“Our aim was to conserve, not restore to perfection, so guests can feel the history of the place,” said Rosa. “By protecting the land, the sacred trees and artisanal techniques, we hope guests leave with a deeper appreciation of Indonesian heritage. In a world that often seeks impersonal flawlessness, we wanted to show the passing of time.”

The name reflects their cross-cultural partnership: magia means ‘magic’ in Italian, while uma means ‘rice field’ in Indonesian – together, the phrase loosely translates as ‘magic in the rice field’.

The 14-key property, which opened in November 2025, is the latest addition to the Design Hotels portfolio – a collection of more than 300 design-led properties across 60 countries, each chosen to reflect its surroundings.