It stands light, almost floating, at the foothills of Matale, surrounded by lush greenery. The structure is narrow and elongated. Standing on pillars it does not touch the ground beneath. Strikingly different amidst the sloping hills and paddy fields the thin, long architectural composition complements the rural simplicity while refraining from overpowering the landscape.
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Thisara
Thanapathy |
The holiday bungalow at Madawala, Ulpatha lies between the dry zone and the hill country. The 30-acre land that now holds the rectangular structure is owned by Sanjeewa Maddunmage and was initially used for cultivating teak. The land angles slightly toward the valley beyond capturing the vast space and the picturesque scenery. The valley, home to paddy fields and a variety of flora is bounded by a crescent shaped mountain range.
Architect Thisara Thanapathy was first called in by Sanjeewa Maddumage regarding an Institute building in Mattakkuliya. “It was a factory designed by Geoffrey Bawa and it was being torn down. There were some beautiful timber grills being taken down. He asked me whether to buy those. And I said go ahead. And then when the plans for the holiday bungalow came up we used them. Actually the design was inspired by these timber grills.” Conceptually the holiday bungalow focused on the breathtaking landscape and thus the placement of the façade. Unlike the usual front of a structure facing the entrance, this holiday bungalow faces the rolling hills.
One of the most attractive features of the holiday bungalow is a long viewing deck running straight across the building, in the opposite direction. You cannot miss the viewing deck. As you enter the space passing a half wall, a pier-like walkway emerges, taking you to the main space. But it does not stop there. Made of railway sleepers this walkway pierces right through the building and runs toward the silhouettes of the misty Blue Mountains. The beautiful lush-green paddy fields complete the gorgeous view. The ‘open to elements’ viewing deck also serves as an al fresco dining space. The long table stored away could be set up on the deck for a large crowd at meals. Like the traditional pier it is elevated above ground level – a perfect setting for an under-the-stars dining experience.
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Walking over the wooden pier you enter the structure, a fresh and innovative take on the column and beams construction. The ground floor consists of a pantry, kitchen, and visitors’ lounge. The glass and steel walls complement the timber floors and furniture. The general feel of the interior is a smooth linear and edgy design, complementing the exterior. The glass creates a transparent doorway connecting the interior and the exterior of the building. The extensive use of glass also gives an almost surreal feel to the space.
The spiral stairway connecting the ground level and the first floor is probably the only instance the linear concept fades. It carries you up to the second level and opens into a living area that is only sheltered on two sides keeping the opposite sides open. Placed directly atop the pier, the living space reflects its composition creating a void running across the main building, letting in a soft breeze and earthy scents.
On either side of the living room lie the two bedrooms and their accompanying bathrooms; the master bedroom and the guest bedroom. The master bedroom placed above the pantry holds the most striking view.
Although the whole bungalow entertains picturesque scenery, this particular view point from the master bedroom provides a stunning vista of the mountain range fading away into the valley beneath. In both rooms the furnishing is minimal allowing space for only a bed, lampshade, two chairs and a table. The bed faces a complete glass wall, while the partitioning on either side holds the pièce de résistance, the famed wooden grills of the Geoffrey Bawa design. While creating a beautiful pattern by letting in soft streaks of light and shadow, they are also ideal for cross ventilation.
The architect has left the natural colours of the materials intact. The beautiful shades of wood, glass, steel and cut cement remain. They are complemented with a few shades of white, black and earthy red. Tucked away in the midst of mountains and valleys, between the dry zone and the hill country, this holiday bungalow at Ulpatha is situated exceptionally well. In design, it walks the footsteps of ‘green building’, promoting environmentally sound structures. The use of salvaged material coupled with the orientation of sunlight, makes it a successful and striking eco design. While the themes of exposure and transparency are daring, the feel of old timber and the soft ambience creates a sense of warm familiarity making this an ideal holiday getaway. |
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