Ensuring the privacy and security of its guests, The
Istana, which is Indonesian for ‘Palace’,
is surrounded by an imposing white wall, and it is accessed through a
constantly manned massive wooden gate.
Five years post its inception and redefining private
luxury villas on the island, the Istana is undergoing some alterations.
Gfab Architects, one of
Asia’s leading design firms has conceived of, and is implementing the
changes to the villas interior and structure.
The aim of the works is to update and freshen the villa; there
will be an entirely new look, while still maintaining the essence of
the Istana.
The focus was that this would be a modern
approach yet still being firmly rooted in Balinese
traditions and creativity.
An emphasis on comfort and privacy for guests has
been forefront on the mind of the architects and the owners.
The Istana is located on south western tip
of Bali in an area designated the Bukit.
This five bedroom estate overlooks white sand beaches and a
blue lagoon abundant with fish and living coral, and offers a prime
location from which to witness the island’s stunning sunsets.
When the trade winds blow, a massive swell from the Pacific
Ocean crashes onto the reefs surrounding the area creating
waves that attract surfers from around the world; the breaks are rated
to be the fifth best in the world, and Uluwatu beach
is only a ten minute walk from the villa.
With the property located so close to the holy Pura
Uluwatu, one of island’s nine mother temples, the
site is spiritually inspiring and undeniably unique.
Set back forty meters from the cliff face, The Istana
sits within a tremendous gated property.
The overall style is a medley between understated modern
architecture and traditional Indonesian detailing,
with features that blend Indonesian materials and workmanship.
The artwork represents a mixture of primitive art and antiques
originating from Indonesia, keeping with the aura
of tradition and style.
Facilities
- Paved road access to Villa
- Swimming pool
- Chlorine pool filtration system
- Car parking available at the Villa (8 spots)
- Main dining table (seats 10 pax)
- Bar area
- Ceiling fans in un-air conditioned living areas
- All bedrooms air-conditioned
Services
- Welcome drink and cool towel for all arrival times
- Laundry services
- Dry-cleaning services
- Able to organize additional cars and drivers for guests
- Able to organize self drive cars for guests
- In-house computer for guests
- Spa treatment
Miscellaneous charges
Children
- Baby cot with mosquito net
- Baby high chair
- Children’s books, games and toys
- Children’s videos and DVDs
- Villa staff willing to assist with children (daytime)
whilst parents present
- Able to arrange after hours baby sitting
AV Systems (In addition to bedrooms)
- DVD player
- VCD player
- Stereo system with CD player
- Satellite TV
Kitchen Appliances
- Microwave
- Juicer
- Blender
- Coffee machine
Food
- Individually priced food menu items
Communication
- Radio telephone
- Local telephone access
- Interlocal telephone access
- International telephone access
- Fax machine (local)
- Fax machine (interlocal)
- Fax machine (international)
- Broadband internet connection
- Computer
- Computer with Broadband internet connection
- Internet connection capable (wireless)
Small Functions
- Sit down dinners and small gathering
- Maximum 20 pax
- In-house catering
Large Functions
- Wedding and larger functions acceptable
- Function Co-ordinator required
- External Catering required
- Maximum 150 pax
- Function charge
- Banjar fee
- DJ/loud music permitted
- Curfew
- Sufficient power supply for DJ
Security
- Safe (addition to bedroom)
- 24 hour security
Extra Facilities / Appliances
- Electrical adaptors
- Hair dryer(s)
- Extra mattress available
- Video / VCD / DVD library
- Book library
- Board games
- Pool Deck Chairs / Sun Loungers
- Pool table
- BBQ
Staff
The Istana is managed by Bali’s leading
property services company, Bali Homes Management.
The Istana is fully serviced by:
- A full-time villa manager
Oversees and coordinates the staff and property and is available to
assist guests during their stay.
- One assistant villa manager
Assists and coordinates the staff and property and is available to
assist guests during their stay.
- Two cooks
Trained in the preparation of both local and international
cuisine. A menu is provided, and the cook will do all the
market shopping.
- Two maids
Responsible for housekeeping duties, taking care of your daily laundry
and providing waiter service around the grounds and buildings of the
property.
- Six security guards
Their duties are to patrol the grounds and guard the entrance of the
villa from dusk to dawn ensuring your security.
- Two gardeners and pool attendants
Tending the garden and the grounds of the villa. They ensure
that the facilities of the villa run smoothly during your visit.
- Three Butlers
Providing personalized services across the spectrum according to guests
needs.
- One Engineer
Looks after maintenance and machinery within the Villa.
- One Driver
An offer chauffeurs service to guests for up to 10 consecutive hours
per day and is contactable by handphone.
The Entrance
Previously the single line vehicle entrance that led to the
walk way and then to the view was lacking in any expectation.
Changes have been made to prolonging the journey and
un-wrapping the entrance experience more slowly. This is achieved by
amending the position of the entrance gate, a change also strongly
advised by Balinese priests as guests will now enter on the 7th bay
which is far more auspicious in local traditions.
A new covered parking bay has been created
so that vehicles will have shade and be cooler on entrance.
Living Room
The entrance walkway steps up slowly through the lotus ponds
at the front and allows a framed view on approach, this is more in
keeping with a traditional Balinese entrance as it is believed that
evil spirits cannot turn corners.
Only upon entering the living room, will
then the view take away one’s breath.
The furniture will be amended and enlarged so you have a large
modular system which can be arranged to suit any occasion. There
continues to be a bar in the living space.
Large stone designs have been amended within the walls to
include a combination of carving and niches to house traditional
antiquities.
The Dining Room
The dining room has been enlarged so can
comfortably seat twelve on normal occasions and up
to eighteen people when required, all new furniture, timber
paneled ceilings and fabric paneled walls compliments the scene.
A large folding glazed wall to the ocean view and a slot
window to the entrance elevation afford privacy from staff areas.
The new wall paneling is composed of hand printed fabrics in
silver grays and blues.
The AV Room
The AV room now boasts a state-of-the-art projector systems that throws
images onto a massive screen; the room will fully black out and have
cinema quality viewing with Bose surround sound home theatre.
As a backdrop, the walls are paneled in blues and grays in
handmade traditionally inspired fabrics.
The huge lounging sofa and footstools will make viewing a
pleasure.
The Bale
The bale is being replaced with a larger and deeper structure,
closer to the cliff edge with a seating area at the front, Horigatsu
dining and a bar and built-in BBQ to the rear.
The planting to the front has been reduced to afford views of
breaking waves.
Master bedroom
The master bedroom has been remodeled, the bathroom space has
been enlarged and as well as an oversized bed there is a large day bed
with a swiveling and concealable TV, to permit easy
viewing from bed and lounger.
A large sunken bath is now the central feature in the
air-conditioned bathroom, which also hosts a separate shower, toilet
and dressing areas.
Complimenting this outside is a new and larger additional
shower in the private garden.
The bedroom walls are paneled in grays and blues fabric panels
and the space has a more personal scale which also allows for more
efficient airconditioning.
The Ocean and Garden bedrooms
All the bedrooms have an ornate carved headboard while still
in keeping with the cleaner look of the new Istana
along with boasting a totally revamped larger dressing and bathing
area, external shower and internal pedestal bath.
For the Ocean rooms day beds and desks along with comfortable
lounge chairs have been included as well as some external garden
furniture that will allow clients far more comfort in their rooms than
previously.
The large windows into the living area have been replaced with
a slot window to allow more privacy to these suites.
In the Garden bedrooms, the entrances in
those rooms have been given large private gardens with sunloungers;
they also now possess 42” TV screens in each and
additional walls to ensure privacy.
The kids Room
The staff wing has an additional floor added which house a "children’s
wing", there is children’s sleeping split level
beds and a play room, that features games and TV systems with latest
play station and Wii games.
There is also an adjacent maids room. A pool
room has also been added.
The Kitchens and staff flow
The kitchens have been totally revamped
and enlarged, while providing new equipment to deal more efficiently
with catered events and weddings.
Staff thoroughfares have been planned to
keep all as concealed and unintrusive from guests as possible.