Villa Boe Is Built in Layers Along a Hillside in Lombok, Indonesia

ByMyProperty Life 04/11/2025

Perched dramatically atop one of Lombok’s highest slopes, Villa Boë by Alexis Dornier is a topographical marvel. Spanning over 12,390 square feet, the villa doesn’t just sit on the steep hillside – it emerges from it, blending architecture, landscape, and art. At Tampah Hills – a community known for its commitment to sustainable luxury – Villa Boë feels like a natural extension of the landscape rather than an intrusion upon it.

Large modern house with spacious balconies situated on a lush, green hillside under a clear sky, with a winding driveway and distant mountains in the background.

Steep and raw, the terrain required ingenuity and sensitivity, resulting in Dornier creating a layered design that works with the contours of the hillside. At the base, a discreet garage and entrance are carved into the land. Moving upward, the spaces unfold with open living, dining, and kitchen areas connected by a series of steps and platforms. The private quarters are divided into two wings, each designed for a family, ensuring privacy without isolation. At the top is a circular yoga and contemplation pavilion, a quiet space with tranquil views of the lush hills and ocean beyond.

A modern multi-level house with a green roof sits on a hillside, overlooking a lush valley and distant mountains under a hazy sky.

Villa Boë’s floor plan mirrors the site with a system of concentric circles and radial lines defining how the roofs open up and how spaces work together. The approach gives the home a sense of flow – instead of a stack of rooms, it becomes a continuous unveiling, almost like a piece of art that slowly reveals itself. The roofs fan out allowing the oceanside rooms to enjoy more natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows. Cutouts in the roofs on the top two floors create sunlit patios for the occupants to use throughout the day when they desire quiet time away from the main outdoor space below.

Modern hillside villas with large windows and stone retaining walls overlook a lush, green landscape under a clear sky.

Modern house situated on a hillside surrounded by lush greenery, with a curved driveway leading up to the residence under a clear sky.

Modern multi-level house built into a hillside, featuring large glass windows, surrounded by greenery and stone retaining walls. A person is walking on the driveway.

Aerial view of a modern, multi-level house with tiered roofs, surrounded by dense greenery, featuring a swimming pool and a winding driveway.

Every room opens to a view, highlighting the indoor/outdoor connection that the tropical location is know for. The pool, for instance, doesn’t stand apart from the house but extends through it, weaving together terraces and gardens in a seamless progression.

Infinity pool with lounge chairs under a wooden ceiling, overlooking a beach, ocean, and green hills under a partly cloudy sky.

Modern outdoor patio with wooden ceiling, white stone steps, lounge chairs, and a swimming pool, overlooking greenery and sky in the background.

Modern open-air lounge with poolside seating, infinity pool, and a view of mountains and the ocean at sunset.

Material restraint plays a vital role in maintaining Villa Boë’s overall aesthetic. Dornier and his collaborators – Somewhere Concept for interiors and Bali Landscape Company for the grounds – chose materials that tie the project to its location. Teak wood ceilings and soffits, off-white walls, and white Palimanan stone floors that cool the feet while reflecting the tropical light, echo the tones and textures of Lombok’s natural environment.

A modern outdoor patio with a wooden sofa set overlooks a coastal landscape, featuring ocean, beach, green hills, and partly cloudy sky.

Modern villa with open terrace, pool, and hillside view at sunset; tree branches frame the scene, mountains and clouds visible in the distance.

Modern hillside villa with an infinity pool overlooking a scenic valley at sunset, surrounded by lush greenery and distant mountains.

Modern luxury villa with open living area, infinity pool, and steps, overlooking mountains and a vibrant purple sunset sky.

Hints of American architect John Lautner emerge in the way the villa’s rooflines shape the views and anchor the building to its environment. The architecture acts as a frame – capturing fragments of sky, hillside, and horizon – so that every moment inside feels like part of an ever-evolving painting.

Modern villa with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooks a mountain landscape, featuring an infinity pool and clear blue sky.

A modern patio with wooden chairs and cushions faces lush greenery and a distant view, with sunlight streaming through tree branches beside a large glass window.

A modern terrace with a curved wood ceiling, potted plants, and mountain views under a partly cloudy sky.

Modern open-air interior with a potted tree, plants, light-colored flooring, wooden ceiling, stairs, and ocean view in the background.

Modern dining and kitchen area with wooden furniture, large windows, ocean view, and contemporary pendant light fixture.

The infinity pool, which follows the same curves as the roofline, visually connects to the ocean on the horizon while making it feel like you’re floating above it when taking a swim.

Modern living space with large windows overlooking an infinity pool and ocean view, featuring minimalist furniture and natural materials.

Modern living and dining area with large windows, wooden ceiling, neutral furnishings, and a scenic view of green hills and cloudy sky outside.

A modern interior with a spiral staircase, a round wooden table, and a white vase holding a leafy branch in the foreground.

Modern bedroom with a large bed, desk, and lounge chair, featuring wood finishes, neutral tones, and large windows overlooking the ocean at sunset.

Modern bathroom with a large round stone bathtub, floor-to-ceiling windows, wooden ceiling, and an ocean view. Natural light fills the space.

Modern bedroom with a wooden bed, neutral decor, large window, ocean view, two nightstands with lamps, and natural light.

Minimalist interior with light-colored walls, wood-paneled ceiling, a small staircase, and a sculpture displayed in a recessed wall niche.

Open-air space with a wooden ceiling overlooks a scenic view of green hills, the ocean, and partly cloudy skies. A small garden with tropical plants is on the left.

A large, multi-story modern house with illuminated windows is set on a lush, green hillside at dusk, with a pool and patio visible in front.

A modern house with curved architecture is nestled among green hills under a clear sky, with distant mountains visible on the horizon.

For more information on Villa Boë and Alexis Dornier, please visit alexisdornier.com.

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.