Located just five minutes drive from the cultural town of Ubud, Villa Sawah appears to float upon the rice fields from which it takes its name. The two-bedroom Bali property, complete with swimming pool, is built on 4000 square meters of land and was designed by the acclaimed architect, Guy Morgan; modeled on the traditional Dayak longhouses of Kalimantan, it was inspired by a neighboring granary building.
Number of Bedroom: 2
District of Bali: Ubud
Total Living Area: 150 m2
Total Area of Grounds: 6400 m2
This Bali villa is approached from the village of Penestanan. A 100-metre private pathway, bordered by a hedge of sleepy red hibiscus, brings visitors through the rice fields to a timber walkway leading to the front door. Flanked on one side by the tree-lined Wos River valley, the infinite 270-degree vista is unbroken by fences; and Bali’s revered volcano, Mt Agung, is visible on clear days. In traditional longhouse style, this Bali villa is constructed upon a raised platform one meter above ground level, ecologically designed around nature to preserve the contours of the land and allow animals and water to pass underneath. A further acknowledgement to the traditions of an ancient culture is the presence of a pair of hand-carved guardian statues at the entrance, while Indonesian timbers, clean lines, tactile contemporary furnishings and a soothing palette of colours make for an effortless and relaxed style.
Folding louvered teak doors and French windows provide the daily option of converting this Bali villa into an open pavilion. The fan-cooled lounge and dining area is in the centre of the house, furnished with comfortable L-shaped cane sofas, cabinets and a shelf unit housing a satellite TV and CD player. Rustic boat-shaped lamps rest at the base of the soaring ‘alang alang’ thatched roof above a terrazzo floor, and bold red walls accentuate the modern dining table with its six coordinating chairs. The fully equipped open plan kitchen is contained within a horseshoe-shaped natural stone serving counter with adjacent walk-in pantry.
A glass door at one end of the building leads into the master bedroom suite, complete with office and bathroom. The office of this Bali villa features practical shelving, an ample desk and a timber ceiling. The bathroom is located between the bedroom and the office, and is dominated by a large terrazzo bathtub, together with a washbowl resting upon a stand, a tiled shower cubicle, a toilet hidden within an alcove, and built-in cupboards and storage space. The air-conditioned bedroom is almost completely encompassed by three folding walls of glass, designed to maximize the panoramic rice field views. These French windows can be opened up to allow cool breezes and the sounds of nature to permeate and wooden shutters can be pulled down for privacy. The room, with its timber floor and ceiling fan, is simply furnished with a queen size bed, cane chest, stylish wall lamps and bedside tables.
The second bedroom of this Bali villa is located at the opposite end of the house. This room also boasts floor-to-ceiling French windows on three sides, a wooden floor, a queen size bed and simple, yet immaculate, contemporary furnishings. A frosted glass door leads to the guest bathroom, which features a tiled shower cubicle, washbasin and toilet.
Located next to the kitchen and master bedroom are two raised timber external decks, ideal for relaxing in the open air. From the lounge area, a short flight of wooden steps leads down to a white Palimanan stone pool deck furnished with four trendy orange sun loungers and two large Chinese-style parasols. The private 4 x 8-metre infinity-edge lap pool appears to overflow into the rice fields and river valley. A serene Buddha statue stands at one end.
What makes Villa Sawah even more special is its proximity to nature; the surrounding countryside is particularly beautiful, with numerous trails offering memorable walks through the peaceful rice fields past teams of gregarious ducks. The area is a bird watchers paradise, abundant with Bali’s famous white herons and many other species. Guests who stay here will be provided with a unique insight into life in rural Bali, witnessing time-honored methods of agriculture and tasting the produce of the land. The peaceful setting is perfect for couples who simply want to relax, or perhaps an artist or writer who might be looking for a tranquil retreat that is nevertheless only a few minutes’ drive from the centre of Ubud. The flat lawn at the front of the villa is well lit at night and is ideal for a small function; the staff quarters are located to one side.
The remarkable town of Ubud is Bali’s centre for fine arts, dance and music. There are many art galleries in the town displaying traditional and modern work; the museums showcase the island’s rich history, and the shops and the market stalls sell handicrafts, jewellery, woodcarvings, textiles, paintings and antiques. There are many, well-presented, cultural performances staged in the town, in particular the Hindu epic, the Ramayana; also the Kecak Dance, the Fire Dance, the Monkey Dance and the Legong Dance. The location is convenient for tours all over the island and is only a forty-minute drive to the coast and an hour and fifteen minutes’ drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport.
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