the tiing hotel expresses textural, bamboo-stamped concrete in bali

australian architect nic brunsdon looks to the remote, jungle landscape of bali in the design of ‘the tiing’ hotel. conceived as a ‘reward for the intrepid,’ the project is situated along the indonesian island’s northern coastline in response to the need to pull travelers away from the well-worn tourist paths of southern bali. with its textural, concrete materiality and thoughtful design language, the tiing is a boutique resort embedded into its local and cultural context.

all images by ben hosking

with its isolated position overlooking the northern coast of bali, the design of the tiing hotel artfully expresses traditional materials and local building techniques. together with local studio manguning, architect nic brunsdon begins the project with a strong conceptual framework, rooting the architecture within its context. as concrete is the preferred construction method of bali, and that bamboo is plentiful, an array of monumental bamboo-formed concrete walls were erected on site to create in-between and inside conditions, framing the mountains and the sea.

expressed with a rugged regionalism, the materiality of the hotel seeks to integrate the architecture within its natural and built contexts. surfaces are finished with a textural, rusticated expression, as a clean finish would otherwise require more maintenance within a tropical climate. here, the material will weather in, enhancing the character of the architecture and place. with the finishing technique, the texture and form of the bamboo is expressed as a negative impression. this detail, together with the patina of the concrete, becomes the identity of the project.

1/4

project info:

project title: the tiing hotel

design lead architect: nic brunsdon

execution architect: manguning

awards:world architecture festival finalist 2019 — best hotel

completion: 2019

photography: ben hosking