The rebirth of Bali style
When Bali style first came about in the 80s it was heavy on pavilions, antiques, garden sculptures and alang alang roofing. Then, over time, as Bali grew in popularity and became more sophisticated, the designs evolved to became quite homogeneous. Lots of square blocks with a more urban feel; an amalgam of what could better be called tropical style, which had a heavy influence from tropical Australia, urban Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
But if you look around at what is being built today there seems to be a return to authenticity in provenance. It's interesting if you look at the newish hotels in Bali, like the St. Regis and the Bvlgari, to see that they are very much nodding to that original Bali style but with a modern, more luxurious and practical twist; designs that capture the imagination and the romance of Bali harking back to the heady days of the early 70s.
Is this the beginning of a return to Bali style's architectural roots, with the mixing of the old and the new as people start to demand authenticity and responsibility, and not a Big Carbon Footprint with Fries to go in a tropical McParadise? From a financial perspective indeed, it makes much more sense to use more local materials like Indonesian stone, marble tropical hardwoods, and even coconut wood to design and build their homes. This is what tourists want to see and feel when they come, not glass and stainless steel.
Lesley Campbell from interior design company Cempaka has noticed a change in the market over the past five years where the demand has gone from a more European influence to much more interest in the Asian aesthetic. "In our shop we have gone from mainly European to a more Asian influence and that has been driven by the demand of the clients," she explains. "The quality of the craftsmanship in Indonesia is so high in terms of what they can do and it is now finding a modern interpretation of that that is driving the shift."
There are without a doubt many beautifully designed modern homes in Bali that break the mould. Architects like Gfab, GM and Glen Parker are creating some wonderful, yet respectful works of art that, while pushing the boundaries of their surroundings, blend effortlessly with the landscape.
Unfortunately, there are quite a few architects who's work does not and they continue to churn out cookie cutter boxes by the dozen with no character or charm at all.
Your house needs to be reflection of where and who you are. It's a personal journey and homes need to reflect the very different aspects of one's self. If you are living in Singapore you don't want the same living environment when you come to your house in Bali.
Your surroundings need to trigger a sensory experience of those places that tells you where you are and bring about a sense of place, with none so more beautiful than Bali.
