Once a vast sugarcane field dotted with industrial remnants from another era, Mon Rocher has gradually transformed into a destination shaped by leisure, connection and shared experiences. Afzal Soobrattee, who led the project’s earliest design concepts, reflects on its evolution.
“Mon Rocher was born from a desire to create a place that feels timeless, yet deeply rooted in its surroundings,” he explains. Having supported the development from its earliest stages, he recalls: “The site’s industrial heritage made it truly unique. It carries a strong sense of history, with a distinctive topography and remarkable existing vegetation. The flamboyant trees, in particular, give it a special character at the start of summer.”
From this inspiring setting came the first ideas. From the outset, the ambition was to create harmony between nature and a refined contemporary architecture by integrating what already existed on site: the chimney, stone ruins and big trees. “Rather than erasing these traces of the past,” Afzal summarises, “we chose to reveal and enhance them.”
Even the stones uncovered during pre-construction excavations were reused as cladding for the padel club building, creating a tangible link between past and present. The use of raw materials and open transitions between spaces fosters a sense of continuity and belonging. The masterplan was conceived as a dialogue between heritage, nature and innovation.
“This is a direct expression of Novaterra’s broader vision, which is not to erase what exists, but to reinterpret and elevate it,” he adds. “What I appreciate most about Mon Rocher is the way the site embraces contrasts: memory and modernity, shadow and light, mineral and vegetation. I firmly believe modern architecture must adapt to its context, and I hope we have succeeded in meeting that challenge here.”
The result speaks for itself. With the Caña padel club, the 1890 Mon Rocher gastronomic restaurant, stables, the Ti’Marmailles nursery, the All Life Matters animal sanctuary and the growing Greencoast International School, Mon Rocher is today a vibrant and living destination.
