Luxury in the jungle: Contemporary resorts, Balinese culture, and sustainability

This paper identifies and assesses the ability of luxury resorts to form and preserve a local community’s culture and identity through their architectural designs, specifically analyzing the AYANA Resort and the Maya Ubud Resort in Bali, Indonesia. Two central factors are examined: how the contemporary designs incorporate references to vernacular architecture and how the design promotes sustainability by responding to the local climate. Sustainability, in this case, encompasses both environmental and cultural preservation. The paper further analyzes the significance of such architectural decisions in the resorts’ roles in the grand scheme of the entire surrounding community. Specific details are also examined to unveil the historical meaning of the buildings. In contrast to standardized international hotels, these resorts have proven to have a more valuable impact on the region’s community. The infusion of distinct local identity in architecture can fortify diversity and uniqueness in the modern world.