Tag: Nilooshi Eleperuma

This was to become the home for a young family with working parents; both the owners drive to Colombo for work from their home at Malabe; and from the onset they wanted an extent of privacy that would still allow them to enjoy the outdoors. The site offered no direction to open the house out to yet its shape and size lent itself to the idea of a courtyard house.

Contemporary sub-urban living demands an adept ambience; they want breathing room and disdain wastefulness. Nestled away from the bustle of the city, this two story house built on a 20 perch land is home to a family of four. The challenge faced by the architects was the planning and transformation of sub-urban living through revolutionary design.

A single family house (built in the 80’s) in a partial state of abandonment is acquired by new owners, who demand a fresh functionality and aesthetic for their family’s soon to be new home. The brief was to open plan spaces with an improved relationship to the garden, and a kitchen that could be enjoyed as a social space. Located in Moratuwa; this renovated home is simultaneously sophisticated and cozy; offering a homely retreat with the comforts of contemporary innovation. The design intent was to capture the translucent and independent spirit and way of life of the clients through the essence of the existing and designed built space and landscape. The original house was designed to accommodate a family of four and a maid; the new configuration needed to contain a family of five, a guest area and covered parking for two vehicles etc. The challenge posed by the additions and alterations design to the house was to multiply the built floor area while maintaining a generous garden space.

The simple geometry of the robust form was devised to merge with the developing sub-urban context of Koswatte, Battaramulla. The design attempts efficient and optimum use of land, space and its construction materials; built on a 12 perch block of land bordering a bustling road on two sides; the foot print of the house is contained in under 6 perches; excluding allowance for road and rear space reservations by regulation.