After the long wait, The Apurva Kempinski Bali finally opens its door for honored guests starting from February 1, 2019. What can we find inside it?
The 5-star resort stands tall in the upmarket Nusa Dua area in Bali with half a thousand of guestrooms, suites, and private villas facing the beachfront. This establishment will be the second Kempinski property in Indonesia, adding the latest two major openings in the past six months: The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore and Emerald Palace Kempinski Dubai.
With four of their main pillars: Spectacular, Sensational, Curated, and Serene, Michael Henssler as Chief Operating Officer Asia of Kempinski Hotels targets the hotel to “take the form of a majestic open-air theatre, where centuries of Indonesian culture are distilled and brought to life.”
AT A GLANCE
Talking about the design, the man behind their majestic concept is Award-winning architect Budiman Hendropurnomo of UK-based Denton Corker Marshall. He took inspiration from Bali’s natural landscapes and manmade temples in a symphony of natural-clad stone buildings, bougainvillea-covered terraces and a network of waterways and shimmering pools.
The staged landscape of the resort, for example, is inspired from the rice terraces and Balinese centuries-old ‘subak’ irrigation system. These “stages” are called the “Grand Staircase”, where tumbling waterfalls emerge from the lush landscape to emphasize the beauty. Through the center of the building, 250-step walkway inspired by the sacred Pura Besakih runs through the stage.
FROM THE INSIDE
In the interior, Rudi Dodo of Trivium Design Group reimagined Indonesia’s design heritage with modern touch and exceptional artisanship. The interiors are dominated with wood and other warm elements; paying homage to centuries-old Indonesian kingdom and palaces.
The pendopo-style lobby, for example, is a wide-open and welcoming space with a soaring tiered roof that draws the eye up to the cosmos. The intricate Javanese hand-carved gebyok (partitions) symbolizes the prosperous Majapahit kingdom. There is also angkringan food cart in Selasar Deli for a warm dining experience.
THE EXPERIENCES
Room accommodation at The Apurva Kempinski Bali is generously proportioned starting from 65 sq m. Their villas, for example, are completed with private pools and lounge areas, and tropical gardens with outdoor showers while Suites have private plunge pools, and guests benefit from access to the Cliff Lounge and its panoramic pools.
There are a total of six dining places in natural setting scattered around the resort, including Koral, Izakaya by OKU, and Reef Beach Club. There is also an ocean-facing spa and fitness center that offers treatment from Javanese and Balinese healing practices. For events, business meetings and weddings, The Apurva Kempinski Bali offers a 1,076 sq m pillar-free ocean-view Grand Ballroom and a collection of meeting rooms.
PHOTOS Courtesy of The Apurva Kempinski Bali
