While the essence of Bali lies in interaction between different cultures, the ubiquitous resort typology currently in Bali and other tropical destinations paradoxically emphasises hotel guests’ exclusive enjoyment, detached from the life of the local community. Located on one of the last remaining unoccupied beach front sites in Seminyak, the Potato Head Studios challenges the typical resort typology: the notion of “exclusivity” is abandoned; the resort is reconsidered as a part of the local community. One of the three buildings of Desa Potato Head—a village (desa being the Indonesian translation of village) that includes a beach club and two hotels—the Potato Head Studios is a resort open to the public: it offers private guestrooms and facilities, and public spaces. A floating ring lifted by pilotis accommodates the guestrooms and other functions, including an exhibition space and a large sunset bar. This configuration has resulted in a cultural ground plane, or an open platform, which leads to the beach. The open platform is the centerpiece of the resort—a flexible stage for a range of programs such as festival celebrations, cultural events, and day-to-day leisure activities that welcomes everyone to experience Balinese culture. The roof top—conceived as a public space and a sculptural park—is accessible through a public route that winds up the floating complex, which connects amenity spaces including restaurants, pools, and spas. The Potato Head Studios was designed with the Indonesian context in mind. The open platform at the ground level and a private garden on the second floor evoke both the raised courtyards in Indonesia, and traditional Balinese courtyards found at the ground level. The Potato Head Studios is a resort for open engagement rather than private consumption. It is a new space for the community where visitors of all kinds—hotel guests and the general public—experience contemporary Balinese culture, while making it.
Potato Head Studios
OMA
Silver

1 / 8

Zaiba Mian
Professor
at Humber College
It is wonderful to see a resort whi...
6
8
8
6
7

Luis F Rueda
Creative Director
at LFR_D
This project is purpusefully design...
7
8
9
7
7.75

XIN LIN
Design Director
at OPPO
6
7
6
7
6.5

Agata Pilip
Senior professional brand creative retail store design
at Nike
The idea of intertwining the hotel...
6
6
6
6
6

Jonghwan Baek
Founder and Director in Chief
at WGNB
7
7
6
7
6.75

Michael Long
Director
at _novospace
7
7
7
5
6.5

Paul Bishop
Owner & Founder
at Bishop Design
7
7
7
7
7

Otto Ng
Design Director
at LAAB Architects
7
7
8
7
7.25

Emma Wynn
Director
at Brinkworth
Culturally and contextually relevan...
8
8
8
8
8

Michelle Wilkie
Design Director
at tp bennett
Really lovely materiality and archi...
7
7
7
7
7

Paul West
Strategy Director
at Dalziel & Pow
A striking design built on a strong...
8
7
7
7
7.25

Serhii Makhno
Founder
at Sergey Makhno Architects
7
8
9
8
8

Valerie Roosma
Interior Designer
at -
Intriguing use of material, form an...
7
7
8
6
7
Designer
Client
Potato Head
Floor area
20000 ㎡
Completion
2020
Partner-in-charge
David Gianotten
Project Architect
Ken Fung
Local Architect
Civil, Geotechnical, Structural Building Services
Landscape Consultant
Lighting Consultant
Acoustic Consultant
Wayfinding and Signage
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