MAYA

The project was named Maya. In Balinese cosmology, derived from Sanskrit, “Maya” means illusion — the veil between the visible and the invisible.

The main reference was the roof of the Meru temple, a tiered structure symbolizing Mount Meru, the sacred axis connecting earth and sky. Maya Villa reinterprets this archetype as a single trapezoidal volume. Two inclined concrete walls, set at an angle of sixteen degrees, define the form of the building, support the main structure, frame key views, and anchor the building on the limestone plateau.

The second conceptual layer is Teja, a Balinese philosophical principle derived from Sanskrit. It understands light as energy — transformative, generative, and capable of shaping meaning. Mirrored façades and water surfaces are arranged so that sky, horizon, and architecture merge into one visual field. The entrance follows the principle of Barong. In Balinese belief, Barong is a guardian spirit associated with protection and harmony. Monolithic concrete elements work as the protective body. Transparent glass elements form the face open to light. The entrance is organized as a transition from protection to openness.