By all accounts, Bali is an island of contrasts. It thrives at the intersection of deep-rooted traditions and an ever-evolving modernity, a place where natural landscapes meet architectural ambition. When OXO set out to define the next chapter of its placemaking vision in Bali, the choice of architect was paramount.
The brief? A partner who could not only understand the intricacies of Bali’s tropical climate and rich cultural fabric but also one who shared OXO’s philosophy of true collaboration—where architecture is not an isolated discipline but an integrated, forward-thinking process.
After an extensive global search spanning Germany, Brazil, Thailand, Japan, Australia, and Bali itself, the answer was found not in a distant metropolis but in an architect who, in an almost poetic twist of fate, shares an unlikely bond with OXO’s founder, Johannes Weissenbaeck.
Chris Precht, a rising star in sustainable architecture, hails from a small village near Salzburg, Austria—just 20 or 30 kilometers from where Weissenbaeck himself grew up. Two Austrians, meeting not in their alpine homeland but in the tropics of Indonesia, embarking on a venture that redefines what a built environment can and should be.
Beyond Ego, Towards True Collaboration
“We were looking for an architect who is, first and foremost, a collaborator,” says Weissenbaeck. “Not just someone with a signature style, but someone who listens, understands, and integrates. Someone who can work seamlessly not just with us, but with our engineers, partners like Nuanu, and the wider creative and technical ecosystem we’re building here.”
Traditional architecture has long been burdened by a culture of singular vision—of the so-called ‘starchitect.’ But the world is changing. The new generation of designers, Precht among them, operate differently. They embrace technology, iterate faster, and value synergy over hierarchy. They are as much strategists and engineers as they are visionaries.
“Chris and his team—Gregor, Fei, Kanstantsin, Max and and the entire Studio Precht—stood out because they embody this spirit of collaboration,” Weissenbaeck continues. “They’re not just designing buildings; they’re thinking about the experience, nature, climate, culture and the lifestyle we want to create at OXO .”
The Right Fit for Bali
Bali is not an easy place to build. The climate demands intelligent material choices, the cultural context requires sensitivity, and the speed of development means architects must be both agile and precise. Precht’s expertise in sustainable materials—particularly cross-laminated timber (CLT)—aligns seamlessly with OXO’s commitment to low-impact, high-quality development.
“Our standards are high,” Weissenbaeck explains. “We wanted someone who could bring not just architectural flair but also the engineering rigor required for complex projects in a challenging environment.”
Crucially, Studio Precht also understands the need for efficiency. Traditional architecture firms often move at a glacial pace, bound by outdated workflows. In contrast, younger studios leverage AI, parametric design tools, and streamlined processes to deliver results at the speed required by contemporary development. “Speed to market is a huge factor for us,” Weissenbaeck adds. “Chris and his team work in a way that aligns with that—it’s a different, more dynamic rhythm.”
A Meeting of Minds
At its core, this collaboration is about shared values. Sustainability, innovation, experience-fist and a refusal to build for the sake of building. The partnership with Precht isn’t just about creating another architectural landmark in Bali—it’s about setting a new benchmark for how architecture should be experienced.
“Chris isn’t just an architect; he’s a incredible fast thinker,” says Weissenbaeck. “His philosophy about design, and the role of architecture in creating a lifestyle mirrors our own. He challenges convention in the same way we do at OXO.”
Beyond the professional synergy, there’s also the undeniable serendipity of two Austrians—both shaped by the mountains near Salzburg—finding themselves collaborating on a project halfway across the world. “It’s funny, really,” Weissenbaeck laughs. “We come from villages just a short drive apart, but we only met for a project on the other side of the world. It’s a nice full-circle moment.”
But more than the coincidence of birthplace, what makes this collaboration compelling is its potential to redefine architecture’s role in Bali’s future. It is not about imposing a foreign vision onto the island but working with the land, the climate, and the community to create spaces that are as intelligent as they are inspiring.
For OXO and Studio Precht, this is just the beginning. If this partnership represents anything, it is a statement: that architecture is a feeling that belongs not to the solitary genius who creates it or to those who build it, it belongs to those who have the opportunity who experience it.
