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AD ASTRA – “to the stars” @ Indigolla

Writer's picture: tharanga hewagetharanga hewage

Structural Engineer | Mr. Mahinda Rathnasiri

Contractor | Mr. Samantha Payagala


Project Architects

Sewwandi Nayanathara

Isuri Hettiarachchi


Photography | © Ganidu Balasuriya photography https://www.facebook.com/ganidubalasuriya


Land Extent | 13.5 Perches

Total Floor Area | 2865 sq. ft

Project Duration | 18 Months

Finished year | February 2021


Architectural Brief

1 Guest Bedroom

2 Bedrooms with 1 Separate Bathroom

Master Bed Suite, Attached Bathroom, Walk-in Closet

Tv lobby, Open Terrace

Family Living, Dining, Bathroom

Show Kitchen with Bar counter, Wet kitchen

Laundry Room & Maid Room

2 Indoor Courtyards

1 Vehicle Car Porch



Concept


AD ASTRA – “to the stars”

Ad Astra, title is derived from the Latin phrase meaning “to the stars”. The title; Ad Astra, is used in the project, to express the concept of reaching for greater heights that seems to go beyond expectations, being one with nature, bringing in fresh, elegant and luxury character through Architecture by using unique forms and elements. In addition, the design emphasizes spaces in relation to light, vistas, and explores structuring of spaces, elements, relationships of circulations, as well as proportions and scales.


Project


The site is located in a secluded area that is perfectly nested to allow tranquil living, keeping enough proximity to the city. The residence lies on thirteen-point five (13.5) perch square-shaped land that is, compact, facing a street bend, and visually imperceptible due to the high façade brick wall in addition to the adjoining residences bordering the site.


The conceptual approach was to make eye catching front façade captured by playing with different materials at a refined level. Usage of ‘wire-cut bricks’ and the decorative ‘jali’ screens to the main entry, fence, vehicle entry, was essential in minimizing the earthy character of the two (2) storied height brick façade, along with helping maintain/ minimize the usage of heavy materials for the frontal view.


Specially designed double screen (brick façade) ensures the dwelling is shielded from heat by limiting southern exposure and alleviated by disturbing noises from outside. The creation of this high façade wall at the land-front allows more privacy to the owners of the property, accompanied by bringing in fresh, elegant, luxury character to the front outlook. The high façade wall; two (2) story high exposed brick wall; with its rustic disposition, use of brick laying patterns for selected areas, bring aesthetically pleasing ambiance to the residence’s front elevation. Decorative ‘jali’ screen patterns enhance the richness to the front façade by providing a traditional elemental character in perfect harmony with both modern and traditional features.

The large ‘jali’ screen opening of the unplastered wire-cut brick wall provides an aesthetic richness to the front envelope while acting as an opening to the canopy of the tree in the garden. At the bottom of the double layered brick wall there is a gap which is about four (4 ft.) feet in height that acts as a ventilation avenue towards the internal garden void. The formation of the brick wall with voids, internal court yards, garden spaces around the residence, a cooler temperature within the residence have been achieved.

The residence was designed to capture natural light, biodiversity; by creating internal/external gardens, a cooler microclimate within the main spaces through internal court yards, and to play with volume to create multiple spaces for living and leisure.

Located on a footprint of two thousand eight hundred and sixty five (2,865) square feet, the residence comprises of three (3) levels; the ground floor; first (1st) floor and second (2nd) floor. The ground floor entails two (2) vehicle car parking spaces, guest living, family dining, visitors’ bedroom, opening into two (2) internal courtyards; covered using fifteen feet (15 ft.) height tempered fixed glasses from the guest living side and ten feet (10 ft.) height openable sliding windows from the family dining area. The accessibility around these two (2) courtyards provided by the walking passage is possible to the butler’s kitchen, maid’s room, laundry room, and guest bathroom. The first (1st) floor covers the TV lobby, 2 bedrooms along with access to an open terrace which is accommodated as an outdoor gathering space. The third (3rd) upper most level only encompasses of the master bedroom suit with its very own walk-in closet, attach bathroom along with access to two (2) internal courtyard terraces which is shaped by circular voids.


As well as being aesthetically pleasing, the internal courtyards function by letting in eastern light through fixed tempered glass and openable sliding windows allow cool air and daylight while the transitional passages around the internal courtyards provide serene accessibility toward each space by interconnecting each one.


The main living space directly opens out to the two (2) internal courtyards and to the garden void at the road front with covered unplastered wire-cut brick wall. Daylight as well as embracing natural light and ventilation into the house was purely done by the usage of large window openings and fixed tempered glasses.


Dark beige has been used as a finishing colour for most of the external walls of the house in order to blend with the greenery in garden spaces. The interior facilitates relaxation with its calm and pleasing environment by usage of off white colours to all internal walls whilst the glossy cream-coloured tiled floors enhance the quality and elegancy of all the spaces.


Timber textured strip tiling variations have been used for the outdoor patio flooring near family dining as well as at the front garden void to enhance the wooden decking quality and to minimize maintenance requirements. The rest of the external walls of the residence is in off white colour to sharpen the plastered walls from external view.


Another main feature is the coloured stairway handrails with perforated circular opening which enhances the elemental character inside of the house and at the same time enhances the clarity of the living spaces with its unique high glazed covered two (2) internal courtyards. This featured stairway reaches the upper floor level with its unique detailing, while the internal glazed courtyard can be seen by the side when climbing towards the upper floor.

The space allocation and spatial progression, material usage and the unique architectural detailing have made this residence simple and complex at the same time with its design and detailing, while keeping elegance in its spatial simplicity.

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© 2021 Copyright by Archt. Tharanga Sandaruwan Hewage AIA(SL) | All Rights Reserved.

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