simple as making coconut scones
July 22, 2025
Something as simple as making coconut scones reminds us of the things we so often take for granted – like electricity and waste collection.
Ranonga, a beautiful tropical paradise, is also a remote island with very limited access to power. Electricity comes either from small solar panels owned by individual families, or occasionally from the community’s shared diesel generator during special events. Cooking here takes much more time and effort – gathering firewood and coconut husk to start a stone ‘oven’.
Yet with limited resources comes deeper environmental care, a strong sensibility around not being wasteful, and remarkable creativity.
The coconut milk was made entirely from scratch: grating fresh coconut flesh, soaking it in coconut water, then squeezing it by hand – no tins, no packaging, no transport. Banana leaves lined the trays and doubled as plates. When the feast was over, everything returned to the land, decomposing just as nature intended.
It’s from this ethos – this respect for land, community, and ingenuity – that the principles of our architectural practice were shaped. Learning from and working alongside communities, using what’s locally available, and remaining mindful of the long-term impact of our work.
We are deeply grateful for the friendships forged – and for every bit of knowledge, trust, resources, and support our clients, communities, and collaborators have shared with us. Thank you for the role you’ve played in shaping our journey.
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