A Balinese Architectural Morphology: An Intersection of Cultural Traditions with Economic and Social Demands

I have been to Bali numerous times throughout my life. As an Indonesian from the island of Java, experiencing Bali felt familiar - the humidity, vehicle-centric urban planning, integration of nature, informal architecture, along with the blending of various cultural and historical influences on buildings, were all so natural to me. However, having spent most of my life in Australia, I now question the differences between what I was once familiar with, to what I am now accustomed to. In Australia, it is perceived that the built environment (housing, buildings, development, land) are treated as economic stock and capital, further exacerbating a decline in architectural spaces that encourage quality human experiences. In my opinion, the current state of the public realm and user experience conditions have become mediocre and lousy; with quicker demands for design output and pushing for quantity over quality. Thus, this development-first approach diminishes the human experience of such spaces. While exploring Bali, I felt that its architectural conditions prioritise human experiences, despite the urban conditions often contradicting this, ultimately strengthening both its economic vitality and the state of the built environment.

I find the architecture and urban conditions in Bali fascinating. Throughout my time there, I wondered how traditional Balinese influences inform contemporary architecture and the built environment in Bali. Unlike the city I was from, I noticed that Balinese architecture takes on formalised expressions through its religiously famous gates, highly ornamental detailing, structure and forms, and spatial planning for dwellings. This prominence of cultural expression stems from Bali’s religious beliefs deeply rooted in Balinese Hinduism (A blend of Hinduism, Buddhism, and existing Animistic beliefs), which is a belief of honour and maintaining harmony with everything and everyone around them. This bolsters the expression of culture through arts and the environment in the urban and public realm. Its cultural expression and integration within society can therefore be explained in the deep rooted animism within Balinese traditions, compelling further exploratory expressions of these ideals within contemporary settings.

'Balinese' architectural elements captured on my adventure across Bali. (From left to right) House in Bali with wall and roofing ornamentation, Balinese Gate, Balinese Pagoda, Bamboo and Straw Roof structure at The Udaya.

What fascinates me even further is this morphological transition and tension between culture, economic conditions, and consumerism that Bali is experiencing as a tourist hot spot. A push towards this economic condition has enabled the built environment to move towards a more enticing experience (at least, on an architectural and human scale), catering to new emerging needs, interests, and experiences. On my trip to Bali, I searched for places to stay and visit that were ‘Balinese’ and would allow me to experience a ‘cultural immersion’ - such places that imbue the ‘spirit of place’. The ‘spirit of place’ (genius loci) refers to the soul of a place - the tangible and intangible qualities that define its uniqueness and distinctiveness, giving it meaning and evoking emotion. However, if you look up ‘Balinese architecture’ (on Google and Pinterest), you will see that contemporary and traditional Balinese architectural qualities such as materiality, form, and structure, tend to merge and create new meanings - balancing cultural and contemporary ideas. So, it got me thinking… What is the ‘cultural experience’ of Bali? And how does this manifest itself in an architectural language and imbue a ‘spirit of place’?

Google search of 'Balinese Architecture' showing a mixture of traditional Balinese and Contemporary architectural languages - seemingly showing more roof morphologies.

Pinterest search of 'Balinese Architecture' showing a mixture of traditional Balinese and Contemporary architectural languages - showing more materiality and detail elements.

Is ‘Balinese’ a reduction to form, ornamentation, materiality? Or is it more intangible and ephemeral, such as a sense of space, atmosphere, and other sensorial qualities? Or perhaps its connection to nature? Therefore, what is Balinese vernacular architecture? And what is the culture it (architecture) is trying to reflect and imbue a spirit of place? Various questions and possibilities arise. 

As outreach and trends on global media rise, an influx of global expression imposes its impression on local identities, contributing to urban homogenisation against the aforementioned deeply rooted animistic approach to the built environment. How, then, can one implement the 'spirit of place' of Balinese cultural immersion in an urban setting, where every element and detail of the place embodies its own spirit and purpose? 

From ornamentation to a reduction to form & materiality. (From left to right) Milk and Madu by DDAP Architects, some Pertamina gas station along the high way, Trans Studio Mall in Kuta, Patal Kikian

This tension between cultural values and contemporary design is not only inevitable but also a catalyst for innovation. When economic factors prioritise the human experience, architectural vocabulary is shaped by consumer demand across various economic scales. As I observed in Bali, the dynamic interaction between traditional cultural influence and modern architectural demands encourages exploration and experimentation. It is within this tension that placemaking becomes both unique and spatially engaging, allowing for the creation of environments that resonate with both cultural depth and contemporary relevance.