FICUS Landscape Architects, Bengaluru

A RIDGE,
A PEAK
& SOME
COFFEE
JAVA RAIN RESORT, CHIKMAGALUR
COMMENDATION AT NDTV DESIGN
& ARCHITECTURE AWARDS 2017:
LANDSCAPE DESIGN CATEGORY

Landscape Context

‘Java Rain’ is a five acre resort nestled in a large coffee estate in Chik-
magalur, in the Malenadu region of Karnataka (Male-hill, Nadu re-
gion. Kannada) — a part of the Western Ghats. The undulating land-
scape is cloaked with lofty dense Tropical Wet Evergreen and Moist
Deciduous Forests. The monsoon is a key aspect of Chikmagalur’s
salubrious climate. The consequent heavy erosion and steady decline
in groundwater in this region are two visible issues.

Physical Context of the site

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The most prominent hill range here is named after Baba Budan, said to have
planted the first coffee seeds here in India, upon returning from Mecca. Mul-
layanagiri, another significant and cloud-shrouded peak, is visible en-route
to the site.

Silver oaks (Grevillea robusta) planted since the late 19th century, as dappled
shade for coffee plants, constitute the single largest introduced species in the
landscape. While Erythina indica is a recent substitute, the boundary hedges
of Lantana camara now run wild.

Discovery: Mullayanagiri Hill Native & Introduced trees Ground & Horizon Verticle Scale

Monkeys

Birds & Butterflies

No more Coffee
Highly acidic soil

Site Perception Within this green landscape, three perspectives co-exist: the bio-diversity
services of a shade grown ‘robusta coffee’ plantation, the dwindling native
Typical twin villa from buggy driveway
flora, and managing these landscapes as an agro-ecosystem. Native species
are less favored for canopy functions due to slower growth and limited cop-
picing abilities. The reduction in coffee productivity has been attributed to
topsoil erosion, altered soil nutrients and increased soil acidity.

Site Impressions

The site (1280 m AMSL), fringing the Bhadra tiger reserve, occupies the
principal buildable zone on the 40-acre plantation, along its northern slopes.

Due to existing trees, site perceptions were a series of spliced foregrounds

and backgrounds, within which lay pre-sited buildings in various stages of
construction, and a mud road. The “ridge” in the contour survey turned out
to be a dyke; its rocky crags suggesting solitude, despite the presence of
monkeys around. Some frangipani and bamboos were present at a few loca-
tions on site. Another perception that would go on to dominate most discus-
sions was about the villas being seemingly close, not affording ‘privacy’.

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TERRAIN AND FIGURE GROUND

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82-84
84-86
86-88
88-90
90-92
92-94
94-96
96-98

Landscape master plan

legend

 .
1 Site entrance with entrance gate
2. Security gate
3. Driveway avenue
4. Parking zone at elevated height
5. Driveway leading to the club house
6. Driveway leading towards cottages
7. Temporary buggy parking zone
8. Guest drop off zone at roundabout
9. Roundabout with reclining statue to
accentuate club house roof in background
10. Lawn with stepping stones
11. Dense plantation of palms
12. Battery operated golf buggy parking and
charging area
13. Open air theatre with grass and stone
Linkages terraces
14. 1200 mm wide pathways with alternate
ground lights
15. Connecting bridges to villas
16. Coffee/shrub plantation
17. Grass lawn areas
18. Connecting steps
19. Driveway and ramp leading to presidential
villas
20. Paved plaza forming node
21. Main road as connecting spine

A – Reception & Restaurant

B – Spa
C – Pool Side
D – Resort Manager’s Cottage
E – Twin Cottage
F – Single Cottage
G – Presidential Villa
Green Envelope H – Crimson Peak – Tree House

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SECTION

1
2

View towards
Birds, Bees Mullayanagiri
and Butterflies Birds, Bees
and Butterflies Birds, Bees 3 4
and Butterflies

Monkey
Trail
Monkey F
Trail 5
17 6
F D Coffee
16 18 17 E 7 and Pepper
11 Plantation
E
9 8
19 B
H 12
16 A
10
6 G 15 13
C
20 14
Monkey
Trail
Birds, Bees Rock outcorp
and Butterflies Vantage point

Virgin
View towards Forest
0 10 20 40 View towards
Rameshwara Lake Birds, Bees the Valley
and the Valley and Butterflies
M

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The occasional butterfly, cry of peacocks, the shy snakes, sound of crickets, BEFORE & AFTER

and the starry skies informed nocturnal and dawn qualities of this site. While Ground modulation to extend leisurely repose
walking the site, at one specific point- a view of the distant Mullayanagiri within the landscape
peak was serendipitous.
Mullayanagiri in the distance

Design Approach The spliced perception – a typical view

The design approach focused on retaining these impressions, without de-

liberate structure, while examining ideas like ‘as found’ and ‘figure-ground’.
Following a site appraisal, the landscape design approach suggested an infill
comprising of undulating woods and glades. The dialogues with clients were
a key trigger in paring down ideas to their core, working with the shadows
and silhouettes that the site exhibited.

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Slope stablisation grasses along steep gradients Site re-habilitation strategies included the introduction of native as well as
provide a textural break
compatible middle and under-storey planting that supported pollinators. This
would reinforce the themes of spliced foreground/background impressions and
the ‘woods-and-glades’. The mud road was streamlined as the main mobility
spine and primary linkage to each villa. The leaf litter generated by remnant
native trees were left in place to arrest soil erosion, enhance percolation of
water and improve tilth.

The landscape design also extended the architectural geometry. Around the
clubhouse a free-curved stepped seating negotiated a steep hill-side cutting,
with the deck space articulating the infinity pool while allowing group gather-
ings. Each villa forecourt was given a sense of partial enclosure, through visible
and blurred linear geometries and site-specific adjustments of the design.

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Leisure and landscape-daybed court Space between cafeteria View of the landscape
in the presidential villa deck and spa entry from the villa entrance

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The rear side of the villas, with their sitouts became private garden Location Chikmagalur, Karnataka
pockets for play, idling, or just gazing at the sky. Beyond the villa
Extents 5.00 Acres
perimeter, the planting transitions towards borrowed glimpses of the
Client Shamballa Resorts LLP, Bengaluru
adjoining coffee plantation on the north, or the valley to the south.
Architect Cadence, Bengaluru

The planting design avoided man-reptile conflict while suggesting a FICUS Team Aparna Rao, Abhilash K.,
Saptaparni C., Ram Gokhul,
physical distance between cottages, triggering the sense of seclusion
Sagar S., Sriganesh R.
and ‘being at leisure’. Plants mimicking the architectural form and
Lighting Design T2, Bengaluru
colour of the highly imageable clubhouse were chosen as directional
and transitional elements throughout the site. Canopy thinning of Site Services Baya, Bengaluru

some silver oaks for solar access, vegetative slope stablisation, removal Site Execution Ananth & team, Joseph & team,
Bhavaral & team, Satish
of infested trees, remedial grading and soil amendments constituted
other interventions. Between villas, bushes of existing Robusta coffee Completion 2017

were retained as an allusion to the site’s immediate past.

The location offering the distant vista of Mullayanagiri hill was left as Amphitheatre and pool deck from clubhouse dining hall
a levelled, grassed clearing.

Drawings and images courtesy FICUS Landscape Architects

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