Trends, Outdoor Living, Magazine, New Zealand, 2004

Paying homage to Bali style
‘A tropical oasis of calm’ is how leading landscape designer Made Wijaya describes his own garden – but his philosophy has much deeper roots

Designer: Made Wijaya (PT. Wijaya Tribwana International)
| Photography by Gil Hanly

Truly tropical garden offer a lot more than a profusion of greenery and colorful, exotic blooms.
In the words of designer Made Wijaya, the best gardens combine an edge of fecundity with the freshness of originality.
His own property, Villa Bebek, is the creative sum of his 26 years living and working as a landscape designer in Bali. The extensive garden blends elements from many periods in traditional Balinese garden design and architecture.

From its pavilions to its follies and exotic plant speciments, Villa Bebek is a living shrine to traditional Balinese garden design.

It also reflects Wijaya’s interest in “ruinscapes” – landscape design that has evolved from his love of the jungle, local antiquities and tree-infested ruins. There are many references to dirt-swept temple courtyard, gates, follies and peasant huts.
An Australian by birth, Wijaya also acknowledges the influences of early English landscapers. His design incorporates window-views to pagoda-like structures in the style of Capability Brown, and he describes his water gardens as “poetically disheveled,” in the William Kent tradition. Numerous artists have also influenced his landscape – the swimming pool with its squiggly lap lines is a homage to pop-artist David Hockney’s Californian pool paintings.

The garden it self is created around a large compound of several villas, Wijaya’s cottage and studio. Each of the residences has its own Balinese gate, courtyard and garage.
“Rather than have too many walls creating a labyrinth effect, I opted for the extensive use of water gardens to provide barriers without blocking the various views,” Wijaya says.
The buildings are intricately connected by a network of pathways, stepping stones, courtyard and gates.

Tropical pavilions provide outdoor dining spaces, opening onto garden terraces on a least two sides. Most of the pavilions are placed to glimpse at least a sliver of blue from the pool.
From other areas there are peeks of a startling, blue-painted brick wall behind the lotus and lily ponds. These are edged with weeping plants and moss-covered statuary.

“Stepping stones provide an element of passage which heightens the romantic ambience of a water garden,” says Wijaya. ‘I also like to have walls behind a pond – preferably dripping ferns and orchids.”

Achieving a harmonious composition was essential to the design and planting, says Wijaya. For example, every aspect of the courtyard, from the choice of paving materials to the lighting, plants and artwork is carefully balanced.

Planting also interweaves large leafed shade plants, and fragrant night-scented species, including cestrum.
Like traditional Balinese gardens, there is also a strong element of mystery and romance, says Wijaya.
“In creating such a garden one starts with the premise that every piece of land has a spirit. By peopling the space with plants and ideas, one must create absolute beauty in order to placate the spirit,” he says.

“A well-composed garden balances the fecund, the ornamental and the mystical and allows its admirer a sense of well-being.”
Wijaya says statues and pots, hanging birdcages, delicate vines and orchids in the trees are important elements of traditional Balinese gardens. The terraces, pavilions and water features are other essential ingredients.

The placement of vine-covered follies in the gardens, such as an exotic kiosk, triumphal gate or tower, is another ornamental tradition. The tall water tower at Villa Bebek provides vertical relief from the flat sprawl of the courtyards.

“Folly-building is one of the real treats of landscape design,” says Wijaya. “Follies, both large and miniature, faux gates and ruinscapes are all part of the theatrical magic that makes a truly romantic tropical garden.”