L ‘Alila Villas Uluwatu Resort by WOHA

L ‘Alila Villas Uluwatu Resort, which opened its doors in June by sip, was designed by the study WOHA as an environmentally sustainable project. Located in the savanna landscape of the Bukit Peninsula in Indonesia, perches on the southern Indonesian island of Bali and has 50 hotel suites and 35 villas.
The project investigates the possibility of mergers between vernacular architecture and modern design, combining the traditional architecture of Balinese pavilions and landscape with the modern and dynamic ways of dealing with space and form. The project is based on the pleasure of experiencing this particular site, rather than gather itself stereotypes or general resort of Bali.

Was used for the project a unique architectural language. Rather than the typical steep slopes of Balinese pavilions that have obstructed views on the gentle slopes, the buildings are based on the terraces instead of farmers consisting of stacked limestone boulders.
A low, sloping roof terrace has been built using volcanic pumice Balinese, natural insulating material that can also support local ferns and succulent plants. These flat roofs blend with the landscape, while maintaining the broad views that make the site unique.

Hotel rooms are designed as “green villages” rather than a traditional room. The walls of the garden are also the walls of the room, within which all activities such as sleep, eat, relax and swim, take place in an “environment-garden.” Each villa has a swimming pool with private cabanas overlooking the sea. The hillside villas are designed as pavilions connected by bridges over water gardens on the terraced slopes of the hill.

The project was focused from the beginning on the preservation of local characteristics. The masterplan respects the site’s profile. All the big trees are retained or transplanted. The vegetation has been detected and documented, with samples sent to Kew Gardens for identification. A nursery was set up on site for the reproduction of native species that are used in the landscape, rather than using exotic species from other areas. The local plants have adapted to dry savannah landscape remain dormant in the dry season and offering a unique spectacle in the flowering season. These native gardens require much less water than others and encourage wildlife to stay in the area.

The materials are all locally sourced, from stone carved in situ to sustainable timber, including coconut and bamboo. The interior furnishings, lamps and accessories are made by artisans in Bali and the nearby island of Java. This strategy makes the project unique in terms of materials, support of local skills and lends prestige to local materials, promoting their use with the locals who aspires to expensive imported products.

The complex was designed from the beginning to exceed the requirements of the Green Globe 21. A consultant has prepared an environmental plan starting from the stage of preliminary design. The contractor has undertaken to comply with a plan of environmental quality for the construction phase and the landlord to carry out environmental practices for the management of the hotel.

The complex is a precedent for the future understanding of the resort, where luxury has to mean excessive consumption, but joy and enjoyment of natural beauty and sense of place.