On the west coast of Mauritius, a hundred and fifty hectares of heath and marshland sweep down from the mountains of Rivière Noire and Savannah to the seashore, ringed by a deserted sandy beach. Hush! Sheltered from the wind, you can hear the earth’s pulse and nature’s infinite concert. Here, the song of the bright purple cardinals. There, the rustling of wings of the migratory birds. Higher in the sky, the closeknit flight of the egrets. And in the background, always, the low whoosh of the surf like the rolling of a ravanne drum. A kaleidoscope of gorse and broom rolls down the hillside. The soft breeze sighs in the reeds. The absolute beauty of the area forces us to be if not as beautiful, at least as respectful as possible. GETTING BACK TO NATURE The play of the light on the sea and in the sky must surely have inspired the architects of this estate. The co-developers Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels and Semaris, both of them Mauritian, and pioneers in sustainable development, spent time observing and listening, then inventing an unusual project to submit, designed for and by nature. Conservation and respect are the watchwords. Here we can get back to nature, protect it, and in doing so, protect ourselves. Nature plays host here. She imposes her aesthetics, hints at the invention of new, sustainable technologies, giving rise to a project that cares for the environment: nestled among the indigenous plants (“bois noirs” [Diospyros tessellaria] and tamarinds, Creole agaves, “bois d’oiseaux” [Litsea glutinosa], Tecoma, and others) and set around a hill topped by an 18-hole golf course, Harmonie Golf & Beach Estate and its two hundred and twenty villas will follow the lie of the land to perfection. The natural elements, water, wind and sun, are the chosen energy sources, based on bioclimatic architecture (photovoltaic solar panels, natural air circulation and ventilation, sustainable building materials), designed by JFA Architects to limit the project’s environmental impact. Simplicity, purity and dignity are the attributes of Harmonie. AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE The untrammelled view from the road, from Le Morne up to Tamarin, stretches for miles, as far as the mountain chains in the west, and right up to the century-old lava rocks of the Rivière Noire salt pans. By contributing to their restoration, Harmonie Golf & Beach Estate, due for completion in 2025, is committed to aiding the inhabitants of the region. The salt pans between Petite Rivière Noire and Grande Rivière Noire will recover their diamond sparkle (when the seawater has evaporated in the sun and the wind, the bed of the basins is carpeted with salt crystals), thereby saving from oblivion one of the historic activities of the region’s communities. The same has been done for other forms of local crafts (embroidery, wood, textiles, pottery, ceramics), promoted since 2006 by the hotel group and its “Beautiful LocalHands”. Beyond the salt mirrors, the sugar cane fields whisper in the wind. High above us, the full moon illuminates the night sky. The ocean stretches ahead, its intensity softened by its beauty. Harmonie Golf & Beach Estate truly is another continent. INSIDE MAURITIUS THE ART OF LIVING 72
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