Farm by the Bay

Set on a 2.23 acre site on the Mandapam coastline, this site looks out over the gentle waters of Palk Bay, just before the crossing to Pamban Island and Rameswaram. Only 30 metres from the sea and separated from the beach by a narrow road, the long north to south plot was originally nothing more than shifting coastal sand dotted with invasive thorny species. Our approach was to work with the place as it was, shaping a landscape that respects its coastal context rather than imposing upon it.

The design draws from local material culture and the everyday rhythms of the shoreline. Palmyra petioles were used for fencing and to define pathways, allowing us to avoid hard paving where sand already provides a soft and comfortable walking surface. Discarded fishing boat wheelhouses from nearby jetties were reimagined as colourful transitional structures, opened on two sides to form passages and kept closed on the other two to create shaded enclosures.

A visit to a nearby island helped us read the natural vegetation patterns, which then guided both the structure of the wild zone and the choice of species. Planting heights were carefully planned to protect future sea views from a to-be-constructed home, keeping the front zone open and lightly planted with native seagrasses. Spinifex planting was planned along the northern edge to strengthen the fence line and protect young plants from goat grazing. Paths were shaped as simple trails, bordered by palmyra petioles within the site, and hardy coastal herbs like beach naupaka were suggested for pathways on the beach.

Food-growing areas were laid out as raised beds and mandala gardens, edged again with palmyra stakes and built up with soil to make cultivation possible in the sandy ground. The open well was supported by an infiltration basin and envisioned as a tactile landmark finished with mother of pearl bycatch shell cladding.

Many of these ideas took form directly on site through repeated visits, close observation, and hands-on demonstrations, made possible by a proactive site manager who became an active collaborator in refining every detail.