Narein Perera‘s recently built estate bungalow for an entrepreneur in Mathugama (Sri Lanka) draws from the unspoiled splendor of the site’s surrounding nature as well as the raw forms outlining the traditional Chena Watch-hut.
The concept turned to the simplicity of local architecture when attempting to inspiration for the estate bungalow. Outfitted with only three bedrooms with attached baths and a multifunctional space with a pantry, the design is simultaneously indicative of a desire to return to basics and the reluctance to distance oneself completely from the daily comforts of modern life – service personnel and ancillary space needed for the running of the bungalow and the estate are housed downhill within buildings whose existence have been obscured by the presence of the tree canopy.
Inside the bedrooms are bedecked with timber, imbuing the interiors with a strong sense of texture by breaking up the monotony of a solid box-like structure. Only the east-facing facades of the bedrooms remain bare in order to allow for panoramic views of the lush surrounding landscape. Maximum privacy is ensured regardless of whether the bungalow is occupied by a single occupant or several guests; the levels defining the structure are linked by an almost external stairway, resulting in several enclosed spaces which have been positioned strategically within a sturdy framework composed of steel, timber and bamboo.
