New York-based Rockwell Group completed the design of the world’s first Omnia Dayclub and a luxury Japanese restaurant Sake No Hana at The Cliff at Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali. Both projects are for hospitality company Hakkasan Group.
With views of the Indian Ocean, the Dayclub and restaurant are located on the southwestern tip of the Bukit Peninsula of Bali. These are perched atop a 100-meter plateau overlooking the ocean. Sake no Hana, a Japanese restaurant from London’s St. James Street, is adjacent to the Dayclub. The venues have views and VIP areas.
Guests arrive at the resort and traverse a covered, carved teak bridge that leads to the OMNIA reception area. There, a textured stone wall complements an antique black marble reception desk with a leather finish and book-matched pattern.
Visitors to the Dayclub are greeted by cast terrazzo stone cabanas with textured finish and a stepped entry, as if they have been carved out of the cliffside landscape. Light fixtures are inspired by traditional Indonesian weaves, with a twist on the shape and style.
The stepped approach to the cabanas continues along the edgings of the pool and the bar, as a re-occurring visual motif. A sunken pool bar has daybed islands around the two-sided bar, and sunken stone barstools. Blue mosaic tile lines the pool floor and terrazzo tile is featured on the pool decks.
Overall, Rockwell Group’s design concept reflects the location of the property and takes advantage of the natural amphitheater’s stepped rock formations and views. Furniture and finishes blend local Balinese craftsmanship and Japanese joinery to create an authentic yet contemporary aesthetic. Part of the Dayclub actually cantilevers over the ocean and features the large suspended cube, designed by Singapore firm WOHA. Situated above the bar, the cube is illuminated after dark.
Guests can continue to Sake No Hana at the mezzanine level, where Rockwell Group designed a live-edge teak sushi bar and Mother of Pearl bar dye, and a Japanese-inspired sculptural, oversized chandelier. The restaurant is inspired by the dining room and open kitchen of a British country estate, with a mix of classic structures, such as oak columns painted blue, and a mix of modern and classic lighting. Booth seating is reminiscent of a members’-only club. All of the furniture is custom and made from local teak wood. Rockwell Group developed a subtle material palette of neutral terrazzo with hints of gold and blues. Cobalt blue fabrics reference the ocean below as well as the colors of the OMNIA brand. Rockwell Group also used local materials wherever possible and worked with the client on an art program that incorporates work by Indonesian artists.
Rockwell Group is an architecture and design firm based in New York with offices in Madrid and Shanghai.
Photo credit: Ed Reeve