In the center pool there is the main building named Gili Bale ("island pavilion"), connected to the edge of the pool by a bridge; untypically of balinese bale, this building has walls and a distinct Dutch colonial white façade.

Another distinctive trait is the use of concrete, then considered a new technology and another sign of Western influence.

[2] One original building is the Bale Kapal, with a flight of stairs on the west side of the palace; it dominates the ponds and looks out across the entire gardens onto coconut groves, Ujung Beach and Mount Lempuyang beyond.

[5] Later, among its guests were the king of Siam (Thailand), the governor general of the Netherlands, and the sultans of both Surakarta (Solo) and Yogyakarta.

[3] After years of neglect, the place underwent renovations between 1998 and 2001[2] and is now a popular tourist attraction.