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Completed in 2017, this project restored a private beachfront property nestled in Kihim, a village in the coastal town of Alibag, 120 kilometers south of Mumbai. Spread across 2.25 acres, the site is designed with sensitivity towards ecology, respect for existing biodiversity, and consideration of water management needs.

Walking through the foliage onsite, the aroma of crinum lilies, the sound of footsteps meeting the gravel, and the lush planting palette conjure a multisensorial 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 free-flowing softscape reflects KMA’s philosophy of “studied negligence,” which prescribes taking a step back and handing back to nature the power to assert its own design statement.

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. The poolside pavilions are also cement-free, employing natural thatch roofs to complement the beach-front atmosphere.

Ultimately, the luxurious estate has a carefree aesthetic that conforms to the ideals of modern tropical living, simultaneously exemplifying site-specific landscape design that subscribes to principles of sustainability.