Located in a compound in Canggu, these two villas are ideally situated close to the beach in a beautiful Balinese garden with mature trees and plantings. Although totally different in layout, design and atmosphere, they share a common architectural language, exemplified by the extensive use of old ironwood electricity poles as a structural and aesthetic element and the correspondence between the architecture and its surrounding landscape. Both villas take full advantage of the serene surrounds in which they find themselves.
Designed by Indonesian architect Yoka Sara of the firm Bale Legend, the villas employ both modern and traditional elements. Sara was aiming at a balanced composition, and this he has achieved with a strong interplay between curved and straight, horizontal and vertical, heavy and light. Named Emerald Sunset and Emerald River for obvious reasons, both villas are impressive additions to the Bali holiday rental scene.
Emerald Sunset is composed of three two-storey buildings linked by a second-floor terrace, which has fabulous sundowner views over the sea. The main volume sports a fresh architectural composition: old electricity poles and hollow steel beams form the basic structure which houses a downstairs living area and an upper relaxing corner. A slim curved metallic roof is the most eye-catching feature: it both insulates the building and seems to soar above it giving a general sense of agility and lightness.
This contrasts, yet complements, the other two structures that are rather more vernacular in form: an open dining pavilion and a building that houses the bedrooms. The latter is noteworthy for its use of double-height ironwood poles that support the roof and, in some cases, plunge down into the 20-metre-long (56 feet) curved swimming pool that hugs the side of the building. The pool is composed of lava stone and Indian slate tiles that change colour from emerald to sky blue depending on the time of day and the weather.
Emerald River, the second villa, is more traditional architecturally but is nonetheless stunning mainly because of the way its buildings have been incorporated around an “island” of mature trees and vegetation. Comprising four different two-storey buildings, linked on the second floor by a large terrace and connecting “bridges”, it sports a curved pool with a dramatic concave overflow, attendant sinuous pavilion-style living and dining spaces and again the use of structural ironwood supports.
There is no doubt that guests are spoilt for choice as regards key locations in both villas: Where to lounge? A poolside pebble-washed terrace, an open-plan living room overlooking garden and rice field or a 25-sq-m Jacuzzi? What better dilemma to have when on holiday?
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