Inspired by the courtyard houses of old Damascus, this two storey family house in a city block in a suburb of Colombo is planned around a central court planted with vegetation. The courtyard connects seamlessly with the interior spaces of the house, and a covered verandah runs along two sides provides a sheltered area for ease of circulation between the rooms. The materials used include recycled laterite blocks from a demolished building, recycled timber and old terracotta tiles. To minimise the need for air conditioning, all the rooms are open on two sides allowing for cross-ventilation.

Source:

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, 2011.