Studio Archohm`s Building Of Faith Contemporary

MY SPACE : anagram architects
vol 14 issue 08
August 2015
the purple ink studio UNCOVERED
total pages 142
DESIGN DESTINATION : singapore
RS 100 HOME-REVIEW.COM
Studio Archohm’s
Building Of Faith
Contemporary Chic
Gaurav Kharkar
THE STONE
TEMPLE
Girish Doshi’s Unconventional Dwelling Amidst Nature
THE BATH HAVEN Aspects that form the backbone of the contemporary bathroom
The main structure that now houses the front verandah, kitchen, lobby, office, shop, study and library is over 200 years
old – its rich history extends to lodging the Royal Air Force during the 2nd World War.
74 Home Review August 2015
THE CLASSIC
CEYLON FLAVOUR
The historic Wallawwa (meaning
mansion or manor house in
Singhalese) which was voted one
of the top 100 hotels in the World
by Condé Nast Traveller’s Gold List
2015, is a mere 15 minute drive from
Colombo airport and 45 minutes
away from the hustle and bustle of
the city.
Owned by Teardrop Hotels, it was originally
the residence of the Dias-Abeysinghe family
(head chieftain of Galle) and more recently
Mr. Tampoe, an esteemed Sri Lankan lawyer.
Its rich history also extended to lodging
some of the Royal Air Force during the 2nd
World War. The main structure that now
houses the front verandah, kitchen, lobby,
office, shop, study and library is over 200
years old, while the spa, rooms and suites
were built as recently as 7 years ago.
The newer parts of the hotel that were
designed by Architect Asela Perera and the
interiors that were done by Michael Davies,
one of the Directors, have both seamlessly
married the past with the present.
Text By Natalie Pedder-Bajaj
Photographs Courtesy The Wallawwa
Home Review August 2015
75
“We wanted to create the feeling of staying
in an old Colonial mansion, but blended
with modern amenities one would expect
in a luxury hotel,” says Henry Fitch, the
Managing Director. “The old building
(predominantly made using coral for the
walls) was preserved in its entirety; the only
key structural alteration was raising the roof
on the rear-side of the hotel to connect the
bedroom block.
Keeping the antiquity of the property
in mind, the roof was traditionally laid
with clay tiles straight onto the rafters
and reapers. The front verandah remains
essentially unchanged, except for the
polished floors and painted walls; while
the restaurant is located where the garages
once were,” he explains.
The modern Colonial interiors done by Michael Davies can be seen in the restaurant which is
located where the garages once were.
The design aesthetic of the Wallawwa
is a tasteful amalgamation of Colonial
architecture and contemporary elegance
that can be appreciated in the interiors of
the spacious bedrooms, the Garden Suites
and the exclusive Mountbatten Suite. High
ceilings create a light and airy space,
while bespoke furniture, sourced from
Indonesia and Sri Lanka give rooms a
homely feel.
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76 Home Review August 2015
All bathrooms have natural daylight
flooding in from a skylight above, terrazzo
double sinks and sumptuous rain-showers.
The spa and some of the guest rooms
have been planned around a central
courtyard pond (the pond ensconced by
the rooms became a natural habitat for
frogs soon after) where columns have
been constructed out of coconut wood,
laid on top of terrazzo bases and topped
with granite.
The design aesthetic of the Wallawwa is a tasteful amalgamation of Colonial architecture and
contemporary elegance.
Home Review August 2015
77
Indian slate tiles and natural stone were
used to intermingle inconspicuously
with the existing gardens in the pool
area - the Benjamina tree and the
Traveller’s palm dominate this area,
while the Cannonball, Frangipani and
Amherstia trees canopy the front garden
creating an oasis of greenery.
Wallawwa also has a flourishing organic
farm on 2 acres of its property, growing
fresh fruit and vegetables for the hotel
kitchen. The restaurant chefs can often
be found gathering fresh produce like
passion fruit, pineapple, banana, papaya,
rocket, cherry tomatoes, micro herbs, bell
peppers and even honey to be served to
the guests.
78 Home Review August 2015
Teardrop Hotels is a small independent
collection of hotels that also have other
unique properties in the pipeline that
include The Fort Bazaar in the UNESCO
World Heritage Site of Galle Fort, and three
renovated Tea Planters’ bungalows in the
verdant hills of Sri Lanka.
Each property has been designed with
both luxury and comfort in mind, whilst
also allowing guests to feel immersed in
their natural surroundings. The Fort Bazaar
will be opening in December 2015 and the
3 tea bungalows between December 2015
and April 2016.
www.thewallawwa.com