Holiday Retreat at Diyathalawa

This cozy abode is located in the upcountry dry zone region of Sri Lanka about 2km away from the Diyathalawa military training school. Perched amidst a forest of pine trees on a cliff, the house is an ideal hideout for relaxation and contemplation in the climate which has a temperature of about 20℃ (68℉) throughout the year. The structure of this cottage is a result of a rethinking process that modified and converted the existing simple caretaker’s quarters to minimize the footprint, by using reclaimed timber palette boxes as the primary material, which are also the salient features of the project. The leftover strips of timber during the construction process are reused to create a unique screen of handmade timber boxes along the side of the cottage. Careful detailing and effective reuse of timber from used shipping palette boxes are gestures of sustainable and humane design, add value to the cottage and create a distinctive identity. The two-storied structure with the steep roof designed to suit the climate blends in with the setting among the pine trees to give a unique experience. The nature of the forest and the notion of being in the woods is diligently incorporated in the design. With simple yet smart interventions this project is eco-friendly, energy-efficient, and at the same time built with a small footprint. It is, therefore, a holiday home with great interior and architectural qualities which emerge from nature itself.