A dilapidated old manor house in Jaffna peninsula, with warped roof beams, warped door windows and many structural defects were presented to the architects for refurbishment- by clients- to be refurbished as a retirement home for themselves who were returning to Sri Lanka after escaping to overseas due to the 25 years old North East civil war in Sri Lanka. Architects, decided to replace all warped roof beams and door windows during the refurbishment, introducing cantilevering bay windows to the swimming pool side, which was a novel idea to create an interesting three dimensional composition to the swimming pool side elevation to be overlooked over the ground floor living dining areas from upper floor.
Chinthaka Wickramage Associates
“With great difficulty, the skilled carpentry team removed all the 3″ × 4″ wall plates of the roof. They were insufficient to carry the load of the clay-tiled roof, and replaced them with 6″ × 4″ hardwood wall plates.”
“The construction team installed new triangular gable-end panels at the two gable ends. This gave a contemporary modern aesthetic to the otherwise traditional manor house. This falls in line with the vernacular architectural idioms of the Jaffna Peninsula of Northern Sri Lanka.”
“The design team introduced a special lighting design incorporating timber-column-mounted ‘up and down’ lighting to supplement the lack of originally available lighting fixtures in the residence.”
Existing cut cement floor which was in very bad state, was tiled over with pressed-cement tiles, maintaining the original residence interior ambiance.
Calicut clay tiled roofs, white painted walls, dark timber columns, cement handled ceiling soffits and grey-white washed door windows give a certain contemporary aesthetics to the otherwise traditionally inclined residence.
“The design team introduced decorative floral-patterned panels to the car porch entry gable to celebrate the entry sequence of the residence. They also introduced colorful recycled antique door and window panels to the staircase landing, enveloping the cantilever that overlooks the swimming pool side as a feature wall.”
Raised podium ‘Thinnai’ at entrance verandah and under staircase landing give a certain Jaffna vernacular flavor to the otherwise contemporary styled Jaffna residence in Nallur, the Hindu religious cultural hub of the Jaffna peninsula.
Fact File
Designed by: Chinthaka Wickramage Associates
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: Refurbishment of Navalar Villa
Location: Navalar Road, Nallur, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Year Built: 2023
Duration of the project: 2022 October to 2023 October
Project Size: 5000 Sq.ft
Project Cost: Sri Lankan Rupees 65 Million
Principal Architects: Ar. Chinthaka Wickramage
Design Credits: Ar. Shanthini Balasubramanium
Photograph Courtesy: Waruna Gomis
Consultants for the Project: Civil – Chinthaka Wickramage & Shanthini Balasubramanium / Interior Designers – Shain Oshada Herath / MEP & HVAC Consultants – P. Suganthan / Structure Engineers – Ajith Vandabona / Contractors – La Pagoda Pvt Ltd / Project Managers – Kumaralingam Pathytharan Quantity Surveyors – Tharaka Kaushalya & Thushara Karunaratne
Firm’s Website Link: Chinthaka Wickramage Associates
The Firm’s Instagram Link: Chinthaka Wickramage Associates
Firm’s Facebook Link: Chinthaka Wickramage Associates
For Similar Project >> “Breathe”, An Earth House With Locally-Made Compressed Earth Blocks, Brick Jaalis And Courtyards
The site is located in Ahilyanagar town of Maharashtra, with a design brief of 7,000 sq feet, while the house had to be designed for the hot and dry climate, which responds carefully to extreme temperatures, intense sunlight, and low humidity. The design focuses on reducing heat gain, improving natural ventilation, and creating comfortable indoor spaces with […]
“Pravah” — A House That Breathes is envisioned as the main concept of this home revolves around a fluid, light-filled home where architecture becomes a continuous experience of movement, air, and connection. Located in Pal Gamtal, Surat, the project is a residential redevelopment on a 1,850 sq.ft. plot within a dense urban fabric. The site, […]
SapanoUday is a contemporary residence that balances material rawness with layered textures and crafted detail, aligning modern living with cultural and spatial sensibilities. Designed by Hundreddesigns, the home responds closely to the client’s routines and artistic inclinations while thoughtfully integrating Vastu principles. HundredDesigns The designers defined the architecture through a minimal palette, using exposed concrete […]
KRIPA is a residence that reflects the personality and lifestyle of its homeowner — calm, open, and rooted in nature. The project focuses on creating light-filled, green spaces with minimal private zones, encouraging openness and connection. In a time when spaces are shrinking but expectations are rising, architecture becomes the medium to bridge this gap […]
The Sculpted Sanctuary is a masterclass in modern minimalist design. The project focuses on “Quiet Luxury”. It is the idea that a space doesn’t need bright colors or flashy decor to feel expensive. Instead, it uses raw natural materials, rich textures, and sharp architectural lines. This Home Is A Masterclass In Modern Minimalist Design | […]
SIDHARTHA, is a four-bedroom modern house which is functional and aesthetic driven by the specific needs of the client. The location of the site is in a dense neighbourhood in Bengaluru, India. The contemporary urban dwelling frequently negotiates competing demands. It balances generous daylight and visual connection to the street with privacy, dust control, and […]
Located in HMT Layout, Bangalore, Isha_Srinidhi Nilaya stands as a multi-generational home designed on a compact 60×40 ft (2400 sq. ft) East facing plot, with a total built-up area of 8000 sq. ft. East Facing a lush public park, the residence responds to its urban setting through a layered design that balances privacy with a […]
Timeless architectural features, such as courtyards, are always associated with bringing the naturally public forms to the world’s heart, building the most peaceful, secluded outdoor areas. These outdoor spaces maximize the living experience with their private space feature, which gives one the option for leisurely relaxation, recreation, or gardening. Furthermore, it has also been a […]
The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]
Plants for home garden, apart from making houses look more beautiful and inviting, add health and calmness to them. Having any kind of indoor plant, a herb plant or a flowering plant adds some value to your decor and the quality of the space. Always choose plants that will flourish in your space and climate. […]