In the heart of Bali’s lush jungle, a mesmerizing architectural structure has taken root, challenging conventional notions of residential living. The Loop, a jaw-dropping spiral house in Pajangan, Bali, has redefined the essence of living amidst a tropical paradise, thanks to architect Alexis Dornier, with the help of interior designer Silvia Fairman.

The design behind The Loop began with a desire to eschew the ordinary. The simple design brief – “We have lived in boxes our entire life – we now seek the opposite” – allowed Dornier to break free from architectural norms and create a space that captures the essence of freedom. Leaving the typical box behind, Dornier dreamt up a design that defies gravity, embraces fluidity, and invites inhabitants to live life on their own terms.

Inspired by the beauty of the natural world and motivated by the challenge of pushing architectural boundaries, The Loop’s design concept took shape as a figure 8 spiral. This innovative and daring approach offers a continuous, ever-changing experience, allowing residents to explore its unique radial design. It’s a journey into uncharted territory where the house itself becomes a work of art, transcending the confines of conventional living.

One of the project’s most remarkable achievements lies in its seamless integration with the surrounding jungle. Carefully chosen materials such as concrete, wood, and natural stone effortlessly connect the structure with the greenery, creating an environment that exudes sophistication and modernity while respecting the jungle it calls home.

But The Loop wasn’t without its challenges. Bending materials in two dimensions and solving complicated geometrical situations required close planning with skilled artisans. It was a journey that tested the boundaries of architectural possibilities, resulting in a unique and captivating house.

Throughout the process, the collaboration between the architects and their clients was key. The homeowners actively participated in material selection and design decisions, fostering a connection with the home and a feeling of shared ownership.

The house itself, appears to float above the ground on a steep slope, blending seamlessly with the jungle’s natural environment. Careful landscaping blurs the lines between the structure and nature, transforming it into “a living entity that symbolizes unity with the surroundings.”

Strategically laid out, each room in The Loop offers breathtaking views and a sense of discovery as one moves throughout. From bedrooms to communal spaces, every corner of the house becomes a tranquil spot, immersing the residents into the surrounding serene beauty.

Photography by KIE.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

Multidisciplinary artist and designer Aimée Wilder is mesmerizing our eyes with her latest tile collection, Frequency. Adapted from her Shadow Wilding series of large-format silk screen artworks, Frequency is made up of four tile designs that add pattern and color to today’s modern spaces. Wilder was inspired by various forms and theories, including tessellation, positive and negative space, mathematics, fractal dragon curves, and color relationships. “It was a wonderful artistic practice to adapt my Shadow Wildling series to a tile format meant for large area application,” shares the creative herself. “Along the way, I found ways to make the tile patterns practical – with up to four pattern options for each design and expanding our palette to introduce that meet the needs of commercial and residential projects alike.”

There are four patterns in the Frequency collection: Doozie, Snake, Ying, and Zen.

Doozie is a two-toned design that can be arranged in various ways to create different layouts, like Ticket which is reminiscent of a ticket stub, Ziggy is a fresh take on a zigzag pattern, and Wavelength is inspired by the mathematical measurement. The Doozie pattern comes in five tile colors: Fern, Wave, Deep, Nimbus, and Powder.

Like its namesake, Snake is a winding pattern with a sense of movement. There are four different square modules, but each tile connects seamlessly to its neighbor for an easy and creative application. The Snack pattern comes in three tile colors: Azure Brick, Cobalt Swan, and Mango Swan.

Ying, named after the latter of the yin-yang symbol, is part zen, part groovy. The positive/negative curves and dots reference the ancient symbol and the the tile, measuring at 16” x 8”, is the only rectangle in the Frequency collection. The Ying pattern comes in three tile colors: Tan Camel, Nimbus Night, and Verde Honeydew.

Finally, Zen plays with your eyes using negative space and creates the illusion of an undulating weave pattern. The Zen pattern comes in three tile colors: Spruce Gypsum, Brick Lotus, and Fir Moss.

For more information about the Frequency tile collection, visit aimeewilder.com.

As the Senior Contributing Editor, Vy Yang is obsessed with discovering ways to live well + with intention through design. She’s probably sharing what she finds over on Instagram stories. You can also find her at vytranyang.com.