Tropical House & Garden Magazine

24/10/2024

If you are visiting the popular tourist region of Krabi in Thailand, and are interested in tropical herbs and spices, then don't miss the opportunity to visit the Natin Spicy Garden, not far from Ao Nang Beach. Entry is free and you won't be pressured into buying any spices at inflated prices because the Dutch owner is only interested in sharing his knowledge with other gardeners. He has an interesting collection of poisonous plants too.

There are many spice gardens located throughout the tropical world where visitors can learn about how spices are cultivated, harvested and prepared for sale. Sri Lanka, a major spice producing country, has the highest count, but some of them are tourist traps where after being provided with a free t...

26/09/2024

Tropical Thailand's Phang Nga province is not as well known to overseas visitors as Phuket to its immediate south, but for nature lovers it offers a quieter alternative and an opportunity to get away from Phuket's traffic and tourist crowds. There are some real gems to be discovered in Phang Nga in the form of deserted beaches, nature trails, picturesque waterfalls, and lots of tropical greenery.

Thailand's Phang Nga province is not as well known to overseas visitors as Phuket to its immediate south, but for older travellers it offers a quieter alternative and an opportunity to get away from Phuket's traffic and tourist crowds. For nature lovers, there are some real gems to be discovered off

12/08/2024

This beautiful home is a visible homage to the tropical modernist school of architecture where light and breeze are central to the design. The house revolves around a central double courtyard with all of the spaces in the house opening into courtyards on either side. The material palette of the structure is predominantly stone, which has been reclaimed, repurposed and reused in various ways with textures that are rough, bush-hammered, hand-punched, matte and rustic.

Architect Sumanth Ram Sriram’s home in Madurai is an ever-evolving space that plays with light, air and nature to build a tropical dream.

19/07/2024

This modern tropical home in Malaysia was built using reconstituted marble and wood/plastic composites due to cost constraints and the owner’s requirement for easy maintenance. While not explicitly designed as a ‘green home’, the house incorporates several eco-friendly features. Its ability to open fully to the garden reduces the need for air conditioning, and a rainwater harvesting system irrigates the lush landscaping.

Explore a stunning 6,900 sq ft open-concept family home in Bandar Kinrara, Malaysia designed by architect Melvyn Kanny to be a tropical oasis for its residents

18/07/2024

As temperatures and humidity continue to soar each summer in India, a time-tested, humble ingredient called gond katira is providing an easy, affordable and delicious way to cool the body and make the heat a little more bearable. Gond katira contains soluble fibre which acts like a prebiotic and helps in the proliferation of gut flora. Since it holds water for a long time, it keeps hydrating the body from the inside for a long time. It’s often added to sherbets to make a refreshing and cooling drink.

This year, when India experienced its longest ever heatwave, locals turned to cool drinks like never before.

17/07/2024

Like many regions of the wet tropics, the Indian state of Kerala receives heavy rainfall for many months of the year and bright sunshine for almost an equal span of time. Most architects consider this factor while designing homes for the wet tropics. This beautifully designed house in Valanchery features a multi-layered and sloped roof with rain shades to protect the walls from drizzles and moisture.

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13/07/2024

The designers of this renovated tropical home in an upmarket suburb of Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, say that it is an exemplary model for tropical living. It is surrounded by tropical vegetation and water features. It features sloped roofs with deep overhangs and wide terraces. The interior has high ceilings with fans in every space and designed for maximum cross-ventilation. The roof is well insulated and has heat-extraction vents. All key components of a good tropical design.

ANN/THE STAR – Walking around the Jalan Riong Residence feels like being inside a luxurious tropical resort in Asia. This is exactly what the owners envisioned for their three-storey home in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. Built on an 1,800 square metres (sq m) polygon-shaped plot with lush greenery and va...

13/04/2024

13/04/2024

Here are 17 tropical houses from the archives of Architectural Digest that provide an equal balance of lavishness and relaxation. Infinity pools, island views, and exotic locations differentiate these as properties, which boast extraordinary feats of opulent architecture and design in tropical climates. From the island of Lamu—off the coast of Kenya—to a sun-exposed retreat in Bali, these stunning tropical houses will outlast the sands of time in relaxation inspiration.

From Bali to Florida, Lamu to Panama, these retreats offer extraordinary, timeless design—and views aplenty

28/03/2024

Contemporary architects and designers in Brazil continue to embrace the challenge of creating indoor-outdoor homes that nod to the country's tropical climate. These residences often feature open floor plans, expansive glass walls, and strategic positioning of courtyards, gardens, or terraces with a design philosophy that emphasizes natural light, ventilation, and the incorporation of greenery for increased well-being. In this article, the author takes a detailed look at four recently completed residential projects in Brazil that fuse contemporary architecture, sustainable living, and a deep appreciation for their natural surroundings.

Brazil's contemporary architecture harmonizes with nature, featuring open floor plans and expansive glass walls.

24/02/2024

The best architects in the tropics know the importance of light and how to harness it. In Southeast Asia, this is tied to a sense of comfort; a dexterous handling of light and its counterpart shadow can combat the uncomfortable heat and glare of the tropics. In this Singapore home there are also many pockets of outdoor spaces and greenery that large glazing and sliding glass doors give easy access to. This link between indoor and outdoor environments is a trademark of Architect Ernesto Bedmar’s houses and embodies tropical living.

Karina Tham and Darius Sit embrace tropical living and joyful family life in their first family home—designed by Ernesto Bedmar.

17/02/2024

Looking after a cat in the tropics is no different than any other part of the world - with one important difference. In the tropical heat, cats can suffer from dehydration much more easily than in cooler climates. Therefore it's important to know how to recognise the signs of dehydration and be aware of ways to help keep your cat cool and encourage them to drink more water.

Ensuring that a cat doesn’t get dehydrated is the main difference between looking after a cat in the tropics compared to temperate climates.