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Across the Bengaluru Turf Club, this elegant and gothic architectural marvel is nestled a midst of 20 acres of magnificent gardens. Whether you’re making a quick-stop on a high-power business trip or looking for a long relaxed getaway, the ambience is sure to charm you.

Its expansive landscape that includes over 125 trees that are on an average 90 years old, 300 varieties of shrubs, a carefully cultivated natural bio-system that a lot birds flock to warm nesting (making it a naturalist’s delight), and an intricate method to planting and layering trees that results in a temperature drop of 2-3 degrees within.

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Recycling and waste management practices help reduce the quantities of waste generated and energy used, while energy conservation efforts focuses on bringing down the energy consumed per guest. Solar water heating systems have saved over 51,000 litres of fuel over the past few years. Used cooking oil is given to Indian Railways for recycling and conversion of bio-diesel.

Landscape upkeep is through organic farmyard manure and organic concentrates. A sewage treatment plant helps procure water for irrigation and cooling tower.

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From the moment you enter the gates to this sprawling property, you’ll see an abundance of nature. Little wonder, since there are over 3, 00,000 plants including 25,000 teak and mahogany trees in the resort.

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The building is clad with compressed red clay tiles while the ceiling is made of woven bamboo matting. 

Wooden paneling consists of local “dhupi” timber, which is a fast growing eco-friendly material. Across12 cottage clusters, which provide 66 rooms and 3 suites, the focus is on sustainable solutions. While building the resort, the original undulation of the land was left undisturbed with a view to facilitate ground charging of rain water. Future initiatives include setting up of a windmill to pump water, creating a manmade pond to store the rain water and grow fish and solar lighting for pathways.

Environmental awareness can’t help but go hand in hand with the search for a more authentic way of life. It has the power to change the way we work and our current ecologically profligate way of life. It’s time to cut through the greenwash and get to real strategies that can resolve our eco issues.

Design has much relevance in a third-world environment as it is in a first-world environment. Making good, sustainable design available to the masses is hence an aspect that needs looking into.