Villa Tupai, Lodtunduh, Bali

Situated just outside Ubud, the owner renovated the two existing Javanese Joglo houses to increase the number of bedrooms and improve facilities. Another piece of land was purchased at the end of the garden, extending down to a stream bordered by tall local bamboos. This gave the 3,000m2 property a rather thin and elongated shape.

We decided a more formal approach would be appropriate and divided the land into bands. Immediately adjacent to the two houses we created a small parterre garden to be filled with herbs and flowers. The second band is just an open lawn, with the 22metre swimming pool and timber decks at each end, forming the third band. Further on is a grass tennis court and finally the existing Bamboos. Along both sides of the property wall we planted Clove trees, to be trained into a tall hedge and beds of Gardenia below. A simple water channel flows from the pond dividing the houses, through the centre of the parterre and culminates in a fountain located in the lawn. All paths are in loose local gravel.

The house is frequently rented and the garden used as an entertainment venue, with both lawn and grass tennis court used for seating and functions