BEAUTIFUL PRIVATE VILLA WITH POOL IN CENTRAL UBUD

Rather than repeat the many praises of prior reviewers – with whom I emphatically agree – I’d like to point out an underemphasized attribute of Villa di Abing: the brilliant design and execution of its architecture. Simply put, Villa di Abing is an architectural gem. It seamlessly combines elements of traditional Balinese architecture with modern design and materials to create a harmonious and organic whole.

The villa displays numerous aspects of traditional Balinese architecture. It consists of several closely spaced buildings connected by short breezeways, stone steps, and trellised walkways – echoing the multiple buildings and pavilions of a Balinese residential or temple compound. As befits its tropical environment, the villa’s spaces blur the line between indoors and outdoors. The family room/dining room and adjacent mezzanine sitting room are a modern version of an open air Balinese bale, having polished stone floors and no walls, their roofs supported by wooden posts. Both are elevated above the surrounding lush jungle foliage, creating a treehouse-like effect. The roofs of Villa di Abing are of sculpted tile and traditional alang-alang thatch. The interiors of both of the two thatched roofs have been left exposed – as they would be in a traditional structure – and this is a great advantage as each is a tour-de-force of craftsmanship and a delight to the eye.

These traditional textures of stone and thatch are perfectly balanced by thoroughly modern (and relatively recent) construction and materials – and by a clean, minimalist décor throughout the villa. This is particularly evident in the ultra-clean and fully modern kitchen and in the lovely bedroom suites – which are fully enclosable as needed. I say “enclosable” because each bedroom can be opened via windows or sliding glass doors to the outside or closed up and air-conditioned as desired. The bathrooms are simply masterpieces – each partially open to the outdoors with abundant filtered sunlight, ultra-modern fixtures, stone steps, sunken oversized tubs, and numerous plants. One feels one is outdoors but with complete privacy. The effect is of bathing in a fern-filled grotto at the base of a waterfall – magical.

The use of sustainable building practices is much in evidence throughout Villa di Abing. There is extensive use of local stone – both volcanic basalt and light colored sandstone – and of composite and polished-stone finishes. High density coconut timber has been em