Inspiring Architecture

I have seen this amazing pavilion several times now in various publications, so when I wanted to share with you some amazing architecture, this was at the top of my list.

I hope you find it as inspiring as I do.

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Alila Villas Uluwatu Bali by WOHA Designs Singapore.

WOHA is led by directors Wong Mun Summ and Richard Hassell.

The famous hanging pavilion over the main pool.

The Alila Villas Uluwatu in Bali, Indonesia is a resort development encompassing a hotel and 34 modern, luxury villas. It opened in early 2009.

With Alila Villas Uluwatu, the architects wanted to create more than the usual stereotypical ideas of Bali, creating a design that worked with the dry Balinese Savannah vegetation and gently sloping site, not against it. The fact that the aim was to build a resort to Green Globe certification and with Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) standards did not hinder their architectural vision.

Says Hassell, “From the onset, we knew we wanted to work with ESD in mind.” However, obtaining the necessary raw materials, such as sustainable wood for construction, proved to be a challenge. Fortuitously in this instance, lady luck stepped in as the owners managed to acquire a lot of old timbre telegraph poles and wood railway sleepers that were being auctioned off within the country, and had them transported to Bali.

Notable design features include the flat roofs, laid with batu chandi (local volcanic rock). This porous Javanese rock (a product of Mt Merapi’s eruptions) serves a threefold purpose: insulation; as a means of blending in with the local landscape; and for water absorption to support plant life. Even the jigsaw-like exteriors of the pavilion serve more than an aesthetic purpose.

The slats of these exteriors are made from a mixture of recycled wood and bronze, allowing for breeze to circulate yet maintaining privacy in partially shielding its occupants away from prying eyes. Described by Hassell as being “non-tropical”, these modern bales, which are fitted with plush beddings, retain their traditional Hindu-style shape yet are refreshingly contemporary.

Richard Hassell speaks of this eco-friendly project …”We are very pleased that Alila Hotels have embraced the Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) principles, and we are using many ESD measures including local materials, water conservation with soaks and rain gardens and recycling with grey water systems, using local plants from the special Bali Savannah ecosystem on the Bukit, which are being raised in a nursery on site to encourage local bird and animal life, heat pumps for water heating, salt water pools – among many others.

 Set for a Wedding

The design of the interiors is completely integrated with the architecture, as the design flows from inside to outside. All the materials are locally sourced. These beautiful local materials are environmentally sound and support the local communities

Photos and information found at  www.alilahotels.com   www.woha-architects.com  www.besthousedesign.com and  wikipedia

Bathroom renovation

After
This is our Ensuite that we had to renovate due to water issues in the shower. Unfortunately the people who owned the house previously to us, didn’t have enough fall in the shower floor and it resulted in mushrooms growing between the grout and black mould and mushroom on the wall bedside the shower! Yuk!!

We had to demolish the shower wall and floor to see what kind of damage was done…It wasn't good…so we decided to update the bathroom by keeping what was great about the room and changing anything that didn’t work or look right.

First we modified the floor plan by extending the shower to take up the whole wall and relocated the toilet.
We removed the cornice so we could tile to the ceiling. I chose a mid-priced tile in a Limestone look. Gloss for the walls and a honed look for the floor. A very dark charcoal/almost black tile also in a gloss, makes up the feature wall in the shower. The cavity in the shower runs the full length of the wall, and I also used a tile grate so both of these elements virtually disappear. I really wanted to simplify the materials used and keep everything quite minimal as the built in vanity unity and stone top have a lot of presence already.  I made sure there was no chrome edging strips used on the walls where there are right angles and instead mitred the tiles. Its little things like this that you don’t necessarily notice, however if I did use them, it would have been quite noticeable.
We kept the built in vanity with the stone top (Terrazzo marble I think) but painted it black in a semi- gloss finish. However we wanted to change the basin to a more contemporary look that sat better with the cleaner lines of the existing spa bath. This also gave me the opportunity to change the tap to a mixer.
We also kept the stone top around the spa bath but removed the stone that continued up the wall. I also changed the taps for the spa. Keeping the 3 holes in the stone from the original tap set, I end up having to get a mixer manufactured to my specifications at just a small extra cost, then added a pull out hand shower (best thing ever to clean the spa) and a mixer that works it.  
 As there is plenty of storage in the vanity unit, I turned the LHS bottom cupboard into a dirty washing hamper. It’s a pretty easy process. First you change the hinge from the side of the door to the bottom and relocate the knob to the middle. A cupboard stay was added so that when opened, the door won’t drop down and hit your toes.

It’s a very his and hers bathroom. The ceiling rain shower is my husband’s preference and the wall mounted shower rail is mine. The LED lights in the shower are for my husband and the pendant lights that are dimmable are for me. I much prefer the warm, almost candle light quality, rather than the cool LED’s. The waterproof TV with the floating remote…well that’s all my husbands! Not my idea at all, but he loves it and regularly lays back in the spa bath with a beer watching golf, rugby, footy…you get the picture.

I have also included some before shots for you to check out.

Melbourne is enjoying a few days of amazing sunshine at the moment, but only a few days ago I was wearing a scarf and boots! While this is the typical weather pattern for us here and we often get all 4 seasons in one day, you can be sure that now that we are well and truly in Autumn with Winter just around the next bend, we will be looking to snug up our homes with all things cosy and comforting. So pull out the slow cooker, light the fire and think all things felt, wool, fur /faux fur, wood and burnished metal.

Winter woolies

Bedroom = Linen House Aberdeen from Adairs

Cushion = Adairs

Goat skin stool= Loka Décor (UK)

Everything else = Papaya

I first saw this head turning out door fireplace in the brochure for “Haven on the river” a new apartment complex currently being built in Melbourne. The other day I found it in Papaya’s Winter 2012 catalogue so I thought I would share it with you.

I’m loving the rust finish of this metal fire pit. The fact that the built in storage for the fire wood adds to its overall design insuring that it’s both practical and beautiful, gets a big thumbs up from me.

Find it at www.papaya.com.au

What’s in a name.

When brain storming names that I could use as both a blog and business name, I knew that I didn’t want to use my own name like so many others. My parents gave me a name that while I love, most people either miss-spell or miss-pronounce it. (Elissa pronounced like “Elise-a”).

I have always admired simple strong names. Think Fendi, Chanel, Patio, Husk, Habitat etc. I wanted something that wouldn’t pigeon hole me into a look. After all, designing for other people is about reflecting them; and not about imposing your own style.

When I think of the word Sable, I see it as a colour. Take chocolate brown and add some grey to muddy it up. It’s a neutral with some substance and power. It is also a fur (eeek.. sorry to animal lovers. It relates to a time gone by) so think old Hollywood glamour, where to own such a thing would be indulgent, luxurious, and make you feel like a million $$.