The house was built by my husband. And when I say built, he actually worked hands-on with local craftsmen, who could not read drawings or diagrams. We took great care to use locally-sourced materials and keep the footprint of the home as inconspicuous as possible.

 

The car park opens on to an open courtyard – carving out a private enclave distinct from rest of the property. (As you enter, do stop to look at the antique, Portuguese Goan door and let us know if you can figure out the bird carved at the top.) We love nature, and so we designed our home to bring the outdoors in. Walking up to the house, you can see right through the living room onto the forest and lake. I spent many a happy, childhood summers in a gorgeous colonial bungalow in Mahabaleshwar, and elements of the very practical colonial designs have spilt over to Wild Fig Bungalow.

 

We have no air conditioning. To compensate, we have excellent ventilation and a well-insulated roof to maintain a comfortable temperature most of the year. Some of our louvered doors and the stained glasses are from Noshir’s maternal house, a 1906 mansion.