24-05-2025
Take a peek inside this pavilion-style home on the lush island paradise of Bali
Almost two decades ago, husband-and-wife team Marcello Massoni and Michela Foppiani moved from Italy to Ubud in Bali to develop their hand-thrown pottery brand, Gaya Ceramic.
Fast-forward to today and the company has a team of more than 100 local craftspeople who create one-of-a-kind ceramics, hand-thrown using a variety of natural materials such as porcelain, raku clay and stoneware. Clients include Armani/Casa and Bulgari Hotels.
The couple's home – set in the middle of a rice field surrounded by jungle and a creek – consists of two large Limasan pavilions (traditional Indonesian houses made without walls). One features a lounge, kitchen and dining space. The other contains the TV area, bathrooms and bedrooms, the only enclosed spaces in the house to give protection from the wild animals that roam at night. All other areas lead seamlessly outdoors.
In the open-plan dining area, a stainless-steel kitchen is framed by glass windows and teak columns that both insulate and support the space while allowing uninterrupted vistas over the landscape. A handpainted trompe l'oeil mural, based on the work of artist Henri Rousseau, wraps and zones the kitchen area. The concrete countertops and flooring absorb heat from the sun during the day and store it for cool nights.
A traditional decorative bull head – found in homes in the Tana Toraja region of Sulawesi island – hangs above a handmade dresser in the entranceway and a gallery wall displays pieces collected from friends and family down through the years. 'Everything in our home has a story,' says Michela. The downstairs bathroom is adorned with ceramic leaves made by Michela to reflect the surroundings, and shelves throughout are stacked with the brand's ceramics.
There is no such thing as a 'failure' at their studio. 'If we can't sell it or it doesn't work out the way we planned, we usually take it home or upcycle it,' says Marcello. 'It keeps things evolving and interesting.'
This is an edited extract from The Reimagined Home: Sustainable Spaces Created With Joy by Nicole Gray, which will be published on 29 May by Quadrille, £35. To order a copy for £29.75 with free delivery until 8 June go to or call 020 3176 2937
