Blog Post

The “cul-de-sac” Residence

June 10, 2020

Chathurika Kulasinghe designed a house in Hokandara, Sri Lanka for a young couple with a tight budget, keen on making a home for themselves as a place to escape to and relax, away from their busy schedules.


Located amidst a residential neighbourhood in Horahena, this residence is characterized by its curved formation that is derived from the site layout- a 6.56 perch plot with a cul-de-sac of the common access way defining the curved edge of the site.
The odd shaped site was purchased due to budgetary limitations. The Design intended to use this ‘odd’ site shape in a positive way, using the natural curvature of the site as the determinant in generating a positive spatial experience. Embracing this curved edge rather than contending against it, the architect took an introverted approach, creating internal gardens and much needed “free space” within this small site.
The concave edge of the site being utilized at the entrance point to the premises, is characterized by a rustic exposed brick wall.

 
Upon entrance to the premises, one walks into the living & Dining space, with the ambience of an open pavilion, its organic form allowing for a fluid conversation with the curvilinear gardens the space opens out to. With no views and the land being blocked by other land plots, the architect designed the living & dining space as a pavilion with garden strips on either side, allowing the space to feel expansive- as if the garden were part of the roofed pavilion space.
Embellished with lush green plants native to the locality such as Habarala (Alocasia macrorrhizos) and Heliconia/ “Lobster Claws” plants, the curvilinear gardens flanking the curved edges of the pavilion are contained within the site by raising the boundary walls- an introverted approach to suit the personalities of the young couple, who required a free space to relax in seclusion amidst a busy neighbourhood.


The stairs lead to the master bedroom upstairs which in turn opens out to the terrace that appears to “float” above the pavilion space below, adorned with greenery on either side of the linear walk on the terrace.                                                        


The Master Bedroom has a sloping roof that creates a large spacial volume- a peak in the spacial experience, with a feature exposed brick wall being created as an earthy & rustic material to tone down the space and create a ‘homely’ ambience.


Earthy, rustic undertones complement simple white plastered walls and are used carefully so that the architecture is simple to meet the simple busy lifestyle of the owners and work within budgetary constraints, yet colourful elements and greenery create what they call their ‘home’ in a tropical environment.


Photography by Ramitha Watareka Photography

www.chathurikakulasinghe.com

SHARE THIS

 Subscribe

Keep up to date with the latest trends!

Receive a dose of inspiration directly into your mailbox!

 Contribute

G&G _ Magazine is always looking for the creative talents of stylists, designers, photographers and writers from around the globe.

WRITE US

 Find us on

 Home Projects

By G&G _ Magazine February 19, 2025
Designer Alexey Aladashvili designed an apartment is located in a cottage village in the Moscow region from with coniferous forest and river view.
By G&G _ Magazine February 17, 2025
The international architecture and interior design firm Archventil oversaw the interior design of a bright apartment in Milan, combining a classical base with contemporary furnishings, vintage design pieces and the industrial finitures.
By G&G _ Magazine February 14, 2025
At the pinnacle of the exclusive Son Vida residential area stands Vanity - an architectural masterpiece that combines elegance, cutting-edge design, and a deep connection to the natural surroundings.
By G&G _ Magazine February 8, 2025
Tisselli Studio Architetti was commissioned to project the new design of a two-level apartment located in a prestigious building subject to constraints by the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape.
By G&G _ Magazine January 27, 2025
HV8 Architettura undertook an ambitious renovation project of an 80 m² apartment in a 1920s building, just a few steps from Bocconi.
MORE

 Popular Posts

By G&G _ Magazine February 6, 2025
In the southern Dutch city of Eindhoven, stands the NH Collection Eindhoven Centre - a 5-star hotel that combines timeless elegance with an innovative approach to sustainability.
By G&G _ Magazine January 30, 2025
Rockwell Group, the acclaimed architecture and design studio based in NYC, has unveiled the interiors of Nobu Bangkok , marking a new milestone in the studio's decades-long collaboration with Chef Nobu Matsuhisa.
By G&G _ Magazine December 23, 2024
Charrette Studio was awarded a Luxury Lifestyle Awards for Best Luxury Café Interior Design for their remarkable work on Préf, a newly renovated café located in Bangkok, Thailand.

- CURRENT  ISSUE -

January 2025 - Delightful Mocha Mousse

Share by:
G&G _ Magazine