Decisions on land last for decades
We help owners and operators make those decisions with clarity - by working with land, infrastructure, and operations as one system.
What We Do
Our work focuses on the moments where early decisions have the greatest long-term impact.
We help owners and operators make better decisions before upgrades, expansion, or development by assessing how land, infrastructure, and operations will perform together over time.
This clarity informs planning and design choices early - reducing the risk of costly mistakes and helping projects move forward with confidence.
By working with natural systems instead of against them, we use land regeneration as a practical strategy to improve performance, reduce exposure, and protect long-term value.
Restoring a Montado in Portugal
Elle and Chris were feeling overworked and frustrated, seeing sporadic results in their quest to restore a degraded and overgrazed 16Ha farm. Now they have a clear plan forward that makes sense with their goals, capacity, and budget to transform their property into a conservation worthy Montado.
"Shaan and Gonzalo helped us to put our wild collection of ideas and wishes into a well organised plan for our property. This makes it easy to set priorities but also to modify the plan when things change, making the whole project less overwhelming. They provided brilliant and ecologically well founded solutions to problems small and large, and respected our desire to contribute to the community."
~Â Elle & Chris
Wetland Wellness Retreat Centre
Despi & Pat were on the verge of selling their inherited 8Ha banana farm. It felt like a financial drain with no way forward. Now? They’re bringing a new vision to life: a profitable, resilient wellness and wilderness retreat - aligned with their values, land, and long-term dreams.
"I cannot recommend the Wild Banana team enough, the insights and years of experience they bring to the crafting of a bespoke plan ensures that it reflects not only what you actually need, but also what will best serve you and your property long term. Its the bedrock of the entire design process and they are masterful at guiding you through it."
~ Despi & Pat
Paralysis to Possibility
Andreas bought his 200Ha farm 20 years ago, but with no clear vision and no idea where to start, he remained stuck - unsure how to move forward and afraid of making the wrong decisions.  Now, for the first time, he has a clear, manageable plan to create a thriving eco retreat to support his retirement - and the confidence to bring it to life.
“Now I have an Integrated Plan that I can trust - where every decision, both on its own and as part of the whole, has been thoughtfully considered.”
~ Andreas
Family Farmstead Enterprise
After living on their property for many years, feeling like there is never enough time or attention to spend on it. Lynn and her family have decided to go all in on their family run Farmstead venture. With a plan for rearing livestock, producing a variety of products, and hosting workshops and events.
"Before discovering Shaan and Gonzalo, our family was struggling - financially and with clarity about our property. Through working with them, everything shifted. I even closed my coaching business to go all in on transforming our property into a farmstead that nurtures the land and creates income. Today we’re rebuilding our farmstead with confidence, purpose, and excitement for the future."
~Â Lynn
HOW WE THINK ABOUT THE WORK
- Most long-term problems are decided early.
Land and infrastructure choices shape everything that follows - often long before issues show up in operations. - Land, infrastructure, and operations must be designed as one system.
Optimising parts in isolation is how hidden costs, risk, and inefficiency are locked in. - Regeneration is a performance strategy, not an ideal.
Land that functions well reduces risk, effort, and cost over time.
A short conversation to understand your context and explore whether our way of working is the right fit.
Meet Shaan & Gonzalo
Wild Banana Design was founded by Shaan and Gonzalo after seeing the same pattern repeat across land-based projects: strong intentions undermined by fragmented decisions made too late.
Our combined background spans architecture, land regeneration, water systems, and strategic planning. This allows us to work comfortably with complexity and see how land, infrastructure, and operations influence each other over time - long before problems surface in day-to-day operations.
We work upstream, at the point where decisions still have leverage. Our role is not to add more ideas, but to bring clarity - so planning and design choices are grounded, resilient, and aligned with the long-term reality of the land.
We enjoy working with people who care deeply about the places they are responsible for - and who want to make decisions they won’t regret years down the line.
Have a project in mind?
Let’s start with a short conversation to understand your context and see whether our way of working is the right fit.