MYSTY.LIGHTS

For more than fifteen years, the Lalbhai family has patiently transformed what was once an arid site in Koteshwar into a dense and living private forest. What began as a wild landscape has, through the perseverance and sensitivity of Mrs. Lalbhai, become a carefully shaped sanctuary where nature and intention coexist in harmony. During the design of a new house conceived to belong fully within this vast landscape, Atelier dada was invited to imagine a lighting scheme capable of accompanying nocturnal walks and shared moments, while preserving the depth and serenity of the place.

The project took shape as a collective exploration. In the absence of detailed plans, and based only on simple site surveys, the team carried out a careful observation of the living environment. Each species, each vegetal volume, each rhythm of growth was identified in order to distinguish what should be revealed from what should remain in shadow. The intention was not to light the garden, but to listen to it, while leaving the night fully in place.

Light discreetly accompanies the winding paths, revealing textures, depths, and points of attention that appear and then fade through the foliage. Masked bollards, concealed projectors, and bespoke suspended luminaires are integrated with precision, almost invisibly. Each source is positioned with care, in keeping with the rhythm of the landscape, so as to preserve a fluid and immersive nocturnal atmosphere.

Through this attentive and measured approach, the forest becomes, after dark, a place of sensitive discovery. Light enters into dialogue with restraint, accompanies the living world, and subtly reveals its presence, offering a nocturnal haven where nature and light coexist in a fragile and deeply soothing balance.