ART & DESIGN CERTAIN STYLE interest were building materials such as the local species of teak (always reclaimed or sourced from plantations) and various forms of lava stone, such as paras – “basically compressed ash from a volcanic explosion,” he explains. His first project on Bali was Suarga Padang Padang, a boutique hotel he collaborated on with architect Cheong Yew Kuan. Since then, the now-five-person Jencquel shop has brought to life projects ranging from a floating bar at the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan to a badminton court on the architect’s own property that has a turtleshaped bamboo roof designed to accommodate the parabolic trajectory of a shuttlecock. “I try to keep interiors simple and functional,” Jencquel says. “I don’t want to distract from the lush exterior.” The badminton court arose from “lust” to work with bamboo; his desk is “a copy of a midcentury Scandinavian design”. And as for Rumah Hujan, Jencquel nearly sold it to the Polish developer, “but the idea brought my wife to tears,” he says. Instead, he rented it to the developer for a year while he built her a new 465 sq m house. “For that commission, we took elements from my home and brought them to another level,” Jencquel says. The property occupies a seemingly isolated jungle-covered ridge near Ubud’s five-star hotels – a true “Millionaire’s Row”, Jencquel says. The physical challenges of the site, compounded by what he calls an extraordinarily wet, muddy year, were mitigated by Balinese resourcefulness. “Even when there is no road access,” he says, “you can have 30 people carrying stones and sand onto the site on their heads.” What makes the site especially stunning is its westward view of the Ayung River, preferably enjoyed from the house’s pool. “People are blown away,” he says. “It’s like something out of Jurassic Park.” PHOTOS TOMMASO RIVA / LIVINGINSIDE; STYLING LISA SCAPPIN 62 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM
URBAN OASIS From its central location at the heart of Pune, a chic new hotel beckons with striking guest rooms, elegant eateries and an indulgent spa THIS ÜBER CONTEMPORARY HOTEL IS RIGHT AT HOME in Maharashtra’s fast-growing, business- and tech-savvy cultural capital. Decked out in soothing neutral tones with vibrant dashes of colour, the property’s 310 bright, spacious rooms and suites are designed to create a luxurious experience, and feature all the latest mod-cons as well as marble bathrooms with walk-in rain showers. Public areas impress with sky-high ceilings, cascading fountains and thought-provoking artwork. When it comes to food, Coriander Kitchen, the all-day restaurant, offers an interactive culinary journey with multiple live counters serving a range of Indian, Asian and Mediterranean street-food-inspired cuisine; Zeera, the Indian fine-dining eatery, cooks up exquisite grilled fare; and the chandelier-lit Koji serves some of the best Japanese, Chinese and Thai specialities. Whether you spend your day sipping beverages at the poolside gastro-bar Kabana, taking a treatment at the fullservice spa or exploring Pune’s animated CBD, just outside the hotel doors, the iconic Art Deco inspired Conrad Pune will leave you spellbound with its curated experiences, top quality services and sophisticated style. WEEKEND STAYCATION Enjoy a rejuvenating weekend staycation at Conrad Pune. The offer includes: • Buffet breakfast for two people at Coriander Kitchen, the all-day dining restaurant • Complimentary wifi • Early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability) • Complimentary upgrade to the next room category (subject to availability) • Complimentary entry to Masu, with a buy-oneget-one-free beverage policy from 4pm to 8pm • 20% discount on food and soft beverages at Coriander Kitchen • 20% discount on salon services • 20% discount on laundry services • Rate only valid for Friday, Saturday and Sunday Validity Dates: Bookings from 22 June 2018 to 23 Dec 2018 CONRADPUNE.COM TELEPHONE: +91 020 6745 6745
