This place really makes me want a vacation. The Alila Villas Uluwatu in Bali’s Uluwatu region is clean, modern architecture- blended with the local vernacular. The result is an ‘eco-resort’ designed for the Green Globes GG21 standard, with the highest ranking for Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD).
photography by © Tim Griffith
Built in a location straddling on one side white limestone cliffs and on the other, arid savanna- this picturesque locale, deigned by WOHA, is one of harmony and connectivity. Indoor and outdoor spaces seem to blend into one another. Verandas, canopies, passages and bridges wind throughout, drawing all of the resorts spaces into a kind of common zone. Locally-sourced and reclaimed ironwood clad many of the resort’s surface, including the doors, cabinets, and the trellises and paneling of the external cabana.
photography by © Tim Griffith
The individual villas which make up the resort all command a stunning view of the Indian Ocean and follow the natural contour of the sloped site. Around each, the local fauna has been preserved- giving a strong grounding to the structures.The roof of each collects rain water, slowing storm runoff and providing cooling for the interiors. This is coupled with an extensive grey water reclamation system which provides for the toilets and garden irrigation. One last aquatic fact: Each villa has its own pool. All of these pools are salt water pools. This is important to know because of A) salt water’s natural cleaning powers- no need for chlorine, and B) no need to haul in fresh water just to have sweaty bodies jump into it rather than drinking it.
photography by © Tim Griffith
Project info :
Architects: WOHA
Location: Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia
Project Year: 2009
Photographs: Tim Griffith & Patrick Bingham-Hall
Project Team: Richard Hassell, Wong Mun Summ, Chan Ee Mun, Ranjit Wagh, Mappaudang Ridwan Saleh, Alan Lau, Lai Soong Hai, Miikka Leppanen, Muhammad Sagitha
Mechanical & Electrical Engr: PT. Makesthi Enggal Engineering
Civil & Structural Engr: Worley Parsons Pte Ltd / PT. Atelier Enam Struktur
Ecologically Sustainable Design Consultant: Sustainable Built Environments
Lighting Consultants: Lighting Planners Associates
Quantity Surveyors: PT Kosprima Sarana Kuantitama
Landscape Consultant: Cicada Pte Ltd
Main Contractor: PT. Hutama Karya
Site Area: 44,642 sqm
Built up Area: 58,635 sqm
Matt Davis is a Virginia Tech graduate and one of the founding editors behind Arch2O. Launching the platform in mid‑2012 alongside fellow Hokies, he helped shape its identity as an international hub for design innovation and critical dialogue . With a foundation in architectural education and a passion for uncovering unconventional design approaches, Matt has contributed significantly—both editorially and strategically—to Arch2O’s growth, ensuring that emerging architects, academics, and creatives have a space to question, explore, and elevate the built environment.