Design Journey with Bill Bensley

Gardener, fisherman, architect, interior designer, lover of all things natural, Bill Bensley is creatively curious, and his world, relaxed, unpretentious and often colourful

- PRAGNYA RAO

His work is lush, the gestures grand, and often whimsical. But never, without meaning. "My philosophy has always been, Lebih Gila Lebih Baik in Indonesian, which means the odder the better!" offers Bill as a way of introduction. Born in California to English immigrant parents from Oxford, England, he was raised on the farm amid orange trees, "and bees, quails, chickens, ducks, rabbits, mushrooms, a huge variety of veggies and of course a compost heap," he laughs. He was three years old when they moved, and Bill spent most of his time helping his dad weed the gardens. He credits his upbringing for his understanding of how nature worked, and how architecture needs to respect it, "I grew up with a complete love and fascination for wilderness, as every summer, every weekend we went camping in our little family trailer."