bada studio

As children, the tropical jungles and muddy rice paddies were our most cherished playgrounds. Climbing palm trees, searching for snails in the rice fields, and sliding down hilly slopes on banana leaves nurtured a deep bond between us and nature. Trees, in particular, shaped our childhood, becoming the source of memories and stories. Whether we were picking fresh fruit from the garden or discovering birds nesting in the branches, trees held a special place in our hearts. At Rumah Haruku, trees are given their own place in the blueprint—either embraced by the surrounding spaces or carefully avoided by the touch of the building. The architecture is built with the understanding that the home stands on land that existed long before us and will continue to exist long after us, among trees that hold memories older than our own. #bada_studio Visual Production: @pempki

At Haruku, nature has laid a path between the trees where the main house sits parallel to the contour lines—gently hidden within the landscape. Part of life in the tropics is being surrounded by elements of nature. Gardens grow, trees provide shade, rain drips from the edges of the roof, and wind moves through spaces. As a result, buildings follow nature’s direction and become part of the landscape. The new cottage, on the other hand, protrudes into the landscape between the coconut and cempaka trees. Breaking the previous parallel line, Rumah Haruku now extends into the landscape, which was once only observable. #bada_studio Visual Production: @pempki

The tropics – A drop of water, a seed brought by a bird, falling on a strip of earth, trees to grow – life happens. One could experience a whole new ecosystem and forest growing within 1 year of an empty strip of land – nature will always find its way to strive. Once the rainy season starts in the tropics, there is no stopping the growth of a new jungle. There are common occurrences where our neighbors empty land becomes forgotten by its owner, but not by nature. Plants start to grow creating thick bushes, suddenly a tree is standing in the middle allowing for birds to fly by and nest in the branches, and we as children saw this as a playground of life. In Bali, empty land even becomes the growing ground for farmers to plant trees used to feed the cows. It becomes somewhat of a tradition, a tradition of the tropical jungle. Sometimes, nature over powers man-made structures, climbing plants growing over our fences, bamboo over growing the perimeter leaving fallen leaf on our door step, or even roots of a neighbor growing under the foundations and sprouting in our own gardens. It is truly a spectacle to whiteness the power of tropical landscapes growing. As designers, we feel that nature plays a substantial part in architecture. Whether its elements of water, the earthly soil, strong standing trees, or animals running through our home – tropical nature is a part of our life. It has become our design principle to respect nature by preserving what nature has given and incorporating it into our design philosophy. #bada_studio Visual Production: @pempki

Long ago, before the lands of Sulawesi were filled with villages and rice fields, the sky and earth were separate, and humans did not yet exist. The gods ruled the heavens, while the spirits of the land moved freely across the earth. But one day, a being from the sky, To Manurung, descended to the world, bringing wisdom and order to the land. To Manurung saw the earth wild and untamed. Waters rose and fell unpredictably, and spirits of the land were restless. To bring balance, he taught the people to build their homes above the ground—closer to the heavens yet still connected to the earth. The people followed his teachings, raising their homes on wooden pillars. These houses reflected the three realms of existence: the roof symbolized the sky, where the ancestors and gods resided; the main living area represented the human world, where daily life took place; and the space underneath embodied the underworld, home to unseen forces and spirits, where offerings were made to maintain harmony. As generations passed, the Bugis people continued to build their homes this way, believing that to live in a Rumah Panggung was to exist in balance with the universe. Meanwhile, a few islands to the west, the first families who came from Java settled on Bali, seeking guidance from nature and the gods in building their homes. They believed a house was more than just shelter—a sacred space where humans, nature, and the divine coexisted in harmony. The elders followed Asta Kosala Kosali, sacred architectural principles passed down through generations. They built their homes as a collection of pavilions, each serving a specific purpose. The sleeping quarters were carefully placed to receive the best energy, while the living pavilion became a space for gatherings and rituals. This approach also mirrored the rhythm of family life. Open courtyards and airy pavilions kept the spaces cool, and their raised foundations, protected against floods and earthquakes. For centuries, this tradition continued, shaping Bali’s compounds into harmonious clusters of pavilions set within lush greenery—an architectural legacy of balance and community. Visual Production: @pempki #bada_studio

We were under pitched roofs, exposed wooden structures, natural materials, easy access to tropical landscapes, and immersive spatial experiences are part of our everyday lives. Traditional houses in Indonesia are predominantly constructed from wood, a readily available building material that is also earthquake-resistant—a crucial feature given the country’s location on the Ring of Fire. Wooden houses like the Rumah Panjang, Joglo, Limasan, and many others are designed to adapt the needs of the environment and reflect local cultures & beliefs. Because they are built from wood, the general roof forms share similarities across various cultures. In Rumah Haruku the triangular shape allows for a spatial experience. The living and dining rooms, along with the adjoining kitchen, were designed with the homeowners and their dogs in mind. Upon stepping down into the living room and kitchen, one can sense the shift in spatial volume and its effect of compression and decompression. #bada_studio Photographs by @pempki

“According to an old legend, the ancient inhabitants of Kalimantan, Borneo, believed that the forest was inhabited by guardian spirits that protected the land and its people. In a village deep in the heart of the forest, the community built a Rumah Panjang carefully aligned with the natural elements. It was believed that this house not only served as a residence but also as a place of communication between humans and the forest spirits. The village shamans performed special ceremonies during its construction, invoking the Spirit of the Forest to protect the home. The house was designed to maintain a constant connection with nature, featuring windows and open spaces that allowed light and air to flow freely. One night, a powerful storm swept through the village, with winds and rain so fierce they threatened to destroy the house. However, as the villagers prayed, the storm suddenly calmed. It was said that the Spirit of the Forest had intervened to protect the house and its people. From that moment on, it became a tradition to build longhouses on tall pillars, in harmony with the natural surroundings, and to honour and respect the forest spirits.” #bada_studio Photographs by @pempki

Privacy & light into the bedrooms at Tatma Residence To us, a bedroom needs to be private and treated as an indepented sanctuary to the whole residence. Equally important is the access of sunlight and the possibility of air flow allowing for a breathable space. At Tatma Residence, every bedroom is designed to have its own private space. Large openings were incorporated into the bedrooms to allow plenty of light entering the spaces, and since the house is surrounded by gardens, enables private garden views to each of the rooms. #bada_studio

Space and the heart of a home at Tatma Residence Space in architecture is created by limitations and boundaries. Simply put, walls, floor surface, and ceilings create a 3 dimensional interior space. A play of these elements gives different effects to the human sense. As an illustration, lower ceilings mostly allow for a more intimate feel, while higher ceilings for a more released and majestic feel. Our approach in playing with spatial experience is by presenting our designs with a series of different "feelings" throughout the whole project. At Tatma Residence, we designed a spatial story into the heart of the house, the great room. Upon arrival through the top floor, one is guided through outdoor stairs leading to a compressed yet tall arrival space surrounded by vertical wooden and stone walls. When entering the house, the low ceiling foyer provides a sense of intimacy opening towards a double volume great room. This room then connects to a compressed covered living room and finally leading towards the completely open tropical landscape. The play of spatial experience. #bada_studio

Designing Architecture together with Nature at Tatma Residence Tatma Residence harmoniously integrates into its natural surroundings by centralizing the house and opening to tropical gardens surrounding the house. It's nestled on a sloping 2,400 square-meter plot bordering a small river. The site shares a boundary with a Balinese village temple, and its lush riverbank creates a serene backdrop. Our design philosophy sought to respect the land and its cultural context. To honor the neighboring temple, we positioned the arrival to the house on the upper level, while the main entrance is accessed by descending steps. This design ensures that the house's height remains below that of the temple while still following the contour, demonstrating reverence for its sacred presence. The house's grounded nature is further emphasized by the integration of surrounding coconut trees, extending from the roof to reinforce its low profile. To enhance the tropical ambiance, we incorporated a variety of plants and trees, fostering biodiversity throughout the residence. #bada_studio

Rumah Lituhayu, Nyanyi, Bali - 2024 ----- Our Nyanyi project is coming close to finish. @hendrikletik_ and his team are working their magic to get the house to perfect detail. @ma____laya has started their planting journey, bringing in trees and plants to add biodiversity to the project while highlighting the existing mature trees growing amongst the building. Interiors are also being produced and purchased aiming for the end of October deadline. Stay tuned for the final results, we have something special in mind for this project :) #bada_studio

Rumah Lituhayu, Nyanyi, Bali - 2024 ----- We are so excited, this project is approaching the end of the construction. The team of @hendrikletik_ have done an amazing job and are putting in extra time and effort in achieving the best possible finishes. Landscape and interior production are in the discussions and soon coming to fill the spaces. Really excited to see the finished project soon!! #bada_studio

Re-design and design development of project in Uluwatu - 2024 #bada_studio