Umah Bajang, Uluwatu, Bali

Conceptual Design 2025

Umah Bajang is a Balinese shrine-inspired house design set in Uluwatu, Bali. Traditional Balinese architecture speaks in many design languages. Each one carries its own meaning and function. A bale lantang, a residential compound, a hen house, a temple, even the smallest shrine — each demands its own approach. Centuries of local custom and spiritual meaning have shaped these approaches.

For this project, we found our inspiration in the Balinese shrine. Its depth of meaning drew us in first. The shrine offers a tranquil, spiritual space that mirrors the idea of a home. We studied the elements that make up this temple pavilion. Layers of wooden columns form its main structure. These columns encircle and protect a walled center. This structure builds on the idea of shelter. It shelters not just from the elements, but as a quiet, contained space. That idea became our starting point. It raised a key question: how does a home hold that same quiet enclosure? Can it still live comfortably and openly in a tropical climate?

We answered that question on a quiet plot in Uluwatu. Here, the house unfolds across two floors. Rather than closing spaces off, we gathered them loosely around openness. On the ground floor, an open living, dining, and kitchen area spills into the outdoors. A home office sits nearby for quieter focus. Beyond that, a plunge pool and outdoor seating extend the living space further. These features blur the line between inside and out. Upstairs, two private bedrooms and their bathrooms offer a secluded retreat. This upper level sits above the social ground floor. It echoes the shrine’s own layered, protective columns.

Together, these choices shape a Balinese shrine-inspired house design. The result is a home built for everyday, modern living. It stays rooted in place, yet shaped around how people live today.

Specs

Location: Uluwatu, Bali
Land area: 200 sqm
Building area: 180 sqm
Floors: 2
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 3
Living, dining & kitchen (open-plan, indoor-outdoor)
Home office
Plunge pool with outdoor seating area