Australian-born Scott Hindmarch is an expat in Lombok. He’s working on the first strata title apartment block in Kuta, Lombok. It’s been named Atrium and it promises investors and residents a unique experience with its blend of stylish design and well-appointed facilities.

He spoke with mylombok recently about what has led him to this point and the project that’s taking an exciting new direction in Southern Lombok.

You could say Scott has building in his blood. He grew up in Forster, a coastal town in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales and, after finishing school, he moved to Sydney, where he did his apprenticeship in carpentry, working with the man who was clearly his biggest inspiration – his father, nicknamed ‘Bob the builder’.

He also loved sketching and design. Completing a building degree was the obvious next step.

‘At 25, I set up my own construction company, on the northern beaches of Sydney’, he says. ‘I started with small renovations on houses and then roof extensions. I moved on to larger buildings and shopping malls’.

It wasn’t long before he bought a struggling joinery company and turned it into a commercial success. 

It was a different kind of magnet, though, that drew him to Lombok.

‘I was really into surfing, diving and fishing and I originally came to Lombok because of that. I also wanted to find an overseas investment with the potential for capital gain, so I ended up buying land – in Pengantap, on Lombok’s southern coast and also in the centre of Kuta’. 

He went on to build the Hammerhead Hotel in Kuta – originally a place to host visiting surfers and now a family hotel with sports and conference facilities. His next project was Pipe Dreams Villas – the first gated complex in Kuta, with bars and cafes on the property.

Like many others in Lombok, his business was affected by the 2018 earthquake and the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘During Covid, things were pretty much ‘rock bottom’. I was thinking about what to do next and came up with the concept for Atrium. I started to design it straight away’.

The Atrium project

There was a lack of high-density accommodation in Kuta, and long-term accommodation options were in short supply.  Negotiating with the planning department was easy and the process was a relatively smooth one because the development was welcomed. 

It made sense to build apartments close to the centre, as Kuta Mandalika’s tourism hub offers a range of bars and restaurants and the beautiful beaches and the Mandalika Moto GP street circuit are easily accessible. A new international school, medical centres and plenty of shopping are also close by.

The development is a blend of Mediterranean and Indonesian design, and will offer 78 beautiful apartments, with one, two or three bedrooms.

The complex is aptly named. An atrium in the centre acts as its lungs. Air is pulled through and, as it heats up, it rises and gives air to the building. All the apartments are accessed via a walkway that runs through the atrium. Water from a four-storey storey waterfall in the centre of the building drops into a cauldron below. The roof can be open to the air or closed to keep out rain.

‘I wanted to design something that blended into the environment and made the most of the island setting’, says Scott. ‘It’s a “green” project. The main design criterion was to bring plants and water into the building, so they almost become part of it. We harvest rainwater and waste water through a bio system and use it for irrigation. We’ll also look at power supply and use some solar’. 

Residents’ comfort and leisure are also high priorities. The complex will have three restaurants, an events room, various co-working spaces, a cinema, yoga fitness centre, day spa and sauna, as well as an entertainment area with barbecues, four swimming pools and a 25-metre lap pool.

Clearly, Scott is enjoying the work. His role is central, and he has direct involvement and oversight in all aspects. A  typical working day begins at 7am – in planning and design, co-ordinating construction details with workers and admin with office staff. 

‘Then there’s research into new products, site supervision and meetings, meetings, meetings: tax consulting, legal matters and so on’.

He has employed a local building crew, some of whom will stay on to take care of maintenance. 

‘It’s great to be creative and to build beautiful buildings. We’re also providing an investment opportunity. If people want to own an apartment as an investment, we have a management company that will look after that. It’s flexible; owners can come and go as they like, and if they choose to reside here permanently that’s fine, too. For guests and holidaymakers who rent the apartments, the location and the facilities say it all’.

On a personal note... 

We asked Scott what he enjoys most about living and working in Lombok.

‘I love the freedom here. There aren’t too many rules; it’s all about respect in the community. People are still accountable for their own actions but if they have a problem they sit down and work it out, rather than just go to court.

‘I also like the work-life balance. I work most of the time but it doesn’t feel like work because we aren’t stuck in a 9 to 5 routine. We can be flexible. Outdoor activities are easily accessible, too. All that is really important as I have a family – five beautiful children.

And the future?

In terms of tourism and developments like Atrium, Lombok’s future is looking healthy.

‘The growth is exponential’, Scott says. The place is moving so fast... new construction, new businesses opening up everywhere. In the last year, we’ve seen the biggest growth ever.

‘Looking ahead, I want to build some luxury villas. For now, this project is enough to keep me busy. We’re expecting it to be completed by August-September 2025. 

‘People who are considering buying an apartment will be buying into a community. We share information and we help each other. I’m certainly ready to share all my knowledge with our investors. And, to those who will take up residence, with these stunning Mediterranean-themed apartments, you'll be living in a tropical paradise’.

For more information, see https://www.atriumlombok.com