| | | | Being in Bali is like taking a Master class in design, art, feng shui and living. Everything you see, smell, touch and hear invokes a calming feeling of restful benevolence. Things are placed but never staged, to create an environment at one with nature, where the inside and outside worlds meet and mix. It feels like this is the way things have always been and should always be hereafter. You've seen another way of living and there's no forgetting it!
Bali changes your perception of what it is possible to create in your home and garden. You now know that these places can offer more than shelter and recreation to become refuges offering inspiration, reflection and serenity. It is achievable on any scale and can begin in the corner of a room or the entire garden. A note of caution though, authenticity is essential - serenity cannot be faked! | |
| | | Most Bali gardens and Asian gardens generally, incorporate elements of the following:
- Water either in large (1M-2M diameter wide) lily pots, urns, ponds, pools or moats the latter usually around temple like structures. Water features usually pour and cascade water and are often planted with giant water lilies and other aquatics.
- Paths are simply made of paving stones and gravel or as walkways over water. Paths often marked by lanterns or torches.
- Flowering plants potted in big pots and always raised off the ground.
- Specimen trees such as frangipani, lotus and hibiscus
- Manicured lawns as a calming backdrop
- Uplighting at the base of trees to throw them into detail once night falls.
- Statues at entrances, temples and recessed in alcoves.
Take a look at the introductory sections in the various product categories to get more specific design inspiration. | |
| | | The web is invaluable in getting some strong visual images of what you can hope to achieve in a typical Asian inspired garden with ASIAN OPUS products. The best website resource belongs to the Bali Garden Grand Master Pak Made Wijaya, an Australian architect gone native. He has designed gardens for celebrities such as David Bowie and hotel resorts for large multinationals such as the Four Seasons, Taj, Hyatt, Amandari, Meridien, Sheraton, Oberoi and Hilton to name but a few! Check out his gardens at www. ptwijaya.com
Many of the most awesome gardens in Bali are those commissioned by hotels and restaurants. Go to the website and check out the gallery sections of the following:
· Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay
· Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
· The Novotel Benoa garden
· Segara Village
Remember you're there for garden inspiration and not to book holidays!
The following is a list of some useful books on Balinese Gardens & Architecture, many of which can easily be purchased on AMAZON:
1. The Tropical Garden by William Warren (April, 2000)
2. Modern Tropical Garden Design by Made Wijaya (Sep 15, 2007)
3. Bali Modern: The Art of Tropical Living by Gianni Francione (April, 2000)
4. Landscaping With Tropical Plants (Sunset Series) by Monica Moran Brandies (Dec 31, 2003)
5. At Home in Bali by Made Wijaya (April, 2000)
6. The Subtropical Garden by Jacqueline Walker (Sep 1, 1996)
7. Thai Garden Style by William Warren (April, 2003)
8. Plants for Tropical Landscapes: A Gardener's Guide by Fred D. Rauch (Oct, 2000)
9. Bali Houses: New Wave Asian Architecture and Design by Gianni Francione (Feb, 2003)
10. Bali Style by Rio Helmi (Mar 1, 2003)
11. Island Style: Tropical Dream Houses in Indonesia by Gillian Beal (Mar, 2002)
12. Tropical Plants for Home and Garden by William Warren (Mar 1, 2006)
13. Paradise Found: Growing Tropicals in Your Own Backyard by Norman Winter (Nov 25, 2001)
14. Gathering Places: Balinese Architecture - A Spiritual and Spatial Orientation by Barbara Walker (Oct 3, 2005)
15. The Tropical Look: An Encyclopedia of Dramatic Landscape Plants by Robert L. Riffle (Aug 1, 1998) | |
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