Page 106 - HUDCO DESIGN AWARDS

JAVA RAIN RESORT, CHIKMAGALUR, KARNATAKA

Existing trees splice the field of view even as they provide dappled shade throughout the site. The choice of material (paving/ plants) captures the play of sun
as an “intrinsic” experience of a coffee estate and natural woods. The landscape quality at eye level is an interplay of textural contrasts, hard and soft outlines,
and consistency of “form”.

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Design Approach
The landscape design creates a series of transitions and buffers between villas and their immediate adjacencies.
Spaces between cottages create a contrast with the existing silver oaks. A woods and glade-like quality, found in the
natural landscape around Kaimara ,is introduced into the site aided by slope stabilization, runoff management,
protecting existing native trees, and ameliorating site disturbance. The attempt was to create a spatial quality in
response to the natural quality of the place - a coffee forest, while the valley views and distant vista are weaved into
the overall experience. The area around the site was not suitable for water conservation structures although intrinsically
water sufficient. Ground water recharge through recharge pits infiltration wells and robust understory planting were
identified as methods for improving the water table.