Desa Seni: A Living Village of Indonesian Homes in the Hills of Baturiti

The Architecture

Desa Seni is not a resort built in Bali but a village assembled from Indonesia. Each of its houses is an antique timber structure, rescued and restored piece by piece from a different island of the archipelago, with its carvings, its pitched roofs and its porches open to the garden. No two are alike: every home keeps its own story, character and relationship with the landscape.

The whole is arranged like a village. Stone paths cross the tropical planting between open pavilions, a swimming pool and shared timber spaces where the day moves slowly. The houses combine Indonesian craft and traditional furniture with contemporary comforts, each adapted for simple, easy rest.

At the heart of the village stands Rumah Seni, the art centre, with work by resident artists, and Seasons, the farm-to-table restaurant working with organic produce grown on site and sourced from local suppliers. The day is accompanied by yoga, meditation, creative workshops and cultural experiences offered daily as part of the stay.

Desa Seni defines itself as a place to live slowly, in contact with nature and with the culture of the island. Reverse-osmosis drinking water, the daily ceremonial offering, organic bathroom products and a shared book library are part of everyday life. Its team brings together people from more than twenty Indonesian islands, and the relationship with the local community is part of the project rather than an addition to it.

The environmental practices the property documents are concrete: much of the food is grown in its own organic gardens, the kitchen works with the season and with minimal waste in mind, and the houses have been restored by reusing existing structures and materials. Desa Seni makes no Passivhaus or high energy-efficiency certification claim; its approach begins with heritage conservation, local food and responsible consumption.

The Environment

Desa Seni sits in the hills of Baturiti, in the Tabanan regency of north Bali: about 90 minutes from Ngurah Rai airport and 45–60 minutes from Ubud. It is a higher, cooler and quieter part of the island than the south, among forests, farmland and mountain views. Bedugul and Lake Beratan, the Jatiluwih rice terraces, waterfalls, temples and local markets are all nearby, as are the area’s hot springs. Transfers can be arranged directly with the property.