Canadian architect David Lombardi’s concept of
‘Function over Form’ leaves
Villa Sapi’s guests with a sense of discovery
and surprise at every turn, from the traditionally styled,
grass-roofed building that houses the main kitchen to a futuristic
home theatre. Furnishings carry a signature colour theme of black,
red and lime green, while the walls are adorned with flair
– bamboo, water cascades and conceptual artwork.
The first clue to the quirky nature of the artwork is a white
sculpture in the coconut grove garden which, in huge black letters,
suggests that we should ‘Stop Making
Sense’. The view over the 2,500sqm estate from
the villa’s open-sided living and dining room,
bedrooms and bathrooms is unrivalled; here guests can look forward
to a vista that is ever-changing with the moods of the sea, sky,
neighbouring islands, distant mountains, forests and colourful
fishing boats. At night, after a magnificent sunset, the scene
becomes even more magical as the moon’s
reflection twinkles on the water, presenting a picture of
tranquillity and unforgettable beauty.
Rooms
Villa Sapi rests within an expansive coconut-grove garden and
comprises a main single-storey residence with a 25m swimming pool
and a children’s pool, plus a stand-alone guest
pavilion with two more swimming pools, set well away from the main
house. Also within the villa’s grounds are a
floodlit tennis court and a lumbung (traditional rice barn) massage
pavilion. The main building is entered via a timber pathway, lined
with fire torches. This leads past a feature wall of bamboo and a
cascading wall of water. Running parallel to the beachfront, the
main building incorporates the living and dining areas, kitchens,
three of the five bedrooms, the study and the home theatre. The
guest pavilion is built into a manmade hill capped with grass, and
presents an open-sided sitting area and two bedrooms, one of which
is semi-subterranean. Both bedrooms are complemented by a deck and
a private swimming pool.
Restaurant & Food
Guests at Villa Sapi have the option to avail of the special full
board meals (at a special rate). Villa Sapi’s
chef discusses food and meal schedules with guests at the start of
their stay. He then produces three gourmet meals per day: a full
and hearty breakfast, a three-course lunch and a three-course
dinner, plus afternoon tea and snacks. He is happy to accommodate
likes and dislikes, special requests and special diets, including
children’s meals and low calorie options. The
chef only uses the freshest vegetables and fruits, mostly harvested
from Villa Sapi’s own organic garden or from the
local market. Fish comes directly from the local fishermen. Poultry
is raised locally and organically. Fresh beef and lamb are imported
from Australia and New Zealand. Guests can expect stunningly
presented delicious servings of fresh fish, steaks or lamb chops
with a colourful array of fresh vegetables; gazpacho soup; gourmet
pasta dishes; local dishes such as pepes ikan (fish baked in banana
leaf packages); Lombok prawn curry; Sate Ikan Tanjung, which
originates from the neighbouring village of Tanjung and features a
satay of spiced tuna or snapper fish with an infusion of coconut
milk and garlic, pressed onto a lemongrass skewer and grilled.
Desserts include a wonderful chocolate fondant and the
villa’s pastry chef bakes delicious cakes and
other sweet treats. Freshly squeezed fruit juices are always
available at Villa Sapi, as well as other soft drinks, beers and a
good range of imported spirits (served at cost price)
– Mojitos are a specialty. Barbecues or pool
balé dinners can be arranged with traditional dance
entertainment.
Activities & Sport
Family-friendly advantages of villa stays include having access to
your own private facilities, such as swimming pool, living space
and gardens and having the freedom to use them whenever you want.
Knowing that the kids can run around happily, independently and
safely, without you having to worry about other guests, is a real
plus – and one that means parents are certain to
have a more relaxed holiday too. Villa Sapi has an enormous open
garden, a tennis court, table tennis, bikes, kayaks, a 20m
kids’ pool, a funky TV room with beanbags, DVDs,
board games and toys. The villa’s friendly staff
will go out of their way to make children feel as welcome as adults
– whether it’s cooking in the
kitchen or playing table tennis or football in the garden. Having
these willing helpers on hand also gives you plenty of flexibility
and freedom to do your own exploring beyond the villa grounds
(full-time babysitting incurs a small extra cost).