If we’ve learned anything from these past three years, it’s the importance of genuine experiences being an antidote to the hyper-connected pace of modern lifestyles. This need to hit reset, to reflect, and immerse ourselves in achieving oneness with the world has become all the more important in a world of continuous news loops and clutter. The good news, for us, is that what we seek – a zen state of mind, body and soul, can be found not too far from home. In the Island of the Gods, one arrives at Desa Potato Head, located in the swish locale of Bali’s Seminyak. This creative village has recently added the coup de grace to its ensemble of offerings; the 58-suite artisan Potato Head Studios property which is the reason why this writer has emerged refreshed, recharged and dare I say, reborn.
Here at Potato Head, the track is free spirited and the reverb is sustainability. This creative village is the result of combined energies; Potato Head owner and CEO Ronald Akili, architect Andra Matin (who designed the original Katamama) and Rem Koolhaas’ OMA design studio (the firm behind the Guggenheim, Taipei’s Performing Arts Centre and Prada’s Spring/Summer 2022 show). Here in this village known as Desa Potato Head, a uber-hip co-working space called Studio Eksotika doubles up as a library, an exhibition space and plaza hosts cultural events, and guests are provided an entire programme dedicated to Potato Head’s ethos of Good Times, Do Good. From energy activations and sunrise meditations to sustainability workshops, the overarching sense is of rebalancing and regeneration.
Arriving at Potato Head Studios will quickly dispel any notion of it being the middle-of-the-pack ‘designer’ or ‘boutique’ hotel. A first and very visceral impression is the organic flow of humanity at the famed Potato Head Beach Club, backgrounded by the brutalist façade of the new Potato Head Studios, reinvented from what was formerly the Katamama hotel. Beyond this throbbing spectacle of life, you find yourself drawn into the narrative that is Potato Head, beginning from the ambient sound of rolling waves, to their very own house music (which you can stream off their Spotify playlist). As you wend your way to the centre of the courtyard, you’ll arrive at Potato Head Studios’ check-in bar, served with traditional jamu and oat cookies as you are inducted into the ‘village’.
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Which brings me to the single most stunning discovery of my stay – that of Potato Head’s deep respect for sustainability. No other resort has taken it to this level, with only five per cent of all its waste going to the landfill (one per cent being the declared aim in time to come). There is an upcycle facility on site where everything plastic is turned into something beautiful – including door signs, coasters and seats. Coconut husks become sandals and through the work of two onsite artisans, used wine bottles become candle holders, with 1,500 bottles given a new lease of life every month.
Most impressively, the construction of Potato Head studios’ walls is made with broken bits of bricks sourced from ancient Balinese villages – the same manufacturers supplying local temples. These building blocks are shaped by hand, and used in a concrete mix in-situ giving it a unique pinkish hue in all its glory. In the same way, bespoke Jengki teak furniture inside of the studios are given a mid-century modern riff, a recall of the post-independence young Indonesian designers brimming with the enthusiasm of a new nation.
Entering the studios (starting from IDR4.3 mil a night) – it becomes apparent why they are termed as studios. From the quadrant layouts of bathrooms, beds and rest zones including the daybed, to the 25-foot balcony, this open efficiency is geared to fully frame the panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. Insider of the rooms, a strong sense of zen and generous use of warm wood slows down your inner metronome, while an oversized soak bath becomes the easy way for you to take in the languid, technicolour sunsets. Try the Marigold Hour where butlers will draw your bath, and fix you a drink in-room, using a clever folding table that unveils as a minibar. These bars can also be customised to the guests’ preference and ‘intentions’; a wellness reset or party recharge, as an example. One could, of course, also approach Akademi, the hotel’s award-winning bar for craft cocktails as well, or while away afternoons at the private pool which are exclusive to guests of Potato Head Studios.
At the hotel’s fine-dining vegan restaurant Tanaman, a nine-course menu with paired drinks reveals a strong sense of local sourcing, with not just the food but drinks also a reflection of Balinese flora. Papaya teas, salak nectar and roasted lemongrass become components to wholly unique cocktails while seasonal menus offer farm-fresh produce. These ingredients, which encompass fruits to roots, originate from the island’s rainforests, mountain ranges and coasts. In turn, the dishes range from spiced spinach recalling Indonesia’s rich street food scene, to umami-rich mushrooms, deliciously charred over open fire. By the end of the meal, as you contemplate the restaurant’s spacemen-like ambience, notice the aluminium structure from which the restaurant’s micro herbs are grown, and run through your favourite courses, it would be wholly natural for you to feel the permeation of this free spirited vibe of Potato Head, and visibly transformed.
