Refurbishment of Navalar Villa, Nallur, Jaffna

A dilapidated old house in Jaffna peninsula, with warped roof beams, warped door windows and many structural defects was presented to the architects for refurbishment- by clients- to be refurbished as a retirement home for themselves who were returning to sri lanka after many decades residing overseas due to the North East war. Architects, decided to replace all warped roof beams and door windows during the refurbishment, introducing cantilevering bay windows to the swimming pool side, which was added to the design to be overlooked by the ground floor living dining areas from upper floor bedrooms.
New triangular gable end panels were installed giving a contemporary aesthetic to the residence, in line with the vernacular architectural traditions of the Jaffna peninsula of Northern Sri Lanka. Special lighting design incorporating timber column fixed up and down lighting was introduced to supplement for the lack of originally designed lighting. Existing cut cement floor which was in very bad state, was tiled over with pressed-cement tiles, maintaining the original residence interior ambiance.
Calicut clay tiled roofs, white painted walls, dark timber columns, cement handled ceiling soffits and grey-washed door windows give a certain contemporary aesthetics to the otherwise traditionally inclined residence. Decorative Floral patterned panels were introduced to the car porch entry to celebrate entry sequence. Colorful recycled antique door window panels were introduced to the staircase landing envelop as a feature wall. Raised podium ‘Thinnai’ at entrance verandah and under staircase landing give a certain Jaffna flavor to the otherwise contemporary styled Jaffna residence in Nallur the Hindu religious hub of Jaffna peninsula.

Consultants: Wickramage & Subramanium Design Partnership
Project Architects: Shanthini Balasubramanium, Chinthaka Wickramage
Structural Engineers: Ajith Vandabona, Uro Consultants Pvt Ltd
Woodworks Contractor (Carpentor): La Pagoda Pvt Ltd
Electrical Contractor: Foreland Engineering Pvt Ltd
Flooring Contractor: Presstona Tiles (Pvt) Ltd