Melasti Cliffside Resort

Melasti Cliffside Resort is conceived as a unified masterplan that choreographs public amenities, private spaces, and ocean views across a site adjacent to Melasti Beach in Bali. Rather than treating each component as an isolated program, K-Thengono Design Studio weaves them into a continuous circulation, where movement itself becomes the primary spatial experience.

The resort is situated on nearly flat terrain, which led to the careful manipulation of the landscape through cuts and fills to create a terraced topography that enhances visual access to the surroundings. Unlike a traditional grid layout, the design features winding pathways that naturally divide the site and facilitate smoother transitions between different levels.

The lobby and restaurant are strategically positioned at the lowest point of the site. Upon entering the lobby, guests are welcomed to ascend a ramp to a dining area that offers stunning views of the beach and sunset. From there, they can proceed to the infinity pool or descend to a patio that overlooks the cliff's edge. The use of green roofs and terraced landscaping allows the architecture to blend seamlessly with its environment, giving the impression that the buildings emerge organically from the landscape. Next to this welcoming sequence, a controlled access gate leads to the private villa compound.

The first three villas, which are the largest on the property, are placed along the edge to provide uninterrupted views of the ocean. As guests navigate the site via zigzagging ramps, they encounter clusters of villas positioned on the hillside, each consisting of four villas with varying room configurations to maximize land use. Lush landscaped gardens flanked these pathways on both sides. Underneath this greenery, shared amenities such as a gym, spa, and squash court are carved into the landscape and connected by underground passageways.

The architectural design of the villas features two stacked rectangular volumes, with bedrooms on the lower level and communal areas above. Solid stone walls, made from materials sourced during the site’s preparation, anchor the buildings, while fully operable glass panels extend outward to create a sense of floating volumes. Each villa’s private pool is equipped with circular skylights, allowing natural light to filter into the rooms below.