DEA VILLAS CANGGU - SATI VILLA

Today I had the pleasure to stumble upon another exquisite boutique resort called Dea Villas ... and I quote:

'Welcome to Dea Villas - four tropical garden villas in rural Berawa close to Canggu.  A sense of space sets this exclusive enclave apart; each villa comprises living and bedroom pavilions set in its own private gardens with swimming pool, sun deck, lotus ponds and myriad quiet corners.'

'Villa Sati comprises a series of individual pavilions, well screened in delightfully established gardens. The largest of these is the open-sided living pavilion, which looks over an amphitheatre style performance space near the large free-form swimming pool. Encircling the pool are four joglopavilions, each housing a bedroom with garden bathroom and sun terrace. Among these is the sixth and smallest building – an antique lumbung(traditional rice barn) which doubles as a playhouse.'

Spacious - luxurious - traditional Javanese vernacular - yet translated beautifully in a contemporary manner.  The lush tropical gardens are landscaped to perfection - and the layout of the villa's allows enough privacy to retreat to - and again, enough openness to engage and interact with your fellow family members or friends also staying at Dea Villas

I can only imagine how tranquil it must be to awake here - in the midst of a beautiful paradise - life cant get much better than this!

'we travel not to escape life - but for life not to escape us'

Images via Dea Villas

http://www.thevillaguide.com/villa/dea-villas-villa-sati.aspx#exp

http://www.baliultimatevillas.net/dea-radha/

CASA TIBA - TRANCOSO BRAZIL BY TERRY MORICEAU REAL ESTATE

Today I'm taking you on a journey to the Bahia coast of Brazil to a beach town called Trancoso.  There you will find Casa Tiba a beautiful beach house in white and wood with triangular louvres and pieces of Aventurine line the pool.

Terry Moriceau fell in love with Trancoso and here you'll find his first home Casa Tiba
Formerly the studio of ceramist, Joao Jose Calazans - the spaces were muffled, almost no windows and 2 burning ovens.   Architect Daniela de Oliveira redesigned the house in order to create more open spaces which are at different levels and connected by and separated by steps.  The triangular louvres were preserved and reintroduced to allow more natural light flow within the home....

Leading a simple life in paradise - the owner said 'I'm quite happy here'

Another beautiful property to add to my staycation wish list 

Images via TERRY MORICEAU REAL ESTATE
and casa abril

UMA UBUD HOTEL, UBUD, BALI - DESIGNED BY STUDIO JENCQUEL

a Ubud Hotel, Ubud, Bali

Overlooking the beautiful Tjampuhan Valley, Uma Ubud Hotel is a luxury boutique resort designed to reflect the beauty and tranquility of the Balinese landscape.

When Uma Ubud decided to grow, Studio Jencquel collaborated with architect Yew Kuan Cheong to design 17 new rooms and villas for the resort, taking the existing concept and freshening it with a modern spin. Walled with tropical gardens and nestled in the hills, the space emphasises the lush tropical vegetation surrounding the property.

IMAGES AND TEXT VIA studio jencquel

LAKE | FLATO ARCHITECTS - PORCH HOUSE

Swooning over the corrugated steel shell of these porch houses by Lake | Flate Architects

Even though the interior design is very different to my usual minimal whites and greys - I do appreciate that this is what the environment called for, and it is beautifully executed - isn't it just!  The landscape does remind me of the nature reserve that sits opposite my little plot of land in Darling, a small village-like town about an hours drive outside Cape Town

My dad was ever so excited to proclaim that 'absolutely nothing goes on in this town' - when I suggested we spend a week there in March this year, when I'll be visiting my family after not seeing them for 2 whole years!  His statement is not entirely true, and coming from an 80 year old, it did make me wonder - but also gave me hope that he still has a lot of lust for life left in him - this while me and mum had a good giggle  and I could almost see him with his arms waving in the air!  But that was the appeal - it feels like you have stepped back in time - lush farmlands and beautiful wild arid landscape, and .... the ocean a mere 20 minute drive away.

I'm currently looking at a similar approach for my project in South Africa - a white, or soft olive green grey corrugated steel shell, which will house the internal spaces and double volume courtyards - this will allow safety first and foremost, and hopefully also allow for a sustainable way to cool the internal areas, as well as heat the water supply through pipes that will run along the inside of the corrugated steel frame .... I am yet to discuss this idea with a professional... so please don't quote me here!  And as always any thoughts or feedback most welcome!

The full article is here and I will most certainly recommend a read

Images via Remodilista