Barnhouse in the outskirts
The destination wedding culture is a fast emerging trend. Having to plan one though, is certainly no easy task. To this list adds, the need for venues, the catering, a beautiful setting and so on. Imagine, however being able to tick all requirements at once, in a single location. This is just what ‘The Barnhouse Studio’ has to offer.
Located in Kiriberiya, Panadura, it provides all services and facilities that are wedding related. Aside from this, the Barnhouse Studio is also a design gallery, a design store and a creative library full of concepts and ideas. This enables it to offer facilities needed to host fashion shows, Beauty pageants, Commercials, TV shows etc.
The structure itself is based around the idea of an Old English Barnhouse, and each element found on the premises is architecturally crafted in synchronization with the theme.
We caught up with Kushantha Hewapathirana, the Managing Director and one of the founders. He walked us through the primary concept behind the studio, whilst also giving us an insight into the thought process behind the architecture.
“The Barnhouse Studio was conceived as one complex, holistic location, architecturally articulated in demonstrating and authenticating a way of life, where we adapt to nature rather than changing it,” he explains.
He tells us, the creative ideas at the studio, go beyond all commercial notions in existence, Kushantha adds the studio includes a banquet space, honeymoon chalets, wedding décor and includes programmes such as ‘cinematic artistry’ , ‘art of photography’, and the ‘Thinking Hand; School of Arts and Crafts.’”
We soon find out that the concept was conceived in the mind of its creator/designer Ajith Mohan Perera. “It was his ideologies about art, craft, architecture, people and community,” which led to the studio, we see today,” Kushantha recalls.
Inside the chalets . Pix by Sameera Weerasekera
The process of designing and the construction of the studio itself was a special one. According to Kushantha, the construction process involved the local community. This in turn enhanced the craftsmanship involved within the process, whilst also adding value to the entire concept, “in terms of social and cultural aspects of architecture.”
The Barnhouse is focused on “the essential nurturing of creativity.” This, according to Kushantha is aimed at “reviving and revitalizing the art, craft and architecture of the island,” and is their primary goal. “We are striving to bring back creativity to the concept of a “wedding” and restore the cultural and emotional values behind it,” Kushantha tells us, adding that one could describe it as sort of a “Renaissance”.
‘Weddings-By the Barn’, which is one of the services that they offer, are choreographed by the creative team of The Barnhouse. Throughout the whole process, they have but one thinking in mind and that is the spiritual union of a wedding.
Aside from this they also offer ‘The Banquet – By The barn.’ This according to Kushantha, is the “Protagonist of The Barnhouse Studio and could comfortably accommodate a maximum of 300 guests.
As our conversation progressed, Kushantha explains that photography is essentially an art and the Barnhouse strongly believes that the equipment they own would be powerless without the creativeness of the Human mind. It is in this light that they offer ‘Cinematic Artistry’ which is the creative wing of the studio. Its aim is to take you “through a journey of creative composition and choreography of still and motion picture.” Both Kushantha and Dhanushka Hewapathirana, who are the in house photographers, will guide learners along this process. The Creative Team of The Barnhouse Studio also offers help in creative concept formulation, which includes designing, composing and customizing. “The “Space – By the Barn”, set up for this purpose, offers various themes that would suit the theme of your event, occasion or photo-shoot. The Barnhouse also offers a concept called Chalets- By the Barn. This includes intricate wooden structures and is fixated amidst the natural terrain of a Rubber Estate. They have been specially designed for newlyweds with the intention of functioning as a Honeymoon location.
Aside from being just a pretty location, based around a creative concept, the Barnhouse takes it a step further, through its effective recycling and charity endeavours. The launch of the‘Share’ programme is one of their finest projects in this regard. This in essence, extends an opportunity to its customers, to make the final call on the excess food from weddings/ events. “We offer a range of options, starting from sharing the food with the village temple monks, to a children’s orphanage in the locality,” Kushantha explains. In keeping with their thinking to nurture creativity, the studio also attempts to revive and revitalize the Traditional Arts and Crafts of the island.
This is done through their Thinking Hand – School of Arts and Crafts, based around the concept ‘Learning by Making’. Overall the Barnhouse offers a unique, creative experience to the one looking for the ideal venue for a wedding or another type of function. Aside from this, if you’re just looking for a picturesque location for a photoshoot, this is your go to place.
The Barnhouse Studio is located at
No. 155/9, 2nd Lane, Galpotta Road, Kiriberiya, Panadura.
For more information log on to
facebook.com/thebarnhousestudio/
