In a picturesque village by the bay in southern Sri Lanka, Zurich-based practice Atelier Abraha Achermann designed a small guesthouse whose nondescript, Brutalist façade hides a jumble of intriguing spaces within.
Within its exterior envelope of raw concrete and other locally accessible building materials, a series of sculptural volumes and elements are unveiled, all of which highlight connections between the indoors and outdoors: circular windows, open skylights, patios, outdoor showers, and two exterior staircases that lead to the rooftop that offers views of the nearby Indian Ocean.
To take advantage of the tropical weather, the four-bedroom inn’s large openings are fitted with wooden shutters that can be pivoted or accordioned open or closed. With its structure already elevated from the ground, the flooring is arranged at different heights, allowing for massive rainfall during the rainy season, and creating various thresholds and spatial hierarchies.
The lush landscape finds its way indoors. Plants spill over the tops of the circular skylight; numerous potted plants dot the corners of the house; trees grow undisturbed in the interior courtyard.
Intentionally minimalist and discreet, this guesthouse is a refreshing escape from the real world; a place that savours and celebrates the basics.
Atelier Abraha Achermann is on Instagram.
Photography © Rasmus Norlander, Dominic Kim, AA