In a remote part of Bali’s northern coast, The Tiing is a new building with an old soul, constructed using traditional materials and techniques from the region. Designed by Australian designer Nic Brunsdon in collaboration with local studio Manguning, this 14-room resort is only reached after 2.5 hours travelling on smaller roads through the jungle.
Most striking are its bamboo-formed concrete walls, which feature vertical ridges made by the bamboo forma, into which the concrete has been poured on site. Bamboo is plentiful in the area and concrete is the most common building material in the region.
The vertical lines on the concrete are mirrored in the other materials on site, including bamboo doors, shades and screens in the architecture, and woven furniture and lighting elements. These elements also provide a counterpoint to the monumental concrete walls that loom up out of the jungle, offering privacy and framing views to mountains and sea.
The building is made up of seven two-storey blocks separated by pathways, with one suite on the ground floor and another above, and each room has its own private bathing pool.
Designed as a complete retreat in a hard-to-reach location, Brunsdon describes The Tiing Hotel as “a reward for the intrepid”. No doubt a glorious escape from the fast pace of city life, The Tiing’s architecture is also much more than that, a celebration of the region’s stunning natural beauty, its resources and traditional construction techniques.
More on Nic Brunsdon
