Paras: Documenting 100 Years of Hospitality and Hotel Architecture in Bali
After a dedicated five-year period of development and collaboration with publisher Atelier International, we are happy to announce that our book, Paras: Documenting 100 Years of Hospitality and Hotel Architecture in Bali, will be released on 24 April 2025, in conjunction with the annual World Book Day and International Hospitality Day, as well as Balinese Galungan Day, the day of the victory of the Dharma (goodness) against Adharma (evil).
Paras book delves into the evolution of Bali’s hospitality and hotel architecture, beginning in 1924 when the Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij (KPM) initiated the construction of the first hotel in Bali and established a weekly steamship route between Bali and major Dutch East Indies cities such as Batavia (present-day Jakarta), Surabaya, Semarang, and Makassar. This new transportation link significantly increased arrivals to the island, including explorers and leisure travellers. Bali’s first international hotel, the Bali Hotel, was eventually opened in Denpasar in 1928.
The book’s structure follows a chronological narrative, composed of two introductions, eleven chapters, sixteen interviews, seven intermezzos, and a coda.
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Global shipping here
Indonesia shipping here
The Authors
Writing by Radit Mahindro of Paras
Additional contributions by I Nyoman Gede Maha Putra, Aw Siew Bee, and Scarlet Koon
Editing by Dr. Tan Loke Mun and Scarlet Koon
The Designers
Artistic direction by Radit Mahindro of Paras
Paras logo and cover design by Krisna Sudharma of Paras and Kharma Studio
Book design by Alex Choo of Memo Publishing, assisted by Shalini Mahendran
Original photography by Lin Ho, other photographs are credited on the index page
Promotional videos by Radit Mahindro of Paras
The Book
Publishing by Atelier International
Printing by Percetakan Osacar
Language: English
Specification: Soft cover, 25.0 x 17.6 x 2.5 cm, 336 pages
ISBN: 978-629-95319-1-3
The Open Houses (book launch events)
19 April: Bebek Cottages Sanur, Bali (former house of Made Wijaya)
9 May: Alun-alun 2 Hall 6 ICE, Jakarta (part of the annual ARCH:ID)
31 May: The Toffee cultural centre, Kuala Lumpur
To further enhance the reader’s journey and while we anticipate the book’s arrival, we have curated a playlist that traces nearly a century of Balinese musical evolution. This assembled collection comprises 29 songs, spanning from 1928 to 2023, and features a diverse array of musicians from Bali, Indonesia, and various international locales.
Beyond celebrating Balinese sound and music, this playlist highlights the global influence of these traditions, showcasing how international artists incorporate Balinese instrumentation, scales and progressions, as well as methodologies and philosophies into their own musical work.
Listen to the playlist below and read the story behind each song here.
The Playlist
Song selection by Radit Mahindro of Paras
Song history writing by Radit Mahindro of Paras
Cover design by Krisna Sudharma of Paras and Kharma Studio