Beachfront Getaway In Bali

Being a director seems glamorous, but I bet it’s actually a lot of work: wrangling actors, keeping production moving and making sure the studio likes the final product. So it’s no surprise that director Rob Cohen built his low-key vacation home on Bali well off the, ahem, fast-and-furious Hollywood track. Now, his magazine-worthy oceanfront estate in the tropics is up for sale. Let’s meander through the photos.

Set on the east coast of Bali, the structures were inspired by traditional Sumatran architecture. The main living and dining pavilion sits between a pond and the ocean for near-360-degree water views, and I would take full advantage by sitting (or more accurately, sprawling) in one of those second-floor hammocks.

This pavilion was situated to afford a view of Mount Agung, a sacred — and active — volcano. Inside, it’s exotic but cosy thanks to teak floors, woven bamboo walls and sofas designed by Linda Garland to withstand wet bathing suits.

If you don’t want to sit down to a glass of wine here, this probably isn’t the blog post for you. The rest of us will imagine taking a seat on that nice cool stone, looking out at the ocean and listening to the waves crash. The only problem: the current owner is a surfer, and judging by the one cresting in this photo, I’m afraid said waves might be a little rough for swimming.

Now, imagine drifting off to sleep beneath those clouds of white fabric, listening to the thatch roof creak in the sea breeze. (I feel my day-to-day stress melting away already!) The masks on the walls are traditional Balinese pieces; the owners bought a large collection of Balinese statues from an anthropologist to ensure that all the works would remain on the island and they are displayed around the house.

The property originally had a river running through the centre, so the designer simply diverted the water to create this continuously re-circulating pond. Recycled electric poles were used to make the structures, including the guesthouses shown. Instead of nails, local carpenters used traditional pegs to hold everything together. The listing says this six-bedroom, six-bath property is “price on application,” but other sources estimate the value as $3 million.

Would this inspire you to yell “cut” and move over to the slow lane?

Photo credits:
1-5. Knight Frank