- Architects: Sampath Senaratharachchige Associates (Pvt) Ltd
- Location: Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
- Area: 2,260 ft2
- Project Year: 2013
- Client: Sri Lanka Navy
- Photographer: Buddhika Nandasena
- Author: Yuganthi Hemachandra
The sober Island, located within territory of magnificent and historical Trincomalee harbor, encompasses an envious pedigree with a tapestry woven around a rich history & nostalgia. Sober Island been located in a remarkable topography, island was used as a military fortification since 1672 until the British region. “Isle du Soleit” by French meaning “Island of Sun” still holds the French graves, World war II gun positions, underground ammunition storage complexes which reflects British Architectural components.
The client body of the project was Sri Lanka NAVY, “Malima” Hospitality Service and their objective was to inflate the chain of leisure and tourism facilities to a new experience.
As the site exists with great archeological valuable preservations, in approach, architects main concern was to un-harm the context while functioning a ruined un-used building and introduce a new layer of architecture contrast to language complementing both new and existing. The upper floor was designed to represent modern architecture while the new structural columns from ground level imitating the language of existing building. The plot coverage of new proposed building is almost 10% from total club house area, and “I” sections were the basic structural column material used. Pool area and club house is located in the highest elevation of the site in order to capture a view toward sea.
90% of the materials used are natural materials such as timber, clay bricks, etc… roof and iron materials which are used as foundation pillars are finished with matt black colour to get the floating effect of the building, while preserving the heavy bulky effect of the existing building. As the first stage of construction, the renovation of the existing building, along with the external structural supports to deck area was done. For the purpose of protection to the existing building approx. 2′ feet area of deck was cantilevered from every sides.
In the present situation the surrounding greenery has merged the building as it is a part of them, making the occupants experience the lush of nature and historical architectural dynasty.
Text description provided by the architects
