CASE STUDY · UBUD
Meditation House, Ubud
A compact two-bedroom villa built for stillness on the edge of the Ubud jungle — where the real engineering challenges are humidity, slope water and getting materials down a path a truck will never see.
The task
Ubud's valley microclimate is beautiful and merciless: 80–90% humidity for months, ground that never fully dries, and vegetation that reclaims anything left unattended for a fortnight. The owners wanted a quiet retreat that would feel effortless — which meant the construction underneath had to be anything but.
How it was delivered
Everything started with water: interception drainage above the build platform, generous roof overhangs, and damp-proofing details normally reserved for basements. Timber elements were treated and detailed off the ground; wall bases got hard-wearing plinths because jungle gardens are watered daily and splash-back rots paint in a season.
With no truck access to the pad, materials moved by hand and small carrier — which rewarded ruthless quantity planning. Concrete pours were scheduled around afternoon rain patterns, and the finishing programme ran room-by-room so the house could be sealed against moisture progressively rather than standing open for months.
Scope of works
- Earthworks and slope drainage
- Concrete structure and masonry
- Roofing with extended overhangs
- Moisture-first detailing throughout
- Full electrical and plumbing installation
- Natural stone and timber finishes
- Pool and terrace works
PROJECT GALLERY
The building as it was handed over
