PHOTO BY Alaya Resort Ubud & Bagus Tri Laksono
Ubud is renowned as a spiritual realm that still holds fast to the traditional Balinese principles even up to this very day. As one of the favorite holiday destinations on the island of the gods, Ubud offers a characteristically different flair from other tourist areas in Bali. In order to make the most of what this spiritual place has to offer, one needs to search out the required experience that would reflect local customs and traditions. Alaya Resort Ubud presents all this within a classy and sophisticated ambience that still stays true to the charming Ubud environment with all its local artistry and spiritual traditions.
Located just a stone's throw away from popular tourist destinations like Monkey Forest, Puri Saren Royal Palace, Ubud Market and Arma Museum, the beauty of Alaya Resort Ubud is presented from the main entrance right through to the lobby area and continues along the corridor that leads to the main building. The irresistible charm is carried on into the rooms, each boasting a breathtaking view of the lush paddy fields located on the north of the site. The boutique hotel also offers similarly enticing facilities that are immaculately designed, such as DaLa Spa, a wellness center placed privately behind the site, Petani restaurant that stands side by side with the lobby area, a swimming pool that directly borders the fields and the poolside Bamboo Bar.
Grounds Kent Architects (GKA), a famed team of designers with various awards attributed to their projects was commissioned by de daun Group, the owner of this boutique hotel to design the exterior and interior of Alaya Resort Ubud’s main block. The shape of the site, which extends to the back and slopes down towards the small stream in the east end, poses quite a challenge for the GKA team. “Another challenge was to realize the client’s request to create a comfortable accommodation that is on par with a five-star hotel using precise and efficient materials. We also commissioned local artists to contribute in designing the interior of this hotel,” explains Martin Grounds of GKA, who has been largely commended for their works in Four Seasons Jimbaran and St. Regis Bali.
The implementation is truly breathtaking. GKA succeeds in merging traditional Balinese architecture with a modern minimalist style as seen throughout the hotel’s 60 rooms and supporting areas. The designer’s consistent use of bamboo material, which adorns most corners in the hotel, reinforces the client’s brief. Traditional Balinese sculptures and paintings are displayed inside the rooms, terraces, as well as along the corridor near the front office area. These artistic displays represent Ubud’s strong craftsmanship and spirituality.
Comprising 35 Deluxe rooms and 25 Alaya rooms, all of which come with a view of the paddy fields, the super comfortable Alaya Resort Ubud is separated into three levels. Each of the 60 rooms has the same dimension and layout, with bathtubs inside the Alaya rooms. The design concept features a modern, innovative flair that still puts traditional Balinese elements at the center. This is evident from distinctive pictures hung above the beds, beside the bathtubs and on the terrace walls.
The well-manicured landscape of the hotel provides a romantic and lavish ambience. The pool, Bamboo Bar, tropical garden and pedestrian lane in the east of the hotel are laid out in such a way that sits seamlessly with the stretches of green paddy fields in the surroundings. The landscape artist, Made Wijaya, places a wide array of typical Balinese plants and adds artistic outdoor elements to complement them. Alaya Resort Ubud tries to embrace the natural Ubud environment by not placing any borders between their buildings and the adjacent rice fields.