Japanese-born Koichiro Ikebuchi founded Atelier Ikebuchi in 2004 in Singapore. His work has spanned several continents, and includes the original design of COMO Shambhala Estate as well as a collaboration with Paola Navone on COMO Uma Canggu. Atelier Ikebuchi has won numerous awards, including the President’s Design Award in Singapore, the Diamonds International Award by De Beers, and Saporiti Italia’s Design Award.
Atelier Ikebuchi is the multi award-winning architectural design studio behind Ojas, the wellness centre at COMO Shambhala Estate, as well as two redesigned private residences. Reopened July 2025 in celebration of the Estate’s 20th anniversary, the refreshed spaces mark a sensitive evolution of the much-loved COMO Shambhala brand.
I set up Atelier Ikebuchi in 2004, bringing together a team of designers united by a deep passion for timeless quality. COMO Shambhala Estate is my idea of a perfect project: it has so much to work with, including a vibrant local culture, spiritual resonance and scope for imagination.
The soul of COMO Shambhala Estate is the pursuit of harmony — between body, spirit and nature. That’s the key to holistic wellbeing. Architecture and design plays a huge role in cultivating atmosphere, so I wanted to make sure both Ojas and the private residences integrated seamlessly with the natural jungle setting, breathing in tune with their surroundings. A well-designed space should both support and uplift those who use it. At COMO Shambhala Estate that means a balance between contemporary luxury with organic warmth. It felt important to keep changes incredibly subtle; we didn’t want to interfere with the soul of the existing architecture.
Honouring and understanding the land COMO Shambhala Estate stands on was profoundly important to the design. We were seeking to do more than connect to the architecture — to forge a quiet, respectful bond with the land itself. Approaching the Estate through the local village and entering the elegant courtyard feels like uncovering a secret garden or sanctuary — utterly peaceful and totally private. The Estate has been a spiritual site for centuries. Not only is it located above a confluence of the Ayung river — considered by many Balinese to be the heart of the island, but it’s also home to a spring which local Hindus believe has healing powers. A sense of renewal and wellbeing permeates everything. It’s hard to explain just how spiritual the site is until you visit for yourself. I wanted to capture and reflect that serenity.
The original spirit of Ojas remains largely unchanged but in the 20 years since COMO Shambhala Estate opened, technology, materials, and even the way services are delivered, have altered. For the aesthetics, we’ve made thoughtful adjustments using natural materials — gleaming white Carrara marble juxtaposed with bold black Corian cladding and accented with rich teak wood. When it comes to facilities, we’ve added new contrast therapy suites, including a state-of-the-art cold plunge pool, ice bath, and an infrared sauna. New treatment rooms include an Airpod chamber for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy which targets cellular regeneration and accelerated recovery. The most exciting upgrades include a new space for Ayurvedic therapies, and the hydrotherapy pool, which is fed by the Estate’s sacred spring.
We’ve collaborated with a local Balinese lighting studio, Ong Cen Kang, for several decorative lighting fixtures. Their pieces are handcrafted and original, playing with form to achieve pieces that feel very organic. Lighting is one of the biggest choices you can make when it comes to design. A single lamp can completely change the ambiance, and bring an entire space together.
Each of COMO Shambhala Estate’s five villas represent the elements: fire, water, earth, air and wind. Wanakasa, meaning “Forest in the Mist” in Sanskrit, and Bayu Gita, meaning “Windsong”, reopen in July. Rather than reinventing the villas, we’ve sought to quietly deepen the atmosphere — layering comfort, intimacy, and a sense of place. Wanakasa is a treehouse concept, made up of interconnecting suites nestled around a banyan tree. Bayu Gita overlooks the jungle and has a private water garden. They’re both utterly unique and yet completely rooted to their place.
Every surface, material, and detail has been chosen to evoke peace of mind; to offer not just comfort, but a quiet, lasting sense of wellbeing. I hope every guest can feel the quiet wonder — the miracle, really — of the Estate. If there’s one word I want every guest to think of when they arrive? Tranquility.
For more information, or to book a stay at COMO Shambhala Estate, please contact our concierge team.
