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The Istana
The Istana is located in the Banjar of
Suluban in Uluwatu, and rests high atop the peninsula of
southeastern Bali, an area known as The Bukit. The property
overlooks white sand beaches and a blue lagoon abundant with
fish and living coral, and offers a prime location from which
to witness the island’s stunning sunsets.
When the trade winds blow, a massive swell
from the Pacific Ocean crashes onto the reefs surrounding
Uluwatu, creating waves that attract surfers from around the
world; the breaks are known to be the fifth best in the world,
and are only a ten minutes walk from the villa.
With the villa located so close to the holy
Pura Uluwatu, one of island's nine mother temples, the site is
spiritually inspiring and undeniably unique.
Set back 40 meters from the cliff face, The
Istana sits on a tremendous gated property and is composed of
two swimming pools, a relaxation bale, a private guest house,
and a main house, which is fitted with a living room, dining
room, entertainment room (known as the Dot com room), and four
identical suites.
Both of the buildings are single-story and
open-air with rich teakwood floors, inspiring a natural
ambiance, while maintaining and accentuating the spectacular
view. The overall style is a compromise between understated
modern architecture and traditional Indonesian detailing, with
features that blend Indonesian materials and workmanship. The
artwork represents a mixture of primitive art and antiques
originating from Indonesia, keeping with the mood of
tradition.
The property is surrounded by an imposing
white wall, and it is through the massive accompanying gate
that one enters The Istana. The parking area offers ample room
for parking, and is paved with grass for a cooling effect.
Flamboyant and flame trees line the wall, providing shade,
with flowering pink, white, and red oleander and fragrant
lilac planted below. The modern kitchen, which is commercially
fitted with state of the art equipment, is in this vicinity,
set apart from the rest of the structures along with the
security post.
Lotus water gardens flank the streamlined
covered walkway leading from the entrance into the main house,
forming a straight line of sight leading all the way to the
horizon. The colour of the pool water blends into the oceanic
backdrop, so the two become merged to the mind’s eye, to
that point that the pool becomes an extension of the Pacific
Ocean that lies beyond it.
The main garden is decorated with palms,
heliconias and ferns, mixed with white flowering Spider
lilies, Aturium, and dwarf lilacs, whilst the gnarled trunks
of numerous frangipanis lead the view upward to their
magnificent, flowering blooms. The tropical flora shades the
side of the house and creates a privacy screen from parking
area and kitchen, while the water-ponds serve to naturally
cool the living room with the help of the south-easterly
breezes.
The walkway leads to the huge open-air living
room, which overlooks this breathtaking estate. The living
room is located at the center of the building, and the rich
teak wood floors are accented by the 8-meter high,
self-supported, exposed cathedral ceiling, complete with
ceiling fans. Matching natural wood wardrobes, and a stunning
U-shaped sofa bed surrounding a matching table enable the décor
to maintain a natural cozy interior, and a large white
limestone carving, depicting the legendary establishment of
Uluwatu, accents the right wall. The carving represents the
arrival of the priest Pedanda Sakti Wawu Rauh, who, according
to legend, came to Bali from Java riding on a "Kaluwih"
tree leaf in A.D. 1546, and achieved Hindu liberation, "Moska",
at the spot at which the temple was then established.
The open view offers constantly changing
natural lighting as the sun moves in the sky from dawn to dusk
and into night. At nighttime, with tactfully placed ambient
lighting accenting the villa’s design, one is immersed in
the interior, and the villa becomes it’s own private little
world.
Two symmetrical wings attached to the living
room accommodate the bar and dining room to the left, and the
Dotcom room to the right. Both rooms are slightly
separated from the rest of the space, and are fully paneled
internally and externally with teakwood, evoking a warm
comfortable feel. The impressive dining room table consists of
one solid slab of teakwood, and easily seats ten. This
air-conditioned area is enclosed by four sets of swinging
glass doors that can be opened if desired, and overlooks the
lily gardens to one side, and the expanse of the ocean to the
other. The specially designed lighting fixtures in the dining
room offer an intimate atmosphere, complimented by the
meditative sounds of the water feature in the garden. Outside
of the dining room towards the ocean-side of the property is a
stylish guest bathroom.
The bar area is connected to the dining room
by a glass door, and from here one can look into the living
room and out over the entire property. Chic barstools line the
bar, offering a prime location to enjoy a refreshing cocktail.
The Dotcom room is also an enclosed
air-conditioned space, which can be opened up if desired to
overlook both the front and back of the estate. There are two
wooden desk areas for computers and a massive relaxation
couch, which could easily seat the capacity of the house,
covered in Thai silk pillows, which faces the wide-screen
projection TV and entertainment centre.
The four bedrooms are located down open
corridors, two of which lead past the dining room, and two of
which lead past the Dotcom room. Each suite entry is decorated
with carved limestone blocks representing traditional Ikat
weavings from the islands of Flores and Sumba.
Each of the four matching suites is comprised
of a bedroom with a walk in closet, and indoor and outdoor
bathrooms. All of the bedroom walls are faced with timber
paneling to mid-height with white sand wash on top, leading up
to the high cathedral timber-lined ceilings with ceiling fans.
The furniture in the bedrooms was designed
especially for The Istana, as were the exquisite lighting
fixtures, and is made exclusively of recycled teakwood. The décor
in each room is primarily the same, with differences in the
color schemes. All of the bedrooms are walled on three sides
by folding glass doors which open up to the private gardens in
the case of the bedrooms facing the entrance of the property,
and which open up onto the huge property in the case of the
bedrooms facing the ocean. All the rooms have air
conditioning units that are recessed into timber frames for
aesthetic concealment. Remote sensors and thermostats
have been located as to offer reliability and access.
The en suite bathrooms are walled in white
sand-wash with highlights of carved stone trimming. All have
huge teak-framed mirrors above two sinks set in wood. The
indoor showers have huge rain-heads, and are enclosed on two
sides with glass but open to the front, leading out to private
gardens and sunken baths with views of the sky.
The master bedroom is located in the
guesthouse, which is separate from, and slightly more elevated
than, the main building, set back so as to offer complete
privacy. It has its own entrance way, parking facilities, and
swimming pool. The L-shape pool is two and a half meters deep
and is faced with a black volcanic stone. It has its own
outdoor shower and lounge chairs.
The guesthouse is divided into a deck, living
area, and bedroom with en suite bath to the rear. The rooms
are partially separated by a wall that comes halfway up from
the floor to the cathedral ceiling, and all of the walls are
faced externally and internally with teakwood. The living area
and bedroom both look out over the property, and are enclosed
on either side by swinging glass doors. A spectacular view of
the ocean is provided from the massive ironwood bed. The
bathroom is much like those in the main house, only it has
both an indoor and outdoor shower. A large day bed sits
on the deck and one can look directly out from this to the
relaxation bale.
The relaxation bale is set near the cliff
face adjacent to the property’s shrine, and is composed of a
white, solid stone bench encircling a large wood table. This
creates a luxurious setting, ideal for dining, or just for
sitting and relaxing. At sunset, the island’s
volcanoes are silhouetted against northwestern skies, and form
one of the most spectacular backdrops of anywhere in the
world.
The grounds of the property are in two
levels. The upper level consists of a large grass lawn of
thick, comfortable grass and two water gardens with fountains
to either side of living room. Tall coconut palm trees
create shaded areas without obstructing the sea view, and are
lit at night, brushing the lawn, water features, and swimming
pool with a serene glow.
The 30-meter-long swimming pool is set on
this level, and offers a breathtaking side to side infinity
line leading to the ocean background as the waters spill over
the edge nearest the ocean. It is four meters deep at one end,
and two meters deep at the other, and is faced with a green
granite stone originating from West Java. A
waterway that flushes into the pool is aligned to the main
axis of the building and starts with a jellyfish-like
bubbling, which makes for a striking light show at night.
Lounge chairs are set at either end, and an outdoor shower is
mounted on a white stone pillar to one side.
The lower level of the property consists of
succulent ground cover and a meticulous sprawling lawn, lined
along the cliff-side by 15 meters of spiky bougainvillea to
dissuade any wanderers and to create a subtle contrast with
the lawn. This area is ideal for wedding parties or events.
Guests with children may be concerned about
the safety of little ones around the water fixtures and cliff.
There will be a dedicated babysitter for the house and a
removable fence along the cliff face to make sure there is a
large open space where children can play safely.
Uluwatu is a powerful and awe-inspiring
place, so the elements of The Istana have been assembled so as
to match the heritage of the site. The house blends modern and
antique, with a European influence on an Oriental, more
specifically Balinese, focus of style. The natural materials
and abundant usage of rich teakwood and ironwood throughout
the house compliment this mix, and help the building merge
well with the landscape, lush gardens, and incredible view.
A villa whose name means palace, The Istana is for those who
enjoy feeling regal.
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