New single-family compact urban housing
Dehiwala, Sunshine Beach, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Architecture, Interior design, and Landscape architecture
Commencement
Scale
Status
2020
approx. 650 square-meter lot Ground and first level
In progress
The lack of greeneries and the dark and gloomy interior spaces are always the major drawbacks of the urban compact houses in Sri Lanka due to the street exposure of certain neighborhood areas and the dilemma between privacy, security and community. Thus, the main idea of the project is to create an introverted house that still allows the owner to keep an eye on the streets as a community yet having its own privacy. A double volume of the semi-indoor courtyard with a vertical garden has been the main space of the house. All other living spaces located around the courtyard that creates internal views for greenery as well as allowing natural light and ventilation to come in.
The design starts from the front, where the main entry gate has been placed from the main road and the access to the garage from the sub street. The privacy fence screen at the front has been designed to provide security thus allows certain porosity that the owner can view the street. Once entering the house, the living, dining and kitchen are presented as one big open space which forms a continuous flow of space for maximum spatial and visual connectivity and crosses ventilation. Reaching the centre of the house, you will be greed by a double volume height indoor courtyard space with the abundance of natural light and greenery from the vertical garden. The Central Indoor courtyard has been the central core space for the house even from the first floor where the study and wife’ workspace is the function on the ink bridge has been placed. The open living spaces toward the courtyard or double volume living area kept the communication between family member vertically.
Overall material pallet is a mixture of raw and refined material to create the flux. all interior wall to keep to white with some essence element light screen wall, planter and railing using raw and rustic material. Apart from the greenery in the entry courtyard, front balconies surrounded by planters and timber privacy screens bring the house closer to nature. The abundance of light, air and greenery create an indoor sanctuary merge with the outdoors for the owner.