Located in the hidden valley of Ubud, the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan has been recognised as the no.1 hotel in the world. The resort consists of 18 suites and 42 villas not to mention the other outstanding services provided by the hotel including: Spa, Yoga classes, custom designed cooking school, restaurants, shops and entertainments. On your way to the property entrance there is a floating footbridge suspended above the jungle leading to its famous infinity edge lotus pond. The London based designer/architect ‘John Heah’ the owner of Heah & Co who designed the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan Hotel described the footbridge as the ‘spoon’ and the lotus pond as a ‘rice bowl’ where you can witness 180 degree view of the valley. In the 1930s Ubud gained the reputation of becoming the best artistic colony in Bali because of the popularity it gained exploring art and creativity. The vibrant Balinese festivals have highly attracted painters, writers and musicians. You will find many art galleries in Ubud; work ranging from wood carvings to painting and out of all the galleries ‘Agung Rai Museum of Art (Arma)’is the most impressive as told by the travellers.
Credit: Four Seasons Resorts and Hotels
As you’re crossing the footbridge you will notice that there is no sight of the resort from above. When you take the staircase below the lotus pond is where you will find the reception and rest of the resort; that is when you will realise the dramatic ‘upside down’ design of the building. This structure is a fusion of man-made and natural elements which creates the perfect definition of ‘traditional and modern architecture’ which is why the structure stands out so much compared to its competitors. The property is 20 years old and has managed to exceed its customers’ expectations every year; after the movie ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ was filmed in the resort, the movie highly contributed to its popularity leading to higher demand from the public all around the world. The resort is located between two rivers: Ayung River and Subak River. Ayung River is known for its holy springs and being the longest river on the island of Bali whereas, the Subak River is known for its rice field irrigation system which has also been announced as UNESCO’s World Heritage in June 2012. Due to the egalitarian qualities that have influenced the Subak’s agriculture; the community is filled with the most productive rice growers (farmers) you will ever come across.
CREDIT: Tours and Travel
The 18th century royal water temple of Pura Taman Ayan is also a part of the landscape. It is known for being one of the oldest and most remarkable architectural structures in the history of Bali. Built in 1634 by the ruler of the Mengwi kingdom, the temple is located in the village of Mengwi where many people and tourists mainly come to this temple to explore early forms of Balinese architecture. Taman Ayun translates to ‘beautiful garden’ and the design of the temple was inspired by Chinese architectural style back in the day.
CREDIT: Luca Tettoni Getty Images
Going back to the Four Seasons Resort Sayan Hotel and considering its location, it is obvious that everything that surrounds the property plays a big part in its design aspects. In Balinese tradition the woods and the trees are considered as a holy site which heals the soul spiritually which is why the resort has teak cabinets and flooring in native Balinese style. John Heah has carefully thought about how the structure of the entire hotel should merge with the beautiful landscape in order to create such a masterpiece.
The design aesthetic is described as ‘Extensive use of flowing water to celebrate the Balinese heritage of nourishing the body and spirit with fresh water, including the gravity-defying rooftop lotus pond’ by Marian Carroll who is the director of Public Relations.
PHOTO CREDIT: The Luxury Travel Expert
The hotel is located 35 kilometres (22 miles) from Ngurah Rai International Airport and 6 Kilometres (3.7 miles) from Central Ubud which makes it convenient for travellers. The resort has special activities for the guests to explore such as; private rafting experience (which you can also directly have an access to the property when rafting the river), a day in the life of a Balinese Farmer, Sokasi Cooking school and get a secret tour. The architect has designed the property in a way that enhances the landscape and the astonishing view of the tropical surroundings; it also leaves all the guests with a sense of curiosity when arriving at the destination because everything is hidden beneath the main entrance. From intricate carved benches to water reflecting on the polished marble floor gives you an idea about the thinking process that went through to design this resort; little details matter.
Sokasi: the first custom-designed cooking school at the resort was designed by architects at IBUKU; they specialise in bamboo structures. Materials like ‘Bambu tali’ and ‘Pelupuh’ have been used to build the structure which are also known as crucial economical elements in Balinese culture. Nearby, within a short distance is the ‘Yoga Pavilion’ as a part of the hotel’s wellness facilities. It is also designed by the IBUKU specialists where the design of the roof mimics the shape of a leaf.
PHOTO CREDIT: Chris Horan
PHOTO CREDIT: All Images Courtesy Of IBUKU
The Four Seasons Resort at Sayan has explored the classic Balinese crafts which is a rare form of luxury. The creativity of the design reflects the intention of the designer; he believes in respecting the land that a structure stands on through modifying his ways of design.
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