The Resort nextdoor is founded by 3 friends with vastly different backgrounds, whilst the Residences are owned by 5 separate and independent investors from Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia.
Everyone comes from different backgrounds and brings different strengths. As a team we share a common outlook and design philosophy in creating something unique in Asia, something which is environmentally/socially responsible, and something which sets an example for future developments in the area. On the Resort side…
Stewart Strong - originally from New Zealand, based in Singapore from Jan 2011 to be closer to the project, has been coming to Indo for years. A passionate surfer, struggling yogi, born again health nut and dreamer of all things tropical. Its kinda his brain child, definitely his dream but he couldn't do it without his 2 partners.
Dylan O’neil - originally from California, based in Lombok as of May 2009 working alongside Yonas. One of Stew's best friends, a brother from a different mother. Contemporary fusion hippy (umm), good surfer (ahh) and long term Indo aficionado (ohh). Lived in Japan for many years so speaks the Emperor's language and is partial to the odd bout of karaoke.
Yonas - based in Lombok, the Indonesian connection. Well-traveled, devout Muslim, loving father of 3 (including 1 adopted) and devoted husband. He’s born and bred in the azure waters of South Lombok sea and spent years on surf charter boats scouring the area. Speaks OK Japanese, good English and pretty damn good Indonesian. Cut his hair and hung up the surfboard/guitar years ago to focus on raising his family. Infectious smile. Says niiice a lot.
The Resort nextdoor is founded by 3 friends with vastly different backgrounds, whilst the Residences are owned by 5 separate and independent investors from Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia.
Everyone comes from different backgrounds and brings different strengths. As a team we share a common outlook and design philosophy in creating something unique in Asia, something which is environmentally/socially responsible, and something which sets an example for future developments in the area. On the Resort side…
Stewart Strong - originally from New Zealand, based in Singapore from Jan 2011 to be closer to the project, has been coming to Indo for years. A passionate surfer, struggling yogi, born again health nut and dreamer of all things tropical. Its kinda his brain child, definitely his dream but he couldn't do it without his 2 partners.
Dylan O’neil - originally from California, based in Lombok as of May 2009 working alongside Yonas. One of Stew's best friends, a brother from a different mother. Contemporary fusion hippy (umm), good surfer (ahh) and long term Indo aficionado (ohh). Lived in Japan for many years so speaks the Emperor's language and is partial to the odd bout of karaoke.
Yonas - based in Lombok, the Indonesian connection. Well-traveled, devout Muslim, loving father of 3 (including 1 adopted) and devoted husband. He’s born and bred in the azure waters of South Lombok sea and spent years on surf charter boats scouring the area. Speaks OK Japanese, good English and pretty damn good Indonesian. Cut his hair and hung up the surfboard/guitar years ago to focus on raising his family. Infectious smile. Says niiice a lot.
Avantara: verb//; to be reborn or reconnect, we are all born equal but don't know in which direction life and love will take us. Krama mukti or Avantara mutri means liberation through stages
The Residences are 6 privately and independently owned subdivisions at the rear and side of the property. All of which now are SOLD and there are no plans to release any more. The Resort is situated on the front part of the property and working together with the Residences owners behind, forms an entirely new hillside community in this area. Although individually owned, it’s this sense of teamwork and commonality btw the owners and owners/resort which makes this unique.
The Resort concept driving all this was originally born from a love of surfing and the tropics, which morphed into a hybrid btw surf and health before finally evolving into an arty funky boutique idea. If it were a wine it’d be described as a ‘delicious woody vintage reminiscent of times past, with warm barnyard flavors complimenting a disarmingly mild artistic hue’. Hmm, yummy.
It’s hard to describe that which has not yet be done. We’ve been scanning the globe, brainstorming with creative types and drawing on inspirations from resorts as far as away as Brazil and Mexico, restaurant/bars in East Village (New York) and Paddington (Sydney), fashion labels such as Ksubi and RVCA, bands such as Years Around the Sun and The Coasters, and lifestyle brands such as DEUS Ex-machina motorycles. Think mixing James Brown with a bit of James Bond, sitting them down with Andy Warhol and have the Dalai Lamma supervise proceedings.
We’ve come up with something husky and raw, retro and chic, healthy and sustainable, contemporary but vintage and rustic but luxurious. Time to shake up the industry and do something refreshingly new….turn down the pretension, turn up the volume, add 2 parts funk and a pinch of art, shake it don’t stir it, best served chilled with close friends.
“If you have the time to whine and complain about something, then you have the time to do something about it” – Anthony D’Angelo
The Avantara Resort website (www.avantara-resort.com) is currently underway, and this website will start to change to reflect the owners of Avantara Residences, so be sure to check back regularly. We’ve got a great design team and builder, but yet to find the perfect resort manager so if you know anyone be sure to give us a shout.
