Coonoor Estates

Delving into the colonial history of tea cultivation in the Nilgiris reveals a story of ecological resilience, social disruption and cultural adaptation. The advent of tea cultivation in the Nilgiris marked a pivotal moment in the region's history, transforming an ecological hotspot sparsely populated with tribal communities into an institutionally and commercially important region. With soil and climate ideally suited to tea cultivation, the British began to uproot native shola forests to create tea plantations in the early 19th Century. The area under cultivation expanded rapidly, with Nilgiris tea today accounting for almost 10% of India’s total tea production. Tea from the Nilgiris attained the coveted geographical indication (GI status) in 2008.  The growth of commodity crops such as tea in the Nilgiris has proven to be a mixed blessing. While it has created a significant source of income and provides employment to thousands, tea is an invasive species and widespread cultivation has contributed to environmental degradation in the ecologically sensitive Nigiris. Other important cash crops, such as eucalyptus (used to produce oil), are also invasive species that have wreaked havoc on fragile local ecosystems. While it is clear that without tea, the Nilgiris would have had a much smaller economy and significantly worse infrastructure, the region’s relationship to tea is a complicated one that is still being reckoned with. #TeaCultivation #Nilgiris #HistoricalNarrative #LocalEconomy #Coonoor 

Designed with careful attention to the slopes and trees of the half-acre site, Adar 33 is an exquisite 4-bedroom home situated within our flagship gated community Adar. Developed by @StudioSaar, the lateral layout of the home is a response to the contours of the gently sloping site, with the internal spaces arranged with reference to the existing trees and spectacular views. The east-facing home allows residents to make the most of captivating sunrises over the facing valley. The home has been designed to ensure complete privacy for all living spaces, with a central spine connecting three separate units that house the master suite, the public entertainment areas, and the secondary bedrooms. The material palette is also a thoughtful response to the possibilities as well as the limitations of building in the hills. Delicate steel frames help avoid heavy reinforced concrete construction while generous use of glass and local wood and stone ensures a soft and earthy aesthetic that blends seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. Visit our website, https://lnkd.in/dt8CyCgb to discover more about Adar 33, a one-off development for discerning clients who seek a contemporary aesthetic that is rooted in the local context. #SustainableArchitecture #LuxuryResidences #Sustainability #LuxuryRealEstatee #Coonoor #CoonoorEstates

"Form follows contour" is our adaptation of the 20th-Century Modernist design principle ‘form follows function’. The principle goes something like this - while not all rationally designed structures result in beautiful buildings, it is not possible to have a beautiful building where the structure is not rationally designed. In other words, it is necessary, but not sufficient, for the form to follow function, or in our case, contour. What this means is that we believe that hills are unsuited to generic designs or rows of identically designed homes. Each plot is unique in terms of slope and orientation, and a beautiful, functional and responsible home requires architecture that is responsive to the particular site. While this is almost always more effort, we work exclusively with architects who share our convictions and have been lucky to have clients who support us. Although building this awareness among our clients takes time and comes at a cost, we believe that this is the only approach that allows us to build homes and communities that work for every single stakeholder in the long run. Head over to our website to read more on how we approach our projects: https://lnkd.in/dt8CyCgb #HillsideHomes #SoilConservation #ContextSensitive #SustainableArchitecture #BuildingWithPurpose #FunctionalHomes #ResponsibleDesigns

In the fast-paced world of luxury real estate, sustainability cannot be just a trend; it’s also a long-term investment strategy. As developers, we understand that commercial and environmental sustainability go hand in hand, and that means prioritizing sustainability in every aspect of our projects. From the materials we use to the design of our buildings, environmental stewardship is at the heart of our decision-making process. By investing in eco-friendly practices today, we can create lasting value for all our stakeholders including our residents, our staff, and also the native ecosystem. But it is not just about being environmentally responsible; we are very keen to push design and planning boundaries. We feel there is a dearth of innovation in urban planning that fosters communities where luxury isn’t synonymous with inward-looking and exclusionary design. We hope to use our work to explore and build new typologies for community living where privacy and luxury go hand in hand with developments that are true to the essence of the word ‘community’. #Sustainability #LuxuryRealEstate #LongTermInvestment #FutureForward #EcoFriendly #SmartDevelopment

Grounded in the rich heritage of a family-owned tea business dating back to the mid-20th Century, Coonoor Estates has evolved into a leading real estate developer in the picturesque hills of Coonoor. With a legacy spanning several decades, we take pride in our commitment to sustainable development and uncompromising attention to detail. Our residential communities reflect our dedication to excellence, with meticulously planned layouts and high-quality infrastructure. Unlike conventional developers, we prioritise uniqueness, where no two homes or plots are treated the same. Collaborating with visionary architects and like-minded engineers, we push design boundaries without ever compromising on our responsibility to the land and the native ecology. For us, sustainability isn't just a buzzword; it's a way of life. We focus on green building practices, water security, and waste management to preserve not just the flora and fauna but also the slopes and the water table. This is not something we can achieve alone - we need empathetic partners and clients, and we’ve been lucky to find enthusiastic supporters along the way. #CoonoorEstates #Sustainability #LuxuryLiving #RealEstate #GreenBuilding #PreservingEcosystems #ConsciousConstruction