Natural Materials and Local Craft Define This Yogyakarta Retreat
Soil and Sand is a serene retreat inspired by Mediterranean-style slow living, where natural materials and handcrafted touches help guests disconnect
A holiday can often be as good for one’s constitution as a trip to the doctor — or, indeed, to the beauty counter. This latter idea is something Indonesian cosmetic group Avo Innovation Technology has taken to heart with the opening of its first hospitality venture, Soil and Sand. A holiday villa designed to evoke the calm, slow lifestyle of the Mediterranean, the property is located in tropical Sleman, in northern Yogyakarta.
Soil and Sand is situated just a short drive from Mount Merapi, the country’s most active volcano, near a farming community and with stunning views of the mountain. The regency is home to several historic and culturally rich sites, such as the UNESCO-listed Prambanan Temple, known for its impressive Hindu architecture, the remains of the Ratu Boko complex and the Museum Ullen Sentalu.
The three-bedroom Soil and Sand villa was designed by Aghnia Marsha of spatial design studio Lettero, who was brought on after Avo had worked with architects Axial Studio to define the architectural concept, which is inspired by Mediterranean living. Approaching the project, Marsha hoped to ‘instil a sense of familiarity by using the region’s unique natural resources and the skill of its craftsmen’.
Reclaimed wood and biodegradable natural materials are used wherever possible, and many of the furniture pieces have been custom designed and made from local materials. Marsha credits artisans and suppliers across Java and Bali, whose ‘craftsmanship truly brought these ideas to life’. There’s plenty of timber in furniture and fittings, textiles incorporate traditional tenun fabric, the rugs are made from seagrass or banana fibre, some floors and walls are covered in handmade tiles, and the kitchen island is made from lava stone tiles sourced from Mount Merapi.
‘This approach carries through to smaller details, like the hand-carved wooden light fixtures and delicate linen lamps I designed,’ Marsha says. ‘Though the process involved a lot of trial and error, the outcome was very rewarding. Each piece brings a sense of individuality and character to the space that would have been hard to get with mass-produced alternatives.’
The result is an organic space that feels rustic yet beautifully refined, and imparts the particular sense of luxury that comes from being offline and in nature, surrounded by earthy materials and handcrafted touches.
The bijou property is available for booking throughout the year, starting from this month.
Text by Simone Schultz
Images by Kung Photograph
