One Month on Lombok

Just a few buildings over from our house we saw this restaurant that always seemed packed for breakfast, lunch, dinner and in between. People with laptops working in the beanbags in the garden, families having lunch or groups of friends playing cards while having lunch on the long tables. What most drew the attention was the simple and minimalist setup that somehow was warm and inviting at the same time. When about a week later we went for lunch, we saw what was going on, both from a hospitality aspect (my expertise) and from an architectural aspect (Daniella's expertise). The space is open, inviting and low key. People leave their shoes at the entrance and it almost feels like entering this big living room where you likely end up sharing your table with someone new. The same goes for the food, a great mix of international comfort food, lots of smiles and all of this at a great price point. As Daniella and I always do, we observe the space and try to break down what is going on.

On our way out, Daniella saw a little stand with brochures about The Green Hub. It turns out The Green Hub is Lionel and Javi's next project: a dedicated coworking space, combined with co-living (basically a "hostel" with private rooms for people that use the coworking space as their office). I have seen this concept pop up a lot and it nails, in multiple ways, the direction the world is moving. Lots of people work remote and look for places that have a low price point and high quality of life to spend several weeks or months in, so that in between getting work done, they can surf, hike and enjoy the Lombok beaches. During our last stop in South Korea, I rented a place at a coworking space that also had co-living. The concept worked amazingly and the offices were well thought out. There were couches and hammocks for the low-paced jobs, extra monitors to plug into, phone booths to take a call and meeting rooms to have a chat. My time there has probably been the most productive in my life, as the space is made for productivity. Coming to Lombok I looked for something similar but nothing stood out. Most places mentioning coworking were restaurants where, against consumption, you could use a table for a limited time. Others had a long table with very basic facilities, and only one had phone booths, but the reviews revealed those were not sound-proofed. We decided to invest more in a house that had a desk and separate rooms instead.

The Green Hub is the first dedicated co-working space in Kuta with world-class facilities and on-site accommodation. They have a cafe for hospitality revenue, an auditorium to rent out for events, and a flexible layout that allows changing to more or fewer private offices depending on demand. The roof is going on now and within 6 months they expect to have it operational.

Two friends that teamed up for this amazing concept. I started following Shaun on Instagram well before I actually hit the ground. It was real, where he differentiated good construction from bad construction on Lombok. Shaun has been in construction in California (US) and is a real estate investor. When some years ago he sold his house in California and came to Lombok to surf, he saw the lack of good construction companies and started getting involved. Feet on the ground, soon after he purchased a plot of land and invested his money in building 4 villas himself while documenting it all. What I really appreciate from Shaun is his transparency, and also his knowledge and the way he shares valuable information rather than keeping it to himself. It was him that made me realize that proper research is very, very important on Lombok (and elsewhere). When I finally met my "Instagram hero" in real life for lunch, it basically confirmed my expectations. Shaun is honest, straightforward and won't just work with anyone, but is more like me, doing his research first. He has set himself up with the right partners for Canvas. So, what is Canvas all about?

Canvas is, again, a multi-faceted space, being built on top of a hill overlooking Areguling beach. At its base it is a boutique hotel with beautiful finishes and views, but the concept is way more unique. The place is built with company retreats and small congresses in mind, which goes very well with Shaun's contacts high up in the corporate space and the ever-growing demand for places to take teams out for team-building events, product launches or client congresses, all combined with an attractive program exploring Lombok, surfing and breathing fresh air. I went over their documentation and his concept really shows how well they thought this all out.

Update: this project has since sold out. Although we have gone separate ways some months ago, when the UAE property market took a hit, I kept in touch with my coworkers and its founder at Baraca. Diana, one of the Baraca-era friends, is currently the one overseeing this project as part of her portfolio, and it is one of those projects I just know is going to be good. I spent long enough at the company to see how things are done, but also had my time and chance to compare this with other developers. In terms of location, finishes and concept, it is hard to beat. Right on Tampah beach, which is probably the most exclusive part of Southern Lombok, this development consists of villas, most with private pools or right on a shared lagoon. I know the people involved care about the details and will make sure only the best materials are used, and the fact that a known Dutch contractor has been hired to supervise the project gives me the confidence that this will be one that stands out in multiple ways.

Diana has many years of experience in real estate and has helped many investors and individuals build a real estate portfolio in the Netherlands, UAE and now on Lombok. She is also my go-to person, as I can always expect an honest answer from her.