Tropical Architecture and Ecological Landscape Design in the Heart of Bali’s Rice Fields

Ubud Retreat

Perched on a hillside between rice paddies, forest, and valley, this immersive retreat in Ubud unfolds as a collection of traditional teak houses, patiently restored and delicately woven into their natural surroundings. Designed by our studio, the project combines tropical architecture, artisanal craftsmanship, and edible landscaping to create a living environment dedicated to reconnection and harmony with the Balinese landscape.

The experience unfolds through timber volumes, floating terraces, and elevated walkways that follow the natural contours of the land, revealing at every turn a glimpse of the landscape, a breath of open space, or a quiet water feature.

Balinese-Inspired Architecture for Modern Living

Ancient Materials and Local Craftsmanship

Each house is built from century-old reclaimed teak, carefully reassembled using traditional construction techniques. Sculpted doors and beams, paneled windows, and hipped roofs express a rustic yet refined aesthetic deeply rooted in local culture.

Open Spaces to the Landscape

Semi-open bathrooms, facing private gardens, invite a sensory connection with the surroundings between lush vegetation and open sky. The shared living spaces are sheltered under generous roofs in open-air architecture, allowing light and breeze to flow freely through the interiors.

An Edible and Connected Landscape

A Permaculture Approach

The garden is conceived not as decoration, but as a living ecosystem. Coconut, papaya, mango, and avocado trees coexist with passion fruit, aromatic herbs, and organic vegetables in a dynamic permaculture system. This productive landscape invites residents to engage deeply with the rhythms of the earth, to live with the land rather than beside it.

Gentle Circulation and Immersive Pathways

A winding timber path, at times floating above the rice terraces, connects the bungalows to the communal spaces. Each movement becomes a meditative walk through dense greenery, accompanied by the sound of water and shifting light.

Shared Spaces for Rest, Movement, and Meditation

The retreat forms part of a larger property designed as a place of personal transformation. A wooden yoga shala accommodates up to twenty people, while a smaller traditional bale set amidst a pond and herb garden offers space for meditation, treatments, or simple, silent observation.

These spaces act as moments of pause within the landscape, encouraging slow, mindful practices and a return to the essential.

Conceived as both a natural and spiritual refuge, the Ubud Retreat celebrates the symbiosis between architecture, landscape, and Balinese culture. Through the fusion of traditional structures, edible permaculture, and open wellness spaces, the project offers a rare experience one deeply rooted in the earth and attuned to the rhythm of the place.

A living ecosystem that invites stillness, presence, and a new way of inhabiting the world.

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