Architects Sudesh Nanayakkara and Mangala Nelum Kumari, set forth to design a house in the suburbs amidst a coconut plantation, for a family that sought a living environment with a traditional and contemporary space.

Set in a tranquil ambiance facing the Bellanwila marsh and the bird sanctuary, N2 cabin is a living and working space, which blends in peacefully with nature and accentuate the four basic elements; water, fire, air and earth.

Hidden amidst the thick foliage bordering the quiet waters of Bolgoda lake lies the weekend rest for a family of four.

Architects Thushari and Thilan Koththigoda needed a homely space that spelt relaxation away from a busy and demanding work life.

The two main requirements that influenced the design of this house are the site and the client’s brief. The client wanted a house which blended in with its surroundings with a lot of natural light and ventilation “I considered all these factors and realised that the ideal concept was a courtyard house,” says Archt Shobha Seneviratna.

“The creation of a beautiful piece of art where the gifts of nature combine with the philosophy of boundless freedom and space is the result when the client who is a nature lover commissions a modernist architect to create a home on a neglected stretch of land” said Archt Thisara Thanapthy describing the project.

Bangalore the picturesque garden city of the early 19th and 20th centuries has over the years lost its green park like atmosphere as it developed commercially.

Situated down Madinagoda Road, Rajagiriya, on a site that abuts a marsh is located a residence designed by Architects Indika and Samanthi Samarasinghe. A home for a family that loves nature, the architects envisaged a house that overlooks the marsh to absorb its breathtaking beauty whilst ensuring maximum privacy and security. Taking the clients’ other requirements into consideration, the house was designed with most internal spaces opening out to the marsh. A high, exposed granite wall towards the road ensures that privacy is maintained.