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Uma Paro in Bhutan
has become the first property in the country to be listed in the 2008 Design Hotels' directory while Uma Ubud in Bali
joins an elite selection of Design Hotels' members on the Indonesian island. Both hotels form part of COMO Hotels and Resorts, which also
owns the Metropolitan London (a Design Hotels' member since 1993) and the Metropolitan Bangkok, which joined Design Hotels in October.
Design
Hotels represents and markets a hand-picked collection of more than 160 hotels in over 40 countries across the globe. Established
in 1993, the company offers international representation to member hotels - all independently owned but
united by a commitment to individuality, progressive design and cultural authenticity.
The company has its headquarters in Berlin and branches in London, Barcelona, New York, Singapore, Bali and Tokyo.
With both properties, guests can enjoy a unique cultural adventure, complemented by the core of the COMO Shambhala experience with
Yoga and Asian-inspired therapies. In design, each hotel reflects local aesthetics, combining indigenous detailing with a serene modernity.
The number of rooms is deliberately limited. In cuisine, both Uma properties incorporate local organic foodstuffs with sophisticated
Asian-led traditions. Uma Paro and Uma Ubud also offer the opportunity to explore the surrounding landscapes with experienced guides.
Uma Ubud in Bali, new in July 2004, is located within Ubud, an inland town revered as the island's cultural hub. The 29-room hotel overlooks
the Tjampuhan Valley. The interiors are by Japanese designer Koichiro
Ikebuchi.
Carved panels open up the rooms to incorporate views, while the simplicity of pared-down spaces keeps light flowing through the interiors,
from the bedroom through to garden terraces, private courtyards and pretty plunge pools. This respect for Uma Ubud's natural
surroundings is repeated in the choice of materials, including local woods and alang-alang thatched roofs.
Uma Paro, which opened in November 2004, is located on a 38-acre hilltop site. It is close to the town of Paro, one of the main cultural
centres of Bhutan. There are only 20 rooms and nine villas, with interiors by traditionally-trained Bhutanese artisans working alongside
Cheong Yew Kwan, architect of COMO Shambhala Estate at Begawan Giri, and Kathryn Kng, who did the contemporary-styled Metropolitan
Bangkok. The hotel staff have substantial experience in trekking and cultural excursions, taking guests all over the country to explore
monasteries, markets and hidden Himalayan valleys.
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