Entrance
The Arsana is approached via a
spacious car park with a security post and a Balinese
gateway heralded by a pair of welcome statues. Passing
through this gateway is like entering another world. An
avenue of feathery palms leads to a serene lotus pond,
guarded by two Ganesha statues. From here a dramatic
entrance, styled after a traditional Balinese Wantilan
or meeting pavilion, brings guests into the villa down a
wide flight of Batu Yogya creamy-white stone steps
flanked by twin fountains and Serai stone walls.
Main Building
The main building is the
social hub of the villa, this symmetrical U-shaped
edifice, presides over the gardens and swimming pool,
and incorporates a grand entrance hall with a polished
black terrazzo floor. One wing comprises a fan-cooled
living area, a bar and an air-conditioned TV room. The
other wing comprises a fan-cooled dining room, an
open-plan kitchen, and an air-conditioned billiard room.
The fan-cooled spaces feature glass walls that can be
opened up completely to create a truly tropical
open-living experience or an alfresco dining experience.
The bold colour theme in each room is the hallmark of
The Arsana’s interior design.
Living Room
This large living space
overlooks the swimming pool below, and its folding glass
doors open onto a sunny terrace. The room features a
teakwood floor and is furnished with a huge, deeply
cushioned red sofa, an arching chrome standard lamp and
a coffee table.
Bar
The semi-circular black terrazzo
bar is located next to the living room, and is equipped
with six red bar stools, red lamps and well-positioned
music speakers. This well-stocked bar is a great place
for sitting and chatting with family and friends; it
also presents the perfect reception facility for parties
and events.
TV Room
The air-conditioned TV room is
located to one side of the bar. It is equipped with a
39-inch, LCD, flat screen, satellite TV, together with a
DVD player and a quality sound system with surround
sound speakers positioned on the ceiling. The colour
scheme is olive green, and this cosy room is furnished
with a large sofa complemented by corner units and
ottomans, bean bags, floor rugs, shelves of books,
storage space and paintings by a local artist.
Dining Room
The large dining room is a
mirror version of the living room, situated on the
opposite side of the open-air terrace. The colour scheme
is royal blue, and the room is furnished with an
impressive glass-topped dining table that seats twelve
people in comfortable cushioned dining chairs. Like the
living room, it boasts glass walls on three sides, which
fold open onto the terrace.
Kitchen
The stylish open-plan kitchen
is a designer-dream in white terrazzo and stainless
steel. Fully equipped, it features wall units in a chic
shade of French navy and a four-burner hob. Pendulous
woven-aluminum lanterns hang over the worktop, which
doubles as an eating area due to the provision of eight
white ‘satellite dish’ stools. Behind the kitchen is a
‘wet kitchen’, and it is in these two facilities that
the staff will prepare delicious meals.
Billiard Room
The air-conditioned
billiard room is located beside the kitchen; it presents
a blue décor, a billiard table, a chess set, a large
mirror, two big blue armchairs and some bar stools
positioned next to a bar-shelf, where guests can sit and
rest their drinks while watching their opponents potting
the balls. A washroom is situated to one side.
Breakfast Pergola
The open-air
breakfast room is a pergola with a terracotta tiled
floor. It is furnished with a wood and chrome table and
matching chairs and is decorated with beautiful potted
orchids.
Terrace
The sunny, open-air terrace is
located between the living room and the dining room,
resting upon the same level, several metres above the
pool. Guests can relax here on rattan-look, cushioned
chairs. The terrace is bordered at the front by a
shallow reflective pond with an infinity edge that
appears to overflow into the jungle. In actual fact, the
gin-clear water flows over the edge into a water cascade
that, in turn, flows into the swimming pool below.
Bedrooms
Two of the guest bedrooms are
furnished with queen-size beds, one is furnished with
twin beds and a desk, and the master bedroom presents a
king-size bed. Each air-conditioned bedroom is housed
within a self-contained pavilion, secluded and private,
with a soaring roof and the additional provision of a
ceiling fan. Each enjoys plenty of light, and each
boasts its own verandah at the front, affording
wonderful views of the garden. Each bedroom features a
warm teakwood floor, sliding glass doors at the front,
and windows on two sides, making the most of the
spectacular views; when the doors are opened the
interior becomes at one with nature. Furnishings include
built-in beds, a sofa or reclining armchair and bedside
lamps.
Located in between the sleeping area and the
bathroom of each pavilion is a spacious dressing area
with twin ceramic washbasins, large wall mirrors, and
plenty of storage and hanging space. Each of the cream
terrazzo bathrooms is bordered by a bulrush pond, and
each features a sunken soaking tub, a toilet within its
own frosted glass cubicle, and a spacious, glass shower
cubicle. Glass doors alongside the tubs, toilets and
showers, fold open to create an open-air experience.
Guests’ privacy is protected by the presence of the
peaceful Buddha statues, each one resting in front of
the high walls that girdle each pond. Each bedroom
follows a bold colour theme – blue, green, yellow or red
– with coordinating cushions, lampshades, upholstery,
accessories and attractive local artwork. Each verandah
is furnished with a pair of comfortable cushioned
armchairs.
Master Suite
The yellow-themed master
suite comprises an air-conditioned study room, which is
almost completely surrounded by glass, an
air-conditioned TV room with a wall-mounted, 29-inch
screen satellite TV, DVD player and quality sound
system, a bedroom, dressing area and bathroom, and an
open-air relaxation bale with a huge cushioned daybed.
The bedroom is accessed by a short flight of black
polished concrete steps. The bale is a great spot for
meditating or relaxing with a book or a cocktail; it
enjoys gorgeous views of the garden and the sunsets.
Swimming Pool, Pool Bar, Massage Rooms, Massage
Bale
The pool area is at a lower level than
the main living and dining areas and is accessed by
descending one of a pair of external stairways, located
on either side. The 20 x 8 meter swimming pool features
two infinity edges and boasts an ironwood deck that
extends the length of the pool and almost appears to
float upon the surface of the water. An additional
smaller deck is situated on the other side. Both decks
are furnished with sunbeds and umbrellas, and there is
also an outdoor pool-shower. The water cascade from the
upper terrace is a striking feature; flanked by
frangipani trees it flows into a shallow children’s pool
at one end of the main pool. The pool is lined with a
stunning slate stone that sparkles with streaks of gold.
Next to it is a white Palimanan stone pool bar with a
glass and teakwood roof, ceiling fans, bar stools, a
table and built-in cushioned daybeds for lounging and
enjoying barbeques, tapas and drinks from the bar. There
is a washroom to one side. Two massage rooms are located
beside the pool, and at the far end of the pool is a
riverside bale, which is also a delightful spot for a
massage. |
Garden & River
The fast-flowing
river is particularly beautiful, it is accessed by a
winding path and steps, and its jungle environs are
restful and cool. Stone benches are positioned in
strategic places, so that guests can relax and enjoy the
tranquility. Trees include majestic breadfruit,
jackfruit, giant bamboo, and towering palms, together
with creepers and ferns. The vast terraced gardens
cascade like a giant’s staircase down to the valley;
velvety lawns are planted with sweet-scented flowering
shrubs. Guests will be lulled by the soothing flow of
the river and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature,
butterflies and birds. They can also witness the
traditions of rural Bali, as one part of the garden
presents a small terraced rice field and a vegetable
garden.
Party Facilities
The substantial open
space within the garden, combined with the grandiose of
the property and its extensive facilities, makes The
Arsana the ideal tropical setting for parties, weddings,
reunion celebrations, barbeques and other functions. The
modern kitchen provides the staff with the equipment and
facilities to cater for a wide variety of events and a
large number of guests. Special events can also be
coordinated by professional outside caterers who have
the world-class expertise to prepare a sumptuous feast
at the villa, in addition to the coordination of
decorations, flowers, lighting, sound systems and
entertainment. A family group can be indulged with a
sizzling barbeque beside the pool at sunset. The
poolside bar pavilion can be set up as an alfresco
dining pavilion, guests can spill out onto the pool
deck, and the elevated terrace above the pool can be
utilized as a stage for Balinese dance performances. The
entrance hall and bar is perfect for a cocktail
reception, and the garden is large enough to comfortably
accommodate hundreds of guests.
Location
The Arsana is hidden away in
the traditional, rural village of Kaba Kaba, in Bali’s
Tabanan regency. Nirwana Golf Course – designed by Greg
Norman and renowned as one of the best golf courses in
Asia – is a ten-minute drive. The villa is fifty
minutes’ drive from the international airport, and
convenient for all of the island’s main tourist
attractions, including the nearby Tanah Lot, Bali’s most
dramatic and venerated sea temple |
