glowing glass block facades front arkana's 'villa sipat & sauh' in bali

arkana architects’ interiors open toward garden and sky

Villa Sipat & Sauh by Arkana Architects sits within a compact site in Bali behind a luminous facade of glass blocks. The project responds to a brief that sought a rental villa with the warmth and familiarity of a private dwelling, expressed through quiet spatial cues and measured material choices.

A small foyer framed by glass blocks introduces this tone. The space opens to the sky, allowing shifting light and occasional rain to shape the atmosphere. This transitional zone leads directly into a kitchen with a modest island counter, an arrangement that places daily rituals at the center of arrival and gives the villa an immediate sense of ease.

images © Thomas Irsyad

‘Villa Sipat & Sauh’ is organized around luminous courtyards

Past the kitchen, Villa Sipat & Sauh’s dining and living areas unfold in a sequence which Arkana Architects defines by a timber and fluted-glass partition. The screen diffuses light while keeping sightlines fluid, creating a gentle gradient between one room and the next.

At the heart of the plan, a pool courtyard provides a pause in the circulation. This open-air core brings brightness and fresh air deep into the interior and anchors movement through the villa, including the stair rising beside the water toward the upper level.

The architects organize the home to balance intimacy with a strong architectural frame. The courtyard mediates between social spaces at the front of the plan and the more secluded sleeping areas toward the rear and above.

Views across the house carry through glass, timber, and curated gaps, giving each room a sense of connection while maintaining clarity of purpose. Light shifts throughout the day, sliding across edges and surfaces, shaping the interior with steady rhythm.

Villa Sipat & Sauh introduces a domestic scale to a rental setting

a home of glowing volumes

The exterior presents a geometric volume defined by expanses of glass blocks. The material lends a soft glow to the facade and filters silhouettes within, offering privacy while inviting curiosity from the street.

This approach gives the villa a distinct identity within its neighborhood. The design leans toward restraint, expressed through controlled openings, firm lines, and a consistent palette that underscores the building’s quiet presence.

Glass blocks play a central role in the project’s character, serving both practical and expressive aims. Their diffuse light complements the interior’s timber elements and the gentle shimmer of the pool, heightening the villa’s calm atmosphere.

The rest of the palette remains measured, allowing texture and proportion to guide the experience. Each material serves its purpose without excess, contributing to the villa’s steady, composed quality.

glass blocks shape the entry with shifting daylight and open sky