Somewhere Lombok: New Property on an Indonesian Isle

Somewhere Lombok, an unspoiled refuge hidden away on a mountainside overlooking the south coast of Lombok, Indonesia managed by Sisters Valia and Claire Gontard. Twenty solitary villas have tiny plunge pools overlooking the beautiful nature of the valley and village below, while communal areas open to unrivaled views of Are Guling Bay, a renowned surfing location. The Gontard sisters’ main objective is to create a sustainable and responsible destination for contemporary visitors, and this is reflected in everything from the building materials to the décor, which is sourced and made locally.

When Valia and Claire Gontard, sisters, teamed up in 2014 to rename the restaurant connected to their father’s boutique hotel in Niseko, Japan, they were aware of a new objective: to establish their own travel destination. Today, just a 30-minute flight east of Bali, the sisters are building Somewhere Lombok, a conscientious villa-only resort on the eponymous undeveloped Indonesian island. The property is a passionate retreat that draws on Valia and Claire’s combined experiences in the hospitality sector and vast travels—one that is inspired by and respectful of Indonesia’s culture, environment, and local communities.

The sisters were born and raised in Hong Kong, but they have spent a large portion of their adult life living abroad in countries including Japan, Canada, and the UK. Valia, 29, came to Lombok two years ago, while Claire, 31, along with her two children and husband, did there almost a year ago.

The sisters have been in charge of this project on every level from the commercial side to the creative aspects from the very beginning. They built what is today an opulent nature retreat with a restaurant, spa, and 20 individual villas after acquiring a 6,300 square meter plot atop a steep hillside with beautiful views of Are Guling Bay and Prabu Village in the valley below. The architecture here draws inspiration from the natural environment, contemporary life is defined by concepts of responsibility, conservation, and sustainability, and visitors may unwind and relax while simultaneously exploring uninhabited landscapes and surfing waves of the highest caliber.

Claire and Valia worked with SWDesign and the Hong Kong-based branding and design agency Eight Partnership to create the architectural idea for Somewhere Lombok. An indoor open-plan room housing the reception, restaurant, bar, and lounge, as well as an outdoor grass and infinity pool with views of the bay, make up the central communal area. In order to optimize natural light, this space and all of the villas are facing south, keeping sustainability in mind. Additionally, the property’s floor to ceiling windows provide unmatched views of the sunrise and sunset. Other important elements include natural ventilation, highly energy-efficient construction materials, and reflecting building finishes, which were developed in conjunction with the consultant Eco Mantra. Additionally, there are facilities on site for collecting rainwater, composting, and recycling and reusing greywater.

The interior design was overseen by Studio Amal in addition to Eight Partnership, Claire, and Valia. The end result is an elegantly straightforward and friendly environment made up of natural elements like wood, local stones, and concrete, as well as neutral colors. Through their own network and extensive investigation, the sisters were able to find almost all of the furniture for the entire residence locally. Handmade pottery and ceramic vessels by Casakaya, complex handwoven rugs and textiles by Kriyatex, and woven baskets by Mami, whose workshop is less than a 15-minute drive from the property, are three exceptional examples of area artisans’ work.

Additional locally made items, such as natural marble trays by Maharani Decoration and linen bed skirts by La Luna Linen, may be found in each of the catered villas. Prints of Valia’s own images of the people, places, and landscapes of Lombok cover the walls. On the island, artisans also made custom furniture like poolside tables and umbrellas. The villas itself have 16-square-meter terraces with cushioned resting spaces and small private plunge pools in addition to 35 square meters of inside space. On the hillside, the 20 independent buildings are arranged in four rows staggered, with privacy provided by meandering staircases and pathways lined with 100% native, non-invasive vegetation, more than half of which was intentionally chosen and planted to improve drainage and avoid soil erosion. Every bathroom features a Toto toilet suite, and the Sensatia Botanicals amenities are kept in the marble bathroom trays. This well-known Indonesian company is noted for its vegan, reef-safe, and environmentally friendly goods.

Additionally, welcoming touches include a basket of fruit, coffee, tea, and cookies, as well as a rattan beach bag that guests can use while visiting.

The on-site restaurant, which is located in the main building, is open all day and offers Indonesian fusion food with a focus on locally produced, fresh ingredients. The spa has a private outdoor plunge pool with a design inspired by rainwater collection tanks, two massage rooms that may be joined for couples’ treatments, and an outdoor shower. A small store with regional goods and prints from Valia’s photography is among the extra features and services, and there are also scheduled shuttles to and from the beach. Additionally, visitors can ask for shuttle services to and from the nearby town of Kuta. Renting scooters is also an option, and visitors may ask the staff—the bulk of whom are from Lombok—for advice on nearby attractions.

On the south coast of the Indonesian island of Lombok, which is located east of Bali and west of Sumbawa and is renowned for its white-sand beaches and world-class surfing, is an isolated location called Somewhere Lombok. Two minutes by car will get you to Are Guling Bay, a popular surf location with 1.5 kilometers of gorgeous coastline, and 10 minutes will get you to Kuta, an emerging beach town. The entire island boasts endlessly beautiful coasts, verdant mountains, and a plethora of traditional Sasak culture that has been preserved.

Locally known as Gili, a number of the nearby smaller islands are motor vehicle-free and provide untainted treks, pristine beaches, reefs, and even sea turtle hatcheries. Surfing, fishing, hiking, rafting, paragliding, kite surfing, and mountain biking are just a few of the countless on- and off-water sports available. International Airport of Lombok is the closest airport.