INDIA TODAY
Special Issue – 22 June 2009

OCEAN OASIS

A sun-kissed, seaside villa in Mauritius with style, substance and a spectacular view.

A little over a year ago, Justus Walther decided to add another property to his ever expanding kitty of Mauritian villas. His friends fretted, thinking it a losing proposition. A 40-year-old, double-storeyed run-down villa, closed for over three years, why on earth would anyone buy it? But the 57-year-old German exporter-turned-publisher-turned-villa collector, as he likes to call himself, disagreed. He knew better.

Walther, incidentally, owns four other properties around the island which he rents out to tourists and expats. "I offer my lifestyle to anybody wishing to experience island life in a home set-up with staff and chauffeur in attendance," he says.

So even as others tried to dissuade him, Walther knew that La Rocca, tucked away at the end of a bylane just off the Eglise St Michel in Mauritius' northeastern coast district of Grand Gaube, would turn out just fine - once he was finished with it. It wasn't easy though. There were renovations - plenty of them - and Walther says there is still more to be done. "The terrace in the front wasn't there when I bought this house, neither was the pool," he says. He also re-fitted the kitchen completely, paying special attention to storage space as it is a small unit. His next move? Trying to add another terrace/sitting area by tearing down the garage.

"Life in Mauritius is more about the outside," says Walther. "You spend your days lazing outdoors, coming in only for a siesta maybe." Which is evident from the 10 windows that line the ground floor living room, opening up a 180 degree view of the largest and one of the most beautiful lagoons of Mauritius. Then there are five terraces offering a change of setting and hideaways for rest and relaxation.

Built right into the lava rocks that line the sea in these parts, La Rocca remains true to its moniker. The architecture maximises and incorporates these features into the façade. Be it in the winding steps that lead right up to the sea or the small sit out-cum-sun deck by the side of the waist deep infinity pool, the rocks are either painted over or form a stark relief to the mellow surroundings.

The house is built on various levels - you begin at the pool level, then a flight of stairs leads you to the sunbathing deck hanging just four metres above the sea. A short way up from the pool is the ground floor and then the first floor. Frangipanis, bougainvilleas and tropical trees line the pool area making it the perfect spot for sunset-watching. Water flows into the infinity pool through a turquoise coloured pot tricking the eye by merging into the azure expanse beyond. Walther likes to call it "feng shui music".

Both the floors of the six-bedroom house are identical in layout - the living room has a dining area with a couple of steps leading into three bedrooms and separate bathroom and toilet besides a fully equipped kitchen. The living room - with a 42" plasma television set, potted plants hanging from wrought iron wall brackets, comfortable wicker sofas arranged around a low square table, eight-seater octagonal dining table and a long rosewood polish sidetable - is a play of warm colours juxtaposed with cool neutrals.

The bedrooms are simple - just bed, dresser, cupboards and bedside tables. Here too the hues are muted. Walther's fascination for local artist Nalini Treebhboobun is evident from the effusion of her works that adorn almost every wall of the villa. In the bathroom, separate modern washbasins create a feeling of luxury along with circular oversized mirrors in plaited cane frames. Grey is the dominant colour of the kitchen which is complete with every modern amenity.

On the rare occasion that Walther gets tired of lazing around in his pretty villa, there are two boats at his disposal. Or else, he can swim, fish, snorkel, dive, kitesurf, windsurf or visit the Grand Baie bazaar for a taste of the local flavours... the choices are wide and varied, he says. As they say here, life is a beach!

Kuheli Sen