Images:idiggitt
On the road to Uluwatu in Bali, a discreet sign takes you down a farm lane which becomes increasingly manicured as you approach the front gate to Alila http://www.alilahotels.com/, the new resort designed by WOHA wohadesigns.com .
Passing through the gate, the front lawns cascade down the slope towards you in a series of terraces reminiscent of paddy fields. The centre of the resort sits slightly elevated from the entrance, with villas set behind embedded in the hills – only their individual Bale’s visible in the trees.
The man building is a single storey structure – simply modelled and laid out with colonnades which always end in a controlled landscape feature of water, sculpture, and greenery. The man entry which is open has endless views through the resort to the horizon.
The whole composition sits on the edge of a 400m cliff top, with the feature Bale cantilevered dramatically over the edge – stand there if you dare!
Openings are serrated with local stone, thin concrete lintels separating them from breezeways above. The only anomaly being the connection of the modernist restaurant canopies that does not meet the main structure easily.
The landscape is equally finely crafted, balancing the level and depth of water to create patterns and junctions of superb quality. The central space playing with levels and materials, link strongly with the man building and bind it to its setting; even the roofs are green so the building disappears as you look over it from the villas.
Passing through the gate, the front lawns cascade down the slope towards you in a series of terraces reminiscent of paddy fields. The centre of the resort sits slightly elevated from the entrance, with villas set behind embedded in the hills – only their individual Bale’s visible in the trees.
The man building is a single storey structure – simply modelled and laid out with colonnades which always end in a controlled landscape feature of water, sculpture, and greenery. The man entry which is open has endless views through the resort to the horizon.
The whole composition sits on the edge of a 400m cliff top, with the feature Bale cantilevered dramatically over the edge – stand there if you dare!
Openings are serrated with local stone, thin concrete lintels separating them from breezeways above. The only anomaly being the connection of the modernist restaurant canopies that does not meet the main structure easily.
The landscape is equally finely crafted, balancing the level and depth of water to create patterns and junctions of superb quality. The central space playing with levels and materials, link strongly with the man building and bind it to its setting; even the roofs are green so the building disappears as you look over it from the villas.
Sustainably, the resort uses local volcanic stone in detail, and for the roofs, where it acts as a natural insulation and also supports growing of ferns - other stone is from Bali or Java reducing transportation. Local craftsmen - of whcih there are still many in Bali, worked the stone, and created the furniture.
The planning of the site followed closely the exisitng contours reducing excavation - any necessary excavated material being used in construction.
The landscape uses indigenous planting that lays dormant in the dry season - naturally requiring less water for the dry savanah environment. Rainwater is collected and stored in retention ponds - sewerage and grey water treated on site.
Ailia is one of the first eco-friendly yet luxury resorts in Bali, showing the two can co-exisit. Its a showcase for this type of development.
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