Eight helps create beach-chic yet mindful hospitality brand
Hong Kong, 7 March, 2023 – Somewhere Lombok, a new hospitality brand for modern travellers developed by Eight Partnership, has opened boasting independent villas featuring private plunge pools and spectacular views over the little-known reef break of Are Guling in southern Lombok, Indonesia.
Somewhere is the brainchild of sisters Valia and Claire Gontard. Drawing inspiration from their Indonesian roots and their passion for design, authentic experiences, travel, and surfing, the duo created a resort that showcases Lombok as a place where people live, not as a place where tourists simply bring their own culture with them.
Developed by Eight, the Somewhere brand and visual identity were designed to create a sense of mystery and romance of travel, promising hidden gems that are yet to be discovered. Eight also worked closely with the sisters on architecture and interior design with the objective of delivering a consistent and holistic hospitality experience.
Carefully set into the steep terrain to avoid obstructing the views, each of the villa is hand built from local materials, including wood and stone, in a modern, straight-lined and geometrical style. Inside, the spaces are inspiring, comfortable and private. Yet they retain a strong connection to the area through materials and art sourced from local craftspeople, small suppliers, and artisanal businesses. The heart of Somewhere is its blended lounge, restaurant, infinity pool and patio lawn with uninterrupted bay views bringing the ocean from outside in.
“We made Somewhere for people who share similar values - keeping life simple, enjoying the small things, living in the water,” said Valia Gontard, Co-Founder, Somewhere Resorts. “We are very pleased with Eight’s support and the results speak for themselves. Somewhere feels very relaxed. It’s simple, minimalistic, not overcrowded. Everything is there for a reason”.
“Working with Claire and Valia on this resort project has been a pleasure,” said Bjorn Fjelddahl, Partner, Eight Partnership. “They had a clear vision not only for the resort, but for the good they planned to do for the environment and the local community, and it has been thrilling to be a part of their journey so far”.
Through community projects run by Somewhere, the Gontard sisters hope to offer the island’s inhabitants opportunities for growth that they previously would not have had.
Somewhere is a part of Design Hotels, a platform of independent, design-driven hotels located in captivating places around the world.
About Somewhere
Somewhere Lombok is a beach-chic resort located close to the world-class waves of Are Guling on the island of Lombok in Indonesia. It has been designed with a single-minded focus on nature, wellbeing, sustainability and community. Somewhere is operated in partnership with Eco Mantra to provide modern comforts and hospitality while minimising the impact on its surroundings.