OMA's first hotel in bali is 'conceived as a public space'

OMA has completed its first hotel project in bali — challenging the typical resort typology. dedicated to both guests and the local community, the design of ‘potato head studios’, led by david gianotten and project architect ken fung, opens up the ground and top floors for public events and activities.

all images © kevin mak, courtesy of OMA

located on one of the last remaining unoccupied beachfront sites in seminyak, desa potato head — desa being the indonesian translation of ‘village’ — includes a beach club and two hotels. as well as private guestrooms, OMA designed the resort to be open to the public, creating spaces that could accommodate festival celebrations, cultural events, and day-to-day leisure activities.

lifted by pilotis, a floating ring 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, that acts as a centerpiece and a flexible stage for a range of programs.

‘the potato head studios was designed with the indonesian context in mind,’ explains OMA. ‘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.’

textures of some concrete walls were created by local craftsmen, while the façade design of the guestroom corridors was inspired by balinese tika, or divination calendar. at the roof top is a sculptural park open to public, accessible via a public route that connects amenity spaces including restaurants, pools, and spas.

‘the potato head studios is a resort for open engagement rather than private consumption,’ OMA continues. ‘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.’

‘at desa potato head we’re not trying to change the industry, we want to create an entirely new model for it,’ says potato head founder ronald akili. ‘if we bring people together for good times, but offer them the unexpected, it will open their minds in new ways. OMA is known for building public spaces, like museums and institutions, and that was our idea for the desa: to create a type of cultural institution that mixes public with private, guests with locals, and future thinking with time-honoured craftsmanship.’

project info:

architecture firm: OMA
location: bali, indonesia
client: potato head
year: 2020
status: completed
program: hotel
partner: david gianotten
project architect: ken fung
associate-in-charge: michael kokora
senior architect: fred awty
design team: diana ang, thorben bazlen, von xiao chua, kwan ho li, mike lim, ioana mititelu, catherine ng, slobodan radoman, rizki supratman, shinji takagi, patrizia zobernig
local architect: andra matin
building services: aurecon
landscape consultant: larch studio
lighting consultant: switch
acoustic consultant: DHV