Profile Buahan | The Punch Community

BUAHAN, A BANYAN TREE ESCAPE

Experience the Off-the-beaten-Track,
Untouched Part of Northern Ubud

Developed thoughtfully over decades and through the pandemic, this brand extension symbolizes Banyan Tree brand's vision to creating immersive experiences combining deep nature and sustainable design. Pioneering a "no walls, no doors" concept throughout the property and in each of its 16 balés (villas), the experience concept is an invitation into a different way of being, aligned to the natural rhythms of the living world.

Sustainability Profile • Updated May 2024 by The Punch Team

"Our overall approach was to honor the beautiful site, and surface the great beauty already there to human awareness."

Buahan, A Banyan Tree Escape

SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT

A site survey of endemic flora and fauna was conducted, along with extensive field research on the sociological, architectural, and cultural aspects within a one-hour radius of the property. This research informed both the operational and design aspects of the property, with a vision that it would authentically reflect the agricultural, religious, cultural, and artisanal craft of its locale. Experiences were lovingly created using this research into a Discovery Calendar that celebrates on-site excursions as well as surrounding treks. Collaborations with local healers, farmers, and craftspeople are at the heart of the property.

Buahan follows the standards set out by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) to preserve local heritage, local culture, environmental protection and social responsibility through its brand pillars of being connected to nature, providing a discovery experience, and being embedded in the community.

Avoiding large a large footprint, the resort is broken into many smaller structures, exemplified by Toja Spa having 4 smaller treatment suites as opposed to one big structure. Other facilities have also been centralized to also reduce the footprint exemplified by The Open Kitchen, Botanist Bar, and the main pool all centralized into one structure.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING & DESIGN

As the resort offers 16 private pool villas, each villa has become a sanctuary within a sanctuary, spread out across the vast enclave that makes up the site with the new normal a focus with respect to a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment at all times. With so few rooms, the small footprint of the resort allows guests to lower their carbon footprint through the use of recycled materials, alternate forms of energy, and overall lower power usage as guests enjoy nature’s symphony.

The vernacular open design concept was achieved through local collaboration with Banyan Tree's Head of Architecture, Dharmali Kusumadi, who designed the balés (villas) and other resort facilities, and Gede Kresna, a recognized sustainable local architect who focuses on Balinese design and environmentally friendly architecture.

Dwelling space was designed to resemble traditional Balinese housing with all individual spaces for living, sleeping, and bathing incorporated within a courtyard, compound, or single roofed open deck, the latter being the concept used for Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape. Each bale is uniquely located to maximize the connection with nature, while reducing the footprint and impact on the surrounding environment on the resort’s unique topographical canvas.

Sustainable construction methods were used to reduce the impact on the surrounding environment by forgoing the use of heavy machinery in the construction phase, negating the need to clear large areas of the dense jungle for such machines to operate. Traditional techniques to fasten materials together were also used to avoid the use of non-recyclable materials such as nails.

Rich in artisan tapestry, the balés have various art and design elements driving the sense of place. Craftsmen from central Java hand-crafted the copper bathtubs in every balé, each as unique as a human fingerprint. Further endearing their rooms, each headboard and the borders of the vanity mirrors were exquisitely carved by a local Balinese carpenter from the island, with non-repeating patterns across all 16 private pool balés.