Dreaming of stealing away to some far-off land?  You pack’n beach blankets or snow skis?  Will you need a crash course in Portuguese or just a brush up on your Mandarin?  When it comes to great escapes the options are endless, there are nearly as many where, what, and whys as there are people considering them.  However, take a quick tour thru escapeartist.com (as if you haven’t already) and you’ll notice a clear and obvious trend; a strong tilt towards the tropics. Dreams are becoming reality as increasing numbers of North American and European baby-boomers are taking up foreign residence along the world’s sun-belt.  For me, it’s no surprise that exotic warm-weather destinations have pull on those searching for a change of lifestyle (change being the operative word, I mean if you’re happy where you are, I doubt your reading this article or planning to hop a freighter and give it a go as near-do-well in Bora Bora). 

Many of these new part and full-time sun seeking expats are building or buying homes in their adoptive country. In fact, considering population levels and demographic trends, it stands to reason that today more homes-away-from-home are being built in these foreign countries than at any time previous.  And I’m talking homes, not the luxury high-rises that are seemingly all the rage in some locales (I for one don’t consider holing up in a stacked shoebox much of an escape - save for in, perhaps, a major metro area), real homes with all the trimmings; Tropical Dreamhomes.  But in comparison to all the popular “hot” spots - the Caribbean, South America, the Mediterranean, Asia & Australia, no matter the location - I would argue from my perspective as a designer/builder of custom homes that nowhere is the tropical dreamhome more fully realized and integrated into the expatriate lifestyle than on the island of Bali, where demand for such dreamhomes is more than matched by the islands truly unique abundance of interesting building materials and people skilled in the building arts.  The island of the gods . . . is a haven for creativity . . .

As a tourist destination since the early 20th century Bali has earned itself world-wide brand name recognition, and its incredibly rich culture and beauty, in combination with the warmth and inviting nature of its people, has over the years enticed many visitors from the west to make it their home.  Today it is arguably (I’m convinced already) Asia’s most glamorous tropical island.  And although home to some 4 million local inhabitants, Bali is far from being your typical Asian melting pot; it is also the final outpost of Indonesia’s ancient Hindu culture.  As practiced by 90% of the islands’ population, the Bali Hindu religion, and its attendant culture, is one of great artistic expression.  On Bali, artistic effort is a celebrated and continued tradition, very much in evidence throughout the island. 

That artistic tradition includes prodigious building for their gods, their kings, and themselves.  Although I haven’t counted them all, I hear tell that over 60,000 temples and 500,000 shrines are on the island - they are everywhere.  And what they do, they do well.  Traditional Balinese architecture is considered one of the world’s great art forms, not to mention skills honed by a thousand years practice at working wood, stone, clay, and fiber.  Adding concrete, steel, and glass, island craftsmen are today keep just as busy building grand hotels (temples of tourism) and fantasy homes for Westerners. Here the “luxury villa” (as in a walled-in holiday home compound) is a standard building type and, in fact, a none-too-small industry has evolved to design, build, furnish, and service them. 

Adding to the those skills in the building arts is an equal compliment of local artists and designers - producing fine paintings, sculpture, jewelry and metal work, decorative fabrics, furniture, and furnishings.  The island produces many of these goods to supply international demand and entire communities are now identified by their craft. Drive through the town of Batubulan, for example, and you will pass countless stone sculptures, and don’t worry if you don’t see just what you’re looking for - they’ll carve anything you need.  Additionally, over the years, many many Western architects, artists, designers, & consultants have made the island their home, if for only part-time. The result being that Bali boasts more than its share of design talent and talented craftspeople.  In volume alone, the output of design related goods and services here is staggering. 
 
 

This congestion of talent has created an environment in which the local and international design professionals working on the island have a clientele base accustomed to design exploration.  The benefit to Bali being continued recognition as both a birth place and proving ground for definitive Asian-inspired tropical architecture.  Be they traditional (the famed “Bali Style” features a spacious open-air floor plan under a dramatic grass roof), colonial, modern, or fusion, the dreamhomes of Bali have been celebrated in books and periodicals the world over.  Design wise, Bali is on the map.  But don’t let the international design community scare you off.  If your idea of paradise includes a funky little beach hut, no biggie - there are more than enough bamboo suppliers and fabricators here to meet your needs. 

Another great resource here on Bali are the many, many (again countless) dealers of antique and vintage household goods - furniture, furnishings, fabrics, ceramics,  tools, weapons, carvings, containers, house parts, houses, junk, just anything they think will sell.  Most of it by definition primitive and nearly all brought over from neighbouring islands, it evidently being a source of foreign money for those areas not blessed with Bali’s large tourist trade. And, oh yea, if tacky tourist trinkets are your thing, you too won’t be disappointed.

enough of the history lessons . . . let’s build a home . . . 

As in most developing nations the dollar tends to go a long way and comparatively the cost of building in Bali is low.  Despite a falling dollar and the impact of rocketing full prices to the cost of building materials (30% increases from July ’05 to July ’06), labour rates here are low and there is little reason to expect that will change much in the future.  Costs are relative of course but in broad terms one would expect to spend from $20 to $60 per square foot to construct a beautiful Bali home, and believe me that upper end $60 is very upper end.  Long term ex-pats with connections can do better and of course location is an issue.  Additionally, employing high profile architects or big-name building contractors will have the obvious consequence.

Currently I am half way through the construction of a house that would be 4 to 5 times as costly back in the States – that’s assuming a local building department Gestapo would permit it - which, of course, they wouldn’t. Admittedly I have the benefit of many years building experience and save 20-30% as I’m the general contractor (I employ locals as project manager and personal assistant), and I have a knack for networking in the trade.  My expectations are high, however, with respect to the building standards and craftsmanship.  I conserve dollars by utilizing, almost exclusively, local (as in Indonesian) materials and suppliers (much imported goods available here) but I’m a stickler for quality goods and services, and build to international standards and that costs a premium. - Article Continued Below -