KUTA, Bali (BPN/PR) – Waterbom Bali, voted Asia’s #1 waterpark by TripAdvisor’s Travellers Choice Awards 2022, has broken ground on stage one of a massive park expansion, set to open this year as the park also celebrates its 30th Anniversary.
Waterbom’s expansion will add 1.3 hectares of fun to the park, with sustainability at its core. Expect a new tropical, lagoon pool and sunken pool bar, sun lounges submerged in the water, poolside gazebos, new restaurants, a winding slide tower centerpiece with a cantilevered viewing platform, and of course new slides.
With original plans to launch the new slides and pool area in 2020, the covid pandemic put this on hold.
Instead, the land next door to the park was transformed into a farm and garden area by the team, to provide fruit and vegetables at low prices to the 300 staff members kept on during the pandemic closures.
Waterbom is working closely with Australian-trained architect Conchita Blanco of Blanco Studio Bali, the focal point of the new space will be the sustainably designed 20-meter tall slide tower, an impressive monument featuring a cantilevered viewing platform allowing guests to enjoy a tree-top view over the park and new lagoon pool area.
“I designed a tower which is intertwined between the slides and through the trees as one unified piece. I wanted to create a sense of continuity by designing an experience of moving in a circular direction as you would when you are inside the waterslides. We want the guest’s journey to the top of the tower to be a sensory climb through nature while winding around the slides,” said Conchita Blanco, Architect, Blanco Studio.
New slides will take center stage, with 4 new thrills to experience, as well as locally-made poolside bamboo gazebos, and group spots for friends and families to gather together within the gardens and enjoy the park.
Guests can enjoy more of the tasty, premium comfort food that Waterbom is known for, with an open-air 80-seat restaurant being added, with new Pan-Asian, Indonesian, and Western favorites made fresh daily from local ingredients at live cooking stations, as well as new tree-house style coffee spot with a selection of beans from Pupuan and other regions in Bali and Flores.
The new expansion will be a continuation of the ethos to not cut down any trees in the construction of the park, (the original directive of the park’s Founder, Santo Gulino, 30 years ago when Waterbom opened) with the new addition honoring this philosophy by adapting the design around the existing trees.
Working closely with Australian Bali-based landscape designer, Anton Clarke of Bali Landscape Company, a dense forest area will be created surrounding the new expansion with a mix of native species and tropical plants being hand-picked by Waterbom CEO, Sayan Gulino in nearby West Java.
Waterbom works closely with Sustainability consultants, Eco Mantra to ensure every detail in the design will reduce their footprint and support their sustainability goals, such as the underground pumps and water pipes in the new tower and slides being strategically positioned and designed to ensure minimal water loss and maximum water conservation.
The tower roof will feature solar panels positioned optimally to capture maximum sunlight throughout the day and contribute solar energy to the park’s grid.
A rainwater harvesting system will also be installed within the expansion and (as with the current park), energy and water-saving initiatives will be implemented to work toward Waterbom’s net-zero goals.
“Eco-tourism, sustainability, and reducing our carbon footprint have always been the core of Waterbom Bali. We have consciously developed the waterpark to complement the natural environment, introducing business practices that reduce waste while protecting Bali’s natural resources. As a business leader it is important to be passionate and believe in these values which will create a ripple effect amongst employees, inspiring and encouraging them to act the same and be mindful of the environment,” said Sayan Gulino, CEO at Waterbom.
As Waterbom’s cultural values are aligned with the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana (harmony with nature, people, and spirituality) the design team has also consulted with a local Hindu priest and the Hindu Waterbom staff to design a new temple as part of the expansion, adapting elements from temple designs from different regions in Bali and symbolizing the ties to the island, while showing appreciation for the happiness and abundance the park generates for guests and staff.
With stage one scheduled to open in April/May 2023, (with a larger family and dedicated kid’s slide area slated as Stage 2 for the end of 2023) the park expansion ensures Waterbom remains a must-visit destination for both loyal fans and new tourists visiting the island, providing a tropical jungle oasis to escape the hustle and bustle of Kuta for a day.
 - Waterbom Bali, voted Asia’s #1 waterpark by TripAdvisor’s Travellers Choice Awards 2022, has broken ground on stage one of a massive park expansion, set to open this year as the park also celebrates its 30th Anniversary.){kind=link}