A pair of courtyard villas in Kuta, Lombok, designed as the first phase of a wider hospitality concept. Rooted in earthen architecture, the project blends Arabic material influences with local Sasak craft to create spaces that feel grounded, tactile and deeply connected to place.

Tide Tribes is a pair of courtyard villas in Kuta, Lombok – the first in a growing collection of holiday homes shaped by material, climate and cultural overlap.

The project is grounded in a central idea — ‘Of the Earth’ — shaping an architectural language that is materially connected to place, climate and cultural overlap. Drawing from the client’s Arabic heritage, the design explores traditions of earthen architecture, reinterpreted through Lombok’s local materials, craft and tropical context.

Rammed earth and lime-based facades, clay blocks and locally sourced stone establish a palette that is both robust and grounded. Geometric patterns — drawn from Arabic precedents and shared through Indonesian craft traditions — are translated into carved timber elements, woven panels and perforated brickwork, creating layers of light, texture and ventilation throughout.

Each villa is organised around a central courtyard, providing a shaded, inward-facing core that anchors the home while enabling natural airflow and a strong connection to landscape. Living spaces open fully to these internal gardens and surrounding outdoor areas, balancing openness with privacy — a key consideration for both climate and guest experience.

The larger villa incorporates a flexible layout, with an operable partition running through the courtyard. This allows the home to shift between a four-bedroom villa and two independent living zones, supporting different modes of occupancy and increasing long-term usability as a rental property.

Across both villas, the architecture remains low, calm and embedded within its setting — prioritising natural materials, passive cooling and a softened relationship to the landscape.

As the first iteration in a wider collection, Tide Tribes establishes a clear architectural foundation: one that is adaptable, culturally grounded, and designed to evolve while maintaining a consistent identity.