The design and building of the flagship SenS Hotel & Spa + Conference Ubud Town Centre, Bali was an exciting and challenging undertaking back in 2013 to 2015. Given Ubud’s rich Hindu heritage and cultural traditions; its important location of being a part of a royal family compound adjacent to the holy Hindu ceremonial cremation site; and directly opposite the very important Pura Dalem Puri temple, made it crucially imperative for incorporating aesthetic Balinese architectural principles in manifesting the island’s ancient culture and artistry on the daily life of Balinese ceremonial traditions and rituals in harmony with nature. “It’s said that Balinese architects do not design buildings; they merely interpret the traditional rules,” end of quote.
Indonesian Architect and interior designer Billy Ferdinand successfully ascertained the full integrity of the design and planning guidelines relative to the following areas: buildings’ height stipulation; number of guest rooms; their relevance to the front elevation components for the “podium” stair towers with introduction of ample natural daylight, and their tiled roofing structures on top; assuring correct angles of the hotel buildings’ roof structures; the importance of adorning roof tops and ridges with terracotta crowns and other roof ornaments or finials; with adopting exterior building colors that are commonly found in and around Ubud in a matching palette such as terra cotta, mustard yellow, muted blue, and grey tones for tasteful intricate wall carvings; assurance of an effective system for air-circulation and cross-ventilation through corridors in connecting buildings; and a central landscaped courtyard that is visible from the Yonne Café & Bar with an impressive wall carving of the Garuda; and featuring a stone carving of an ox spouting water fountain into the courtyard swimming-pool that is lined with ceramic tiles in an exquisite and elegant pattern as its centerpiece. The main entry into the hotel lobby is appropriately framed by a pair of mosaic iconic columns with a grand porte-cochere in undulating form that denotes warm positive energy and movement atop the generous main entrance stairs, in greeting, welcoming and saluting all patrons and friends.
Landscape designer and contractor Made Ardhana introduced various indigenous plant materials and tree specimens such as the frangipani and red sealing wax palms or lipstick palms (cyrtostachys renda, or Palma Merah for its positive energies). In utmost consideration of corporate social responsibility toward energy consumption and conservation, an additional investment in solar panels was made to address lighting requirements for all guest corridors, landscaped areas, and the main entry. Meaningful energy savings are already being achieved daily. Further, separate measures for refuse collection, disposal and re-cycling have also been implemented consistently since all of the hotel’s rooms were completed in July, 2015.
The new SenS Hotel & Spa Ubud Town Centre did not overlook the upscale creature comforts, amenities, and conveniences for international travelers in areas such as: maintaining all public areas in a temperature-controlled environment with minimization of insect intrusions; instantaneous WIFI connectivity throughout the entire hotel; multiple international outlets in all guest rooms; in-room safes; flat screen TVs; mini-fridge and bar shelving; pressing iron and ironing board; sumptuous mattresses and beddings; generous lighting levels; functional work desk and comfortable work desk chair; not least, implementing stringent cleanliness, health and hygienic requirements that are expected especially by foreign tourists. Throughout the hotel’s interiors, a soothing palette of warm and calming colours with a contemporary outlook and execution are accentuated with comfortable and eclectic furniture in superior quality fabrics, and the use of green onyx and marble accented walls, granite buffet counters, and rich marble floors for the hotel lobby, Yonne Café & Bar, and the Peliatan Ballroom, that are decorated with wood carvings, delicate laser-cut wood and metal panels (Photo Caption 1), and songkets. Photographic depictions of Balinese culture and tradition are featured prominently in the guest rooms.
The name of the hotel’s Peliatan Ballroom was intentionally adapted from the Peliatan Village where the hotel is sited. Its purpose is to preserve the history of Peliatan Kingdom for the villagers of Peliatan, citizens of Ubud, and informing all future tourists and visitors through hand-crafted gold frames of mounted colour prints, of a series of original antique paintings on palm fronds depicting and recounting the history and provenance of the Peliatan Kingdom in the Pre function Foyer of the Peliatan Ballroom, and in the Sukma Boardroom.
About SenS Hotel & Spa + Conference Ubud Town Centre, Rated 4-Star
A Boutique Hotel & Spa located in Peliatan Village within Ubud Town Centre, with 97 guest rooms including 6 suites is set amongst the landscaped gardens of a royal compound with a number of Balinese structures, including its Royal Family Ancestral Altar, an interesting puppet theatre, and a paintings gallery; in offering excellent MICE facilities and banqueting amenities from 15 and up to 300 persons, and a relaxing SenS Spa and Fitness Centre. It is an ideal town centre location for meetings, conferences or leisure, within walking distance of most amenities, attractions, and services. Complimentary shuttle transportation is also available to some select locations.
