The Ravine | Maxime Dautresme

Nestled within the heart of Ubud’s forests, a space intertwines architecture, nature, and culture to form a residential landmark that transcends the boundaries of the natural and the man-made. Named after the steep gorges that shape the area, The Ravine captures the reverence of Bali for its landscape and stands as an offering of gratitude towards the culture and traditions that have breathed it into existence.

The beauty of this secluded abode sits in its layers, expressed in its intricately designed architecture with a foundation of brick, stone, and concrete softening into wood, bamboo, and leaves for the upper levels of the structure. Though subdued in grain and palette, the materials used immerse people in spaces that reflect the rawness of the residence’s location. Every line and shape pays homage to Balinese craftsmanship, with bespoke furniture and lighting inspired by the silhouettes of the region’s honored heritage of wood carving and traditional instruments.

The spatial experience blurs the line between the indoor and outdoor, as people are guided toward the calming greenery enveloping the property. Taking after Bali’s distinctive vernacular architecture, the environ divides itself into public and private areas, with courtyards for quiet reflection. Each floor’s layout ripples outward to lush vistas of trees, framed by generous openings that respect tropical architecture’s connectivity with nature — a connection sacred to Balinese architecture, which has long been influenced and shaped by its landscape of forests, rice terraces, and fields. Recalling each other in an infinite dialogue, nature and man-made structures intertwine in a contagious rhythm — bringing to life expressive musical pieces reverberating in sacred celebrations and popular festivities.

Within The Ravine, everything is felt and experienced. From the rustling of trees swaying in the wind to the tactile surfaces grazed by one’s sight and touch. The richness of Balinese culture courses through every inch of this sensorial space, where you are ensconced within the natural touch of the divine, and the spirit of the landscape expressed in built form and space. A place where it is unclear where the natural and man-made architecture begins and ends, The Ravine invites contemplation about our bonds to the earth and helps us remain rooted in ourselves.