is to give a rememberence of the previous craftmanship and if possible opening a new thought the possibility how the shape of ‘meru’ could be explored without compromising the original tradition – spiritual value.
After all, this ‘hidden luxury’ is equipped with five-star facilities. Currently, there are no similar facilities nearby. It includes private villas spread along the river setback in five different types, a yoga deck, and a poolside restaurant. Most sacred of all is a Beji (water spring) temple inside the resort, finely integrated within the amenities.
The resort design is the result of our deep study and understanding of traditional architecture. Originally, traditional architecture functioned as part of religious complexes or rural residences. Adapting this for a resort requires careful consideration of how well it fits operational requirements and complies with regulations. Following all of this is a commitment to nature, people, and tradition.