Wonder of wood
The endless hum of traffic is normal for a typical day down Alexandra Place. But atop the petrol shed at the Alexandra Place- Horton Place junction, one can leave the endless hubbub for the more peaceful atmosphere of “Tex Arte”- architect Viranga Silva’s latest venture. Walking into the showroom one would immediately be drawn to the unique wood furnishings with their modern contours and partial transparency.
What makes Viranga’s pieces stand out is the material he uses which, with suitable lighting illuminates the furnishings, thus bringing out the artistry of the woodwork. The showroom includes many pieces of art which include blocks of unpolished wood artistically illuminated and quirky pedestal fans, created by Viranga.
For this interior designer and architect whose career has spanned over 15 years, “Tex Arte”, he explains, began as more of a hobby. He admits to have taken quite a risk with his work, as Tex Arte tends to banish the customary image of wood furnishings exploring a different arena in wood art.
Entering the showroom, one notices the blocks of wood in the form of tables and shelves. Look again as these are no ordinary pieces, as they were crafted from a material created entirely by Viranga. This material is a mixture of wood and an acrylic resin, and is fixed in a manner that allows the strips of acrylic in between the wood to be illuminated. Viranga’s intention in using this material was to achieve a soft, sleek look that would lessen the customary bulkiness associated with wooden furnishings.
Viranga claims that his inspiration comes from nature and the need to develop a material which could capture both the grandeur and warmth of wood, and equally its lightness and thus achieve the concept of “mood lighting”. From a design aspect, he explained that it would enable wood to be used in small spaces such as apartments, without creating much obstruction.
The versatility of this material allows it to be used to create elegant partitions of a space, and even as skirting. This allows a minimalistic style in defining and contouring spaces. A distinctive feature of his pieces is the simplicity that he has managed to achieve, even though much detail has gone into their manufacture.
Viranga invites architects and designers to use his novel invention, claiming it is suitable especially for areas such as lobbies and even apartment complexes. An experienced architect and designer he believes it is a convenient and exciting solution to most design dilemmas. Catering to specific needs Viranga also creates customised pieces.
Tex Arte is located at No.75 Alexandra Place, Colombo 7. Viranga Silva can be contacted on 0788 385442 or email texartecolombo@gmail.com
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