THE VILLA
Immersed in a rich history and set on spacious grounds surrounded by outstanding Balinese paintings, stone carvings and wall murals, Villa Batujimbar is a historic inspiration. The estate was the realization of a dream by Donald Friend, considered one of Australia’s most important artists. Friend resided in Sanur for much of the 1960s and 1970s. Villa Batujimbar is a testimony to Friend’s strong interest in traditional Balinese architecture and its reinterpretation.
Sri Lankan Geoffrey Bawa, an internationally recognized prolific and influential architect helped bring Friend’s vision to life. The overall concept was inspired by the nineteenth century palaces at Klungkung and Amlapura. In 1975, Bawa designed various additions to the house, including a large museum building to house Friend’s collection of Balinese artworks and artifacts as well as Friend’s own paintings. Made of Majapahit red brick and rectangular in shape, the museum is set formally in the center of the compound with a moat around it and a long pool in the front.
Following Friend’s departure from Bali, Adrian Zecha, the founder of the Aman resorts became the estate’s owner. Subsequently, Zecha’s in house designer, Ed Tuttle (designer of many award winning hotels) was called in to refurbish the estate. Tuttle’s renovation gave the estate a new organized look emphasizing clean lines and space. The next owner faithfully restored the estate to capture lifestyle opulence with the addition of a tennis court, gym and an impressive collection of art for the museum. Now for the first time Villa Batujimbar has opened its magic for special experiences.
The estate is spread over 1 hectare of landscaped gardens and ponds and made up of a number of separate buildings following the design of Balinese compounds with the kitchen in the south, the temple in the north-east, and the main house in the west. With wonderful indoor-outdoor relationships, orienting its various structures to catch views and breezes, and using traditional materials such as alang-alang thatching, bamboo, brick and paras stone, Villa Batujimbar creates its own magical ambience.
Villa Batujimbar has hosted many celebrities – Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall consumated their marriage vows, Yoko Ono entertained, Fergie disappeared, Sting’s impromptu concert, Dewi Sukarno TV interviews are but some who came under the influence of the estate’s magic. From the King of Malaysia to the Crown Prince of Thailand, Villa Batujimbar has also hosted international nobility.