Few hotels can say they are “handcrafted” but Katamama, which has just opened in Bali, is literally that, starting with handmade bricks that form the dramatic architecture of the property, to natural-dyed textiles meticulously handwoven by women from Blahbatuh village in Gianyar.
It’s the first hotel by Ronald Akili, CEO of PTT Family, who made a statement when he opened Potato Head Beach Club, Bali in 2010. That sexy, cutting-edge design beachfront attraction comprising three restaurants, two bars, an infinity pool and a 500 square meter lawn draws on average 2,500 people daily.
Akili is back with Katamama, which aims to attract travellers who appreciate artisanal design and want to experience understated luxury and Indonesian culture in a contemporary context. Every aspect of the 58-suite hotel is the work of Indonesia’s finest craftsmen, he said.
“We spent a lot of time researching the techniques and the craftsmanship that best represent Indonesia, on everything from traditional architecture to fabrics, amenities to art, and we chose the best practices and partners,” Akili said. “For example, our more than one million hand-pressed bricks were created using a technique traditionally used in the building of Balinese temples, and we worked with our long-time collaborator, Indonesian architect Andra Martin, to create the modern exterior of the hotel.”
A second landmark project in Bali, in collaboration with world-renowned architecture practice OMA headed by Rem Koolhass, will open in 2018, and there’s also a third Bali project although details are still sketchy.
Katamama Bali features some of the largest living spaces of any hotel on the island. Its suites are filled with curated artwork, handpicked furniture and cherished collectibles, many of them the owner’s personal collection. Facilities include Spanish restaurant MoVida, the first MoVida outside Australia, and Akademi, a bar created by award-winning mixologist Dre Masso.
Born in Jakarta in 1981, Akili lived in Hawaii from the age of 13 and did a master’s degree in entrepreneurial studies at Hawaii Pacific University before returning to Indonesia at age 22. His passion is “creating unique hospitality concepts” nurtured by his parents, who own one of Indonesia’s most recognized travel agencies, Smailing Tour.
“Coming from a family who has ties to the travel industry, being a hotelier has long been my childhood dream,” Akili said. “Growing up, I frequently traversed the globe and was always interested in seeing how hotels operate.”
He plans to expand into global locations, including Tokyo and Australia, with owned and managed hotels that follow the brand’s guideline – “dedication to craftsmanship and creativity, artisanal design, while capturing the warmth and intimacy of a private home”, he said.
The right location is important, Akili added, pointing to Katamama Bali’s location in Seminyak in a neighborhood of “like-minded businesses” such as Escalier, an independent luxury fashion boutique, Alchemy, the island’s first 100% raw vegan cafe and juice bar, Canaan, a curated home and living gallery and retail space, showcasing handcrafted products from Indonesia and Japan – and, of course, his own Potato Head Beach Club.