Tag: Nileshi Harasgama

There are few sites on Earth where architecture must confront eternity. The Giza Plateau is one. Home to structures so old they predate written Greek, the pyramids have stared down empires, religions, revolutions and entire climatic eras. To build anything beside them is a provocation – how does contemporary architecture inhabit a landscape where the human hand has already done its greatest, oldest work?

When Cyclone Ditwah swept across Sri Lanka in recent days, it did not discriminate by district or topography. Coastal towns flooded, inland river basins overflowed and the central highlands saw landslides carve through settlements that had long occupied unstable terrain. While the cyclone was a natural event, the scale of devastation was not inevitable. It was shaped – amplified even – by architecture, planning and the long-standing relationship between built form and landscape.

Once known primarily as a port city, Colombo has long been shaped by trade, colonial influence and its position along vital Indian Ocean routes. Over time, that maritime identity has given way to a new role as a commercial and financial center looking to establish itself within the region. This evolution is written into the city’s skyline, which in recent decades has begun to rise taller and bolder.

Final Year Exhibition of the University of Moratuwa On the 19th and 20th of August, the final year architecture students of the University of Moratuwa showcased their work in an exhibition – Interstice – held at Havelock Mall. The exhibition featured a few selected thesis projects of the class, with students on hand to guide […]

Not literally – but in the hands of Zaha Hadid, architecture flows, twists, and defies gravity. Often called the “Queen of the Curve,” Hadid was an Iraqi-British architect who reshaped the global architectural landscape with her bold, futuristic visions. Born in Baghdad in 1950, she rose to international fame, becoming the first female recipient of the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 2004.

Laki Senanayake was more than just an artist – he was an innovator who defied categorization, seamlessly blending art with architecture, nature, and public spaces. A self-taught maestro, his works – ranging from intricate ink drawings to grand metal sculptures – are not merely standalone pieces but immersive experiences that transform the spaces they inhabit.

A floor is more than just something to walk on – it’s a defining element of a space, shaping its ambience, comfort, and functionality. The choice of flooring isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about durability, maintenance, climate suitability, and the way a material interacts with its surroundings. From cool stone underfoot on a hot day to the warmth of timber in a cozy interior, each flooring material has a role to play. The key is understanding how materials perform over time and in different conditions, allowing architects and designers to craft spaces that are both practical and inspiring.

Lunuganga, Geoffrey Bawa’s country estate near Bentota, is more than a garden—it is a reflection of the man himself. Once a cinnamon plantation, this sprawling 15-acre estate became Bawa’s personal retreat and lifelong experiment in harmonizing architecture with the natural world. For over five decades, he transformed it into a living canvas that tells a story of balance, beauty, and the enduring relationship between man and nature. Walking through Lunuganga feels like stepping into Bawa’s mind. Every path invites discovery, every view frames a story, and every corner holds a quiet moment of surprise or reflection.

Located at a short distance from Bentota on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast, Brief gardens is the celebrated garden and country home of the late Landscape Architect Bevis Bawa. The unique name of the garden was through how the funds to purchase this land were derived from – a successful legal brief.

Perched on a breathtaking ocean-facing hilltop, Villa Vista—designed by renowned Japanese architect Shigeru Ban-represents the pinnacle of sustainable luxury. This striking residence is a living testament to Ban’s architectural ethos, which values simplicity, functionality, and sensitivity to its environment.

The kitchen has always been the heart of the home – a place for preparing meals, sharing conversations, and creating memories. Today, it has evolved beyond mere function, becoming a lived-in space that reflects the personal tastes, cultural practices, and preferences of its users. Whether minimalist or traditional, each kitchen carries the unique imprint of its owner. Yet, despite the range of stylistic possibilities, the functionality of the kitchen remains a constant and essential priority.

Designing buildings on sloped sites can be challenging, requiring careful planning to ensure stability and functionality while respecting the natural terrain. However, these challenges present unique opportunities for innovative design. Let’s have a look at five architectural strategies that help architects tackle sloped sites efficiently.