This 2.21-acre site sits along the Bay of Bengal shoreline in Mandapam, the last town before Pamban Island (Rameswaram), overlooking the calm waters of Palk Bay. Only 30 metres from the shore and separated from the beach by a small road, the long north-south oriented plot consisted entirely of coastal sand and some invasive thorny species.

The design drew from local material culture and the rhythms of the coastal ecosystem. Palmyra petioles were used for fencing and to define pathways, avoiding paved surfaces since sand already offered a comfortable walking experience. Colourful discarded boat wheelhouses from nearby fishing jetties were designed as transitional structures - two sides opened to create passages and two retained to form shaded enclosures.

A visit to a nearby island helped the team understand natural vegetation patterns, which guided the structure and species palette of the wild zone. Planting heights were calibrated to preserve views from the future residence, keeping the front zone open and lightly planted with native seagrasses. Spinifex reinforced the northern fence to protect establishing vegetation from goat grazing. Pathways were conceived as palm petiole-bordered trails on site, or plant-bordered trails on the beach, using hardy coastal herbs such as beach naupaka.

Vegetable gardens were designed as beds and mandala gardens, also bordered with palmyra petiole stakes, with soil built up to support cultivation in the sandy substrate. The open well was supported by an infiltration basin and envisioned with a mother-of-pearl bycatch shell cladding.

Many design ideas evolved directly on site, emerging through repeated visits, close observation, and demonstrations done on the ground, supported by a proactive site manager who actively participated in refining details.