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Our Footprint
From the beginning, as far back as 1999, The Retreat was built with the intention of being Sustainable in as many ways as manageable. With better technology becoming available we are adapting to what is on offer.
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The house was designed to maximize the use of natural light, as such, our ‘conch shell’ shape allows for every room to obtain maximum sunlight thus keeping our fingers off the ‘switch’ for most of the day.
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The house was built mostly of stone, hand cut using the local river sand as the cement aggregate. Stone forms the window mantels and slate shingle the roof surface.
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The use of timber is minimal except for essential window / door frames. |
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Hand polished Marble has been used for the floors in the Dining, Entry and Kitchen. |
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Retaining walls have been built from stone and where the engineering allows dry-stacked to minimise the use of cement.
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Labour
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All labor is from the local village and Pokhara City with the aim of keeping employment and remuneration within the local community.
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All materials were transported across the lake by electric powered boat,or by paddling.
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Stone from the riverbed below was transported to the site by human power and cut on-site by hand.
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No fossil fuel vehicles have been used in the transport of any building materials from the lake to the site. Shopping for supplies is done by paddling to lakeside and again carrying the supplies to The Retreat.
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Solar
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Solar hot water is installed
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Mains Power is used and studies are underway to establish if wind powered turbines combined with solar panels can make the site self sufficient.
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candles and lamps are often used as a feature of the property
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CFL bulbs are used in The Retreat.
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Water
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Water gravity fed from a nearby natural spring to our storage tanks.
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Grey water is collected and used on site for watering.
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A septic system recycles all waste back onto the site….. probably way our trees are doing so well.
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Local Produce
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Produce is grown on the property and from the neighbouring farms. Supplies of vegetables, rice, milk, some seasonal fruit, dhal are supplied. Although a mostly vegetarian diet menu is offered supplies of chicken and fish are available.
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Food waste & packaging is separated, composed or returned to Pokhara for recycling
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Gardens
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The site was originally a Paddy Field devoid of any trees. Now the Property is lush with a range of huge trees, shrubs, plants and grass amidst stone pathways, handmade stone steps, terraced gardens and niche sitting areas,all of which has attracted an abundance of birds to the site. |
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