Indoor-Outdoor Living

RIGHT Two slim sculptural “walls”, clad in dark grey sukabumi stone, emerge from the Tra villa pool giving the whole compound a strong identity. Water exits from outlets at the top of these walls, providing a double purpose: aesthetic (the stone is always wet, black and shining) and utilitarian (they serve as water inlets for the pool).

Designed by Italian GM Architects, this villa is one FROM a 22-villa complex in Seminyak called the Layar. In Indonesia, layar means “sail” and this aptly describes the single most iconic feature of the home—a distinctive sloping roof, made from natural ironwood shingles, that extends from almost ground level and interplays with horizontal and vertical planes and volumes. It draws the eye from whichever angle you look at the home.

This style of roof has been called GM Architects’ signature, but the company is quick to point out that its work encapsulates much more. “We always look to create an organic type of architecture, one that is naturally connected to the environment,” says a spokesperson. “Materials, textures, the finishing, the relationship between landscape and architecture—all are high on our agenda.” Certainly in this villa, the connection between the different internal spaces and the exterior is fully explored: there are intimate protected areas, wide open-to-the-sky decks and other areas that merge the two. Adding different levels has provided a further dynamic.

Quality of materials is another hallmark: A variety of natural building substances—Indian slate, andesite stone, acid-finished unpolished marble and tropical benkerai wood—are all utilized with a deft hand. Soft and hard, curved and straight, fluid and geometric, all juxtapose to create a bold architectural statement, yet one that encapsulates easy tropical living. Whatever you think about Layar’s highly original style, the home is user-friendly, compact and energy efficient. And the proximity of the pool and garden, with framed views, makes for a real indoor-outdoor tropical living experience.

In a bid to up the eco-friendly factor, the architects utilize natural light and ventilation wherever possible. Light and breezes enter freely in places where one angular roof seemingly hovers over another, or where walls and partitions are separated from the roof structure. In addition, the ceiling above the upper living area at the back of the house is composed of a series of wooden L-shaped beams connected with panes of glass; these invite different types of light to filter through into the interior. Similarly, spaces between deck and living area, front entrance and interior, kitchen and garden are left fully open, facilitating plentiful cross-cooling. The only enclosed spaces are the three bedrooms.

Over the years, GM Architects has carved a niche in Bali’s architectural scene. Known for bold, modern forms, it’s easy to gloss over their architects’ respect for the local environment, their ability to re-work traditional Balinese forms, and their adherence to what is a typical Balinese tradition: living closely with nature. At Layar, these factors are key to the overall design.

ABOVE Characterized by its bold, geometric roof forms, this villa has all the ingredients for a cool modern tropical-living cocktail: water, garden, indooroutdoor spaces and a strong, yet fluid, connection with the surrounding landscape.

OPPOSITE The curvilinear shape of the pool contrasts strikingly with the geometric forms of the villa roof. A triangular

Jacuzzi sits adjacent a deck in bengkerai wood, on which modernist loungers from

Hishem Furniture have been placed. The pool is tiled with sukabumi stone tiles in a gorgeous deep green shade.

ABOVE The main living area, wrapped by its seemingly hovering woodshingle roofs, opens to the pool on left and leads to another higher-level lounging area (in background on right). The interiors are designed by Luca D’Alessandro, a Bali-based interior designer, who custom-crafted all the furniture in the villa. A sofa suite in white-washed rattan with charcoal upholstery, wooden coffee table and two standing lamps in metal work well with a collection of decorative lava stone panels on the wall. The cool floor is in unpolished marble finished with acid.

LEFT The transition from bengkerai wood decking to unpolished ivory marble flooring marks the entrance to the villa. The curved wall, on right, is clad in Indian slate.

OPPOSITE TOP A view from the living room out through the main entrance of the house. The curved wall (on left) and triangular wall (on right) play with the wooden structure of the roof to produce a dynamic architectural composition that defines the indoor-outdoor transition of the villa.

OPPOSITE BOTTOM Another exterior view shows the second poolside deck and the way one roof form slots over the other.

RIGHT The master bedroom is a cool combination of beige, taupe and cream with a white palimanan floor and leather-and-wood chaise lounge (just seen on left), armchair and bed in chocolate tones. A selection of local artefacts sits on the ledge behind.