Our fave beachfront institution is hosting a week-long festival for sustainability & design - so we’re checking in to Desa Potato Head’s stunning Katamama hotel to check it all out…
It’s no secret that sustainability is the global topic-of-the-moment. But there’s one Bali icon that’s ensuring conservation, innovation, and sustainable living remains at the forefront of our island lives. We’re of course talking about Desa Potato Head – the boundary-pushing “village of the future” that’s home to Potato Head Beach Club, Katamama hotel, and the group’s “Good Times, Do Good” ethos.
From the conscious kitchens at Potato Head Beach Club (home to Indonesia’s first ever zero-waste restaurant) to the art installations made from ocean plastic, this sustainably-driven group is on a mission to provide good times, while at the same time, doing good in the world.
So, from Friday May 17th to Thursday May 23rd, they’ll be doing exactly that with the launch of Bali’s first ever Future Design Week. Taking place across Desa Potato Head in the form of exhibitions, installations, talks and workshops, this seven-day festival will be celebrating contemporary sustainable design and its potential to be a driving force in building a better future. And the best bit? It’s all free, followed by a ticketed closing party with fashion’s lauded stylist, designer and superstar DJ, Virgil Abloh.
So, to get you festival-ready, here’s what to look out for, how to buy tickets to the closing party, and why we’re staying at the stunning Katamama hotel (and you should, too!)…
See you at the fest, Honeys!
Future Design Week: The lowdown
Throughout the week-long fest, Future Design Week will be bringing together inventive minds from across conservation, design, music and fashion, showcasing both world-renowned and local designers, studios and brands whose fresh approach is pushing towards a more enriched and thoughtful tomorrow.
From panel discussions, exhibitions and workshops, to music events and two full days of events book-ending the week (including that epic closing party!) there’s a lot to see, hear and learn about at Future Design Week.
Check out the full Future Design Week programme here.
Future Design Week: The highlights
An impressive roster of global talent is set to shape this first edition of Future Design Week, with a heady mix of both homegrown and international names. But what to mark in your festival diaries, we hear you cry? Here are our insider highlights you won’t want to miss…
To kick off the week, Day One is where it’s for a full day of workshops, cocktails, discussions and late-night grooves. Head to Desa Potato Head’s Sustainism Lab for talks on the current marine pollution crisis, before catching ocean conservation experts, Parley for the Oceans, for inspiring and life-adjusting talks at Potato Head Beach Club.
Throughout the week, catch a workshop and a Q&A with British designer Max Lamb; create zero-waste products with Bali’s very own Green School Innovation Hub; and meet Joe Holder, founder of The Ocho System, who promotes holistic wellness through diet, positive thinking and effective workouts.
And of course, to finish the week on a serious high, you’ll want to stick around for the final day that’s full to the brim with exhibitions, talks and pop-ups, not to mention the closing party with designer-cum-DJ, Virgil Abloh, who’ll be hitting the decks with American skateboarder and entrepreneur, Alex Olson, alongside local faves PNNY and Tantra. It’s a musical treble-header you do not want to miss.
Book your tickets to Future Design Week’s Closing Party here.
Future Design Week: The Katamama VIP
To get the most out of the fest, we’ll be checking in to Katamama – Desa Potato Head’s sustainably-designed hotel full of custom-made mid-century-modern furniture, hand-dyed fabrics, locally sourced amenities and contemporary artworks by Indonesian creatives.
If that wasn’t reason enough to check-in, Katamama hotel guests will have Future Design Week right on their doorstep, including alllll of the special programming that’s taking place in the Katamama Lounge. The Studio Eksotika pop-up (a six-seat audiophile bar made from reclaimed timber and recycled foam) will be set inside the hotel throughout the week, alongside Q&As, talks and a Future Cocktail case study at Katamama’s Akademi Bar – our fave spots for innovative sips in Seminyak.
Suites are selling fast, but you can still book your stay at Katamama here.
Now that’s how you have one helluva good time, while doing some serious good too… See you at Future Design week, Honeys!
Desa Potato Head, Jl Petitenget No. 51 Seminyak, p. +62 361 473 7979, e. [email protected].