Kezia Karin is a household name in the world of interior design. As the founder of her eponymous studio, she has led a diverse portfolio of high-end, bespoke projects, ranging from residential spaces to offices, restaurants and hospitality venues. One of her standout projects is The Meru Sanur, where she is the visionary behind the serene and cosy design of the suites. Below is an excerpt from our conversation with her about the project.
What was the brief from the client (InJourney)?
The brief was to create a new benchmark for Indonesian luxury hospitality design, setting a standard for excellence in both aesthetics and function.
When you started the project, what was your vision for The Meru Sanur, especially considering it is targeted towards visitors seeking healing? How did you translate this vision into your design?
Healing architecture is about creating spaces that nurture physical, mental and emotional well-being. To achieve this, we focused on simplicity and clarity, minimising visual clutter and material excess to cultivate a calming environment. It’s essential to differentiate between minimalism and reductionism. Whilst minimalism emphasises elegance through restraint, reductionism is about the careful selection of elements that maintain both function and inspiration. When incorporating cultural elements, we don’t merely replicate tradition but rather distil its essence, creating a harmonious blend of the past and the future. This process ensures that the design is both timeless and contemporary, with an underlying respect for tradition.
What inspired the design of the suites, and how did you incorporate Balinese traditions into your work?
Our mission is to craft the design that serve as a bridge between cultural heritage and contemporary living, so as to harmoniously integrate tradition into everyday routine. We believe that to honour Indonesian heritage in contemporary design is not to merely mimic the past, but to reinterpret its essence. By exploring the core values of our culture, we can infuse spaces with a subtle elegance that transcends time. This demonstrates the power of conceptual design to elevate the ordinary, thus creating environments that are both aesthetically pleasing and culturally significant.
The suite’s design incorporates numerous cultural references, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. Even minute details, such as the custom minibar cabinet handle inspired by the graceful curve of a pendetdancer, exemplify this approach. We drew inspiration from Sanur’s rich heritage as a former fisherman’s village, along with its evocative nickname, “The Morning of the World.” Elements of this history are subtly incorporated into the design, such as the rattan weaving used for wall treatments and dividers, which evoke the imagery of a fisherman’s net. The silhouette of a fisherman, an iconic figure in Sanur, is reflected in the design of the corridor and vanity wall lamps.
The bedside lamps are inspired by the traditional multileveled umbrella, a symbol often used in Balinese ceremonies and as decoration in local neighbourhoods. Rather than using textile materials, we chose dark bronze, which lends a more modern touch while maintaining the ornament’s philosophical significance.
Can you tell us about the use of local symbols and colours in the design, and how they contribute to the overall atmosphere of the suites?
The design of the outdoor armchairs subtly incorporates the iconic lines of perahu bercadik, or double-outrigger canoe, a defining symbol of Bali’s maritime heritage. The colour palette draws from the spectacular Sanur sunrise, incorporating shades that transition from the calm blue of twilight to the vibrant orange of dawn. These colours are carefully chosen to complement the neutral tones of the suite, enriching the overall atmosphere.
A custom-printed painting behind the bed adds a unique modern touch to the design, inspired by Bali’s native flora and fauna. Featuring depictions of the Bali Starling (Jalak Bali), majegau fruit, Balinese pandan, and snake fruit, the artwork connects the space to the island’s natural beauty and cultural identity.