Walking through the foliage onsite, the aroma of crinum lilies, the sound of footsteps meeting the gravel, and the lush planting palette conjure a multi-sensorial experience of nature. Fruit-bearing natives like Tamarind, Moringa, and a local treasure – the “raival” mango create a haven for Kihim’s Red-vented Bulbuls, Oriental Magpie Robins and other migratory birds. Indigenous coconut palms, significantly taller than hybrids, frame breath-taking views of the Arabian sea.

Ornamental perennials like Pandanus, and xerophytic species like jade and sedum have been chosen as they tolerate salt spray, and aren’t water intensive. Instead of importing soil, existing sandy soil mixed with farmyard manure facilitates planting.

The hardscape is planned with the intention of maximising permeable surfaces to increase rainwater infiltration, recharge groundwater store, and reduce stormwater runoff. The driveway and paths are concrete-free, made of rubble and gravel, blending in seamlessly with the softscape.

In the front garden, leftover brick cinder from construction has been crushed and reused as gravel. The brick absorbs water, and evaporation manifests a cooling effect. This red gravel is juxtaposed against a platform of granite slabs that host an al fresco dining area, decorated with boulders, and cascading fern chandeliers hanging from the trees. The slabs rest on compacted soil, avoiding cement mortar fixing.