Perched on a cliff in Vagator and overlooking the ocean, Como Agua, a brand new restaurant in Goa, is not like another. Here, inspiration is drawn from nature and birds, utilizing pure supplies to create a very biophilic area. “The restaurant was imagined as a bird’s nest located on top of a hill in a forest. The intention was to explore what it’s like to dine in and around an overgrown, enlarged weaver’s nest surrounded by a lush, tropical paradise,” explains Arko Saha, principal architect and founding father of Otherworlds, the agency that designed Como Agua.
Como Agua in Vagator is sustainably designed utilizing pure supplies with none concrete.
The design group comprising Saha together with Mandar Pounikar and Lionel Alphonso, labored with Bamboopecker to carry the challenge to fruition. The complete construction has been constructed sustainably — from the development methods to its supplies, with out utilizing any concrete. Bamboo, which is native to the area, has been extensively used for the construction and façade therapy. Similarly, Lantana Camara, a repurposed wild shrub, can be a main building materials. “We learnt that it is an invasive plant species and has invaded over 40% of the Western Ghats. Its widespread growth affects biodiversity, displaces native plants which then forces wildlife to migrate or starve. It reduces the productivity in pasture through the formation of dense thickets which makes harvesting difficult. It also significantly slows down the regeneration of forests by preventing the growth of new trees. Bamboopecker brought this issue to light and initiated how this natural material could be used in built form as a method to curb its widespread growth,” shares Saha.
