SAKA MUSEUM: BRIDGING SILENCE, HERITAGE, AND DESIGN

From the celestial glow of its lobby to the grounded textures of volcanic rock, the SAKA Museum is a masterclass in thoughtful, place-based design. Under the vision of Wesley Ho, co-founder of the Hong Kong-based firm Napp Studio & Architects, this design-forward museum has evolved into a living, breathing narrative of Bali's identity

- Ankita Rathod

SAKA Museum is not just a building,” says Wesley Ho. “It’s a story—a reflection of Bali’s soul and its connection to the world.” This ethos lies at the core of Napp Studio & Architects, the Hong Kong-based firm co-founded by Ho, which has gained international recognition for its ability to merge local narratives with contemporary design. Under their visionary leadership, the SAKA Museum has evolved into a living, breathing narrative of Bali’s identity—an architectural triumph that balances heritage, modernity, and sustainability with remarkable precision.

Nestled within the serene landscapes of AYANA Bali, the museum redefines what cultural spaces can be: a seamless dialogue between the past and the future. Honoured as one of the Top 100 projects in the Kyoto Global Design Awards for Environmental Design and featured in Time Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024, the SAKA Museum stands as a global benchmark in how architecture can celebrate culture, history, and the natural environment.

For Ho, the design inspiration was clear from the beginning: Nyepi, Bali’s Day of Silence. “Nyepi is the most sacred day of the year for Balinese and foreigners alike. It’s a day of reflection and introspection, where the entire island falls silent,” he explains. This unique cultural moment, where light pollution disappears and the stars emerge in full clarity, shaped the spatial and lighting design of the museum.