Benedicte Hansen exchanged a successful 20-year career at IKEA, his last assignment as marketing manager at IKEA Jakarta, with management of sustainable villa in the cultural center of Bali Ubud. We discover what motivated her to get out of the fast lane and give back to the people of Bali.
Do you feel a greater sense of purpose to what you are doing now, or was it more of a decision to get out of the fast lane?
When working with the first IKEA store creative team to Indonesia, I created a launch of the vision of this great global brand campaign "to create a better everyday life for many people. " It was a simple awareness campaign around the iconic IKEA products combined with a long-term CSR Plan - IKEA Blue Bag project. It recognized and addressed a serious problem for many people in Jakarta :. Contaminated water
IKEA Indonesia is a growing success since opening in 2014 and the better business is, the more it contributes to the improvement of this serious problem. The project has attracted interest from the IKEA Foundation and Water.org, and in March 2016, the IKEA Foundation donated € 12.4 million to improve access to safe water and sanitation in Indonesia and in India in collaboration with Water.org. This is the largest single donation from the IKEA Foundation and I am proud to have created and pursued a simple idea that popped in such a large-scale project.
I knew my next career choices necessary to include work with a purpose. When I discover Villa Kalisat (as a guest), I saw the opportunity to combine a business with my passion to meet like-minded people interested and interesting, and the creation of a sustainable long-term co-habitation of partnership with the village, it is located.
The hotel is beautifully designed, but how did you maintain a connection to the landscape and local culture?
First, the building is on a cliff at the back of a farming village in rural rice, which traditionally uses this area for chickens, pigs and waste incineration. I do not believe in building food (rice fields), and waste incineration is very toxic!
A walk through the village to get to the villa, which gives visitors the unique opportunity to see / be part of the daily life of a traditional village. Staff members are village or related to someone in the village, which makes them very comfortable and proud to work in their own environment.
Villa Kalisat
The natural source below Villa Kalisat, is now providing the restaurant and the rooms of the villa a large reserve tank for the village use. Previously, people should go to the river below (80 meters) to get their water whenever frequent breaks occurred from the water company. Water is also a growing problem in Bali. We only use local produce in the restaurant, dining area, spa and indoor rooms, combined with personal pieces of art, giving an intimate feel.
The Spa Villa Kalisat, Bali
Finally, but most importantly, the villagers are the builders of all buildings! The design was originally influenced by their knowledge of materials and local building aesthetics. My recent additions have also been in consultation with the village chief - the father of the head of the hotel and the manager himself. An example is an extension of the balcony on the rocks of the steep cliffs, integrating an existing tree. Another recent addition is a flag of river 80 meters below Villa Kalisat.
Do you think you managed that?
I think we (the village and I) are successful in managing a single house Bali. However, every day, we ask each other: do guests really "catch the spirit Kalisat? We are constantly making changes and adjustments to improve it.
Do you want to work in the future to the hotel to improve this connection?
We examine the possibility of generating our own electricity for the town and the village with solar or hydro. We also support one of the coffee farms of the family staff in northern Bali by directly buying their coffee beans. We hope to support crafts and hidden talents of other members of staff, once they become apparent. The other day I saw some fantastic stone figures carved by our hotel manager in his free time. They are now at our reception and our customers directly buy the Villa Kalisat creator, who is so beautiful.
Is Villa Kalisat reflects your own personal feeling for Bali / Indonesia?
I think it's important to surround yourself with beauty; people, traditions, nature and art.
I find the way of Balinese life does this naturally, every day. The Balinese believe that in exchange for the time we have been "lent" on Earth, we need to maintain balance on three levels;
The level above - worship the gods
Our level - keep harmony among others
the lower level - respect for the land and Nature
Villa Kalisat mind is a combination of all this - the authentic village and temples, the daily ceremonies, family / community life, external and internal local crafts, works original art and the surrounding forest.
You mentioned the family plot a few times. How the hotel and the community interact?
We asked the village to find a local tree surgeon to cut the heavy upper part of a tree. It was a striking beauty tree, but we all agreed that his height would soon cause a security problem. After the guys had a serious look at the tree, he told us he could cut after been given permission by the spirit of the tree. The village spent several hours doing a super fruit provides that the tree surgeon took to the roots of the tree. It was obvious that we should not take something from nature without giving something in return. At the ceremony of offering fruit, he felt the authorization of the spirit of the tree. Only then he proceeds to cut the top of the tree. A peaceful tree-spirit is vital for a tree surgeon!
What are the things that most customers enjoy their visit?
The view, the river, the staff, our spa treatments, food - especially the famous Kalisat chocolate cake - but especially the unique feeling, which is so difficult to capture in a photo . Social media is a very rare single destination, but I can honestly say that Villa Kalisat offers a unique experience; the awakening of the jungle every morning.
What advice would you give to someone visiting Ubud for the first time?
Allow more time! There are so many interesting activities in the area, but if I have to recommend a destination, located about 20 minutes from Villa Kalisat are the holy Springs Tampaksiring.
Thank you, Benedicte. For more information, please visit www.villakalisatbali.com