Tebing Sanctuary
A meditative forest retreat cantilevered over the Ayung river ravine, fusing rammed earth, dark volcanic stone, and open-air tropical pavilions.
“We built not upon the land, but within its breath — honoring topography, soil, and mist.”
Perched along a dramatic cliffside edge in Ubud, Tebing Sanctuary explores the boundary where architecture surrenders to nature. The project consists of tiered pavilions stepped down the ravine contour, oriented toward unbroken canopy vistas and river murmurs below.
The walls are crafted from locally sourced compacted earth, layered with volcanic sand to yield earthy stratification that mirrors the surrounding cliffs. These thick walls provide immense thermal mass, absorbing the midday heat and releasing warmth during cool tropical evenings.
Dark polished terrazzo floors mirror the deep green canopy, while unornamented timber columns frame cardinal axes. Enclosed glass is minimized; instead, hand-woven screens and deep overhangs filter tropical downpours, welcoming mist and jungle scents inside.
Rammed Earth & Volcanic Basalt Detail
Macro view of the site-excavated compacted earth strata meeting dark polished volcanic stone floor, showing raw mineral sediment layers enriched with natural Balinese volcanic sand.