chathurika kulasinghe's 'cul-de-sac' residence is a secluded retreat in suburban sri lanka

this house in suburban sri lanka has been designed for a young couple who wanted a secluded retreat for time away from their busy working schedules. with a limited budget, they tasked architect chathurika kulasinghe with designing a private dwelling in hokandara, a suburb of colombo. located on a dead end street, the appropriately titled ‘cul-de-sac’ residence responds to its setting with curved forms that match the curved edge of the adjacent street’s turning circle.

all images by ramitha watareka

embracing the site’s unconventional configuration, chathurika kulasinghe sought to generate a positive spatial experience throughout the home. the introverted design turns its back on the street with an exposed brick wall protecting an internal garden that contains a living and dining area. the sheltered part of the plan is flanked on both sides with lush, native vegetation.

internally, the ground floor contains a kitchen and a bedroom — both of which have adjoining outdoor yards. stairs lead to the upper level, which accommodates the master bedroom. from here, occupants have access to an outdoor terrace surrounded by planters, which hovers above the outdoor living space below. the rustic materials used throughout the dwelling are complemented with greenery that brings life to every corner of the home.

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project info:

name: the ‘cul-de-sac’ residence
architect: chathurika kulasinghe – architect
location: thalgaswatta road, hokandara, sri lanka
completion year: 2019
structural engineer: sarath bandara
original project description by: nadia firdous
photography: ramitha watareka photography