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An Ecologically Sensitive Design for Magical Vacations in Bali

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Overlooking the Indian Ocean on the wild loveliness of the west coast of Bali, architecture firm Word of Mouth created an architecture that truly connects with an elegant setting in the Villa Tantangan.

The vacation house is located within natural Balinese landscapes on a private and secluded beach at  Nyanyi Beach.

Because of the remote location of the project, it was designed to be self-sufficient using solar panels to provide energy.

The roofs are landscaped with natural vegetation beautifully framing the reflective blue solar arrays that provide the power.

Arrayed in a series of pavilions, situated on different levels of the land, rooms are treated like giant planter boxes housing the solar arrays on green roofs.

By splitting the forms – natural ventilation is enhanced, cooling each of the spaces, further reducing energy needs.

The green filled planter boxes also provide cooling effects to these spaces below and assist with rainwater collection.

Because it is split into pavilions, each of them can be cooled from all four sides.

The material palette is largely comprised of natural and locally sourced materials.

Local suppliers and artisans were also supported by their craftwork in the project.

A beautiful local river stone was gathered to build this shower stall.

The material palette reflects the building’s location.

The architecture not only sits sensitively on the land, but actually becomes part of it, creating intimate internal spaces between the buildings.

All of these green systems and design approaches result in further reducing the project’s carbon footprint.

The boundaries between the natural and built environments are softened, with refined landscaping.

Lovely textural contrasts in stone and wood echo the views across to the local beach temple and to a volcano in the distance, wrapping up a truly magical place.