By Johnni Wong | Aug 15, 2010
Photograph by Made Wijaya
Balinese Baronial
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This time, I had a client with a design background and knew how to make full use of my creative talent," said Bali-based designer Made Wijaya in reference to his Villa Keliki project in Bali for an American entrepreneur.
The subject of a 10-page spread in this month’s edition of Architectural Digest, Villa Keliki is a "wildly eclectic" creation, well captured by well-known photographer Tim Street-Porter. Apparently, it was a chance meeting at a fund-raising benefit in aid of the Naples Botanical Garden in Florida that Made (pronounced, ‘Ma-day") was introduced to Robert Davids, who later hired him to create his 8,000sq m Balinese retreat near Ubud. (The designer is currently involved in creating the "Asian Garden" section of the Naples Botanical Garden.)
Originally from Sydney, Made - who is also known as Michael White - was introduced to Robert by their mutual friend Raymond Jungles, a leading Florida-based landscape architect. The latter was supposed to undertake the landscaping for the project, and Made was to create the villas and interior design. Eventually, Raymond let Made take over the landscaping since it was his forte in Bali.
The client is an entrepreneur who used to design handheld electronic games. But these days, he is preoccupied with his Sea Smoke Cellars vineyard in California, reputed to produce the best Pinot Noir in the US.
Robert or "Bob", as Made referred to him, fell in love with the property in Bali when he laid eyes on the land several years ago.
Pleasure garden
According to Made who has lived in Bali for over 30 years, the property was the pleasure garden of the brother of a well-known local sculptor, Ida Bagus Tilem from Mas, near Ubud. And the property is located near an important temple at Mount Batur, with many scenic features. And the client wanted a dramatic vacation retreat that is out of the ordinary.
"Being a creative person himself, Bob left the entire creative process to us," elaborated Made, during a stop-over in Kuala Lumpur for another project presentation last weekend.
"We did everything, from the interiors for all the structures and the landscaping. I’m totally thrilled with the results including the magnificent garden, which is full of surprises."
The land has a river and a tributary running through it. It is actually a promontory with a steep, 55-metre drop to the river valley.
"Initially I had suggested another part of his property that overlooks the paddy fields. The concept was to have the main pavilion opening out to the paddy fields like the famous Bali (Campuan) house of Peter Muller (Australian architect best known for The Bali Oberoi Hotel and Amandari resorts) but the owner insisted on the more dramatic central promontory.
"With this piece of land - which is like a plinth - we built the main pavilion with the other smaller dwellings such as the Vietnam house, the Malay bungalow and the Javanese joglo - all wooden houses on stilts - erected as follies surrounding it," said Made.
10th Century
"Villa Keliki" is named after a nearby village established in the 10th Century and is located just west of Ubud on the road to Payogaan. The total area of the property is 8,474sq m and the building site covers 1,115sq m.
There was an existing main pavilion on the promontory and a rotting guest house surrounded by an overgrown garden.
"The owner had wanted a showpiece property and repeatedly told me to pull out all the stops," explained Made."The project took only 18 months and it was completed about a year and a half ago. All the various divisions in my company helped to do the gardens, the paint finish, mosaic work and pergola construction."
Tony Duquette
And why, may one ask the designer, a Vietnamese house on a Balinese landscape? Apparently, it was a tribute to the late American iconic designer Tony Duquette.
"The Vietnam house," answered Made, "is very over-the-top, all stops out in high-kicking, full flourish Tony Duquette manner."
And why, an electic combination of different vernacular dwellings and designs? "I wanted a museum of ethnic architecture ... follies in a grand garden," explained Made.
Full drama
The furniture and furnishings, which include an ornate Peranakan Chinese bed acquired in Jakarta, were all sourced by the designer and his interior design team.
But why place the a red-and-gold bed against the contrasting cobalt blue walls?
"For full drama ... and why not," retorted Made.
Made had all the right creative talent in Bali involved, including artist Pintor Sirait who did the gate pavilion, Dewa Antara and Dewa Oka who rendered all the "imaginative" paint finish and mosaic designs.
And of course, his own P.T. Indosekar landscaping team that included Ketut Sadru and Dewa Sedana did the back-breaking work. While his P.T. Wijaya architects Gusti Sarjana, Gusti Karang and Nyoman Miyoga did the interiors and artwork consultancy. The main contractor was P.T. Tunas Jaya Sanur while the project manager was Mike Bell - an American - who ensured all specifications met the demands of the exacting owner.
And for such a Balinese country retreat on the scale of Villa Keliki, the total costs came up to RM12.7mil (US$4mil) inclusive of the villas, furnishings and landscaping.
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