Project Name: Path Art Studio and Personal Residence

Location: Boralesgamuwa, Sri Lanka

Design Team: Dishna Thilanka Architects

Lead Architect: Dishna Thilanka

Design Team Member: Supun Lokuge

Project Area: 3,149 ft² (approximately 292.5 m²)

Completion Year: 2024

Photography: Ganidu Balasuriya

Feature：

Project - Sri Lankan architecture firm Dishna Thilanka Architects has completed a residence and art studio that weaves through existing trees, creating a harmonious dialogue between built form and nature. Located in Boralesgamuwa, on the urban fringe of Maharagama, the 3,149-square-foot building serves as both home and creative workspace for a prominent metal sculptor.

The studio's approach prioritizes passive cooling strategies and environmental integration, resulting in a pavilion-style structure that minimizes its ecological footprint while maximizing natural ventilation. The building's careful solar orientation and strategic use of water features contribute to maintaining comfortable interior temperatures without relying on mechanical cooling systems.

What sets this project apart is its sophisticated material palette that mirrors the artist's sculptural work – combining textured cement, natural wood, granite, and metal to create a raw yet refined aesthetic. The ground floor's stone-clad walls appear to emerge from the landscape, while water bodies strategically placed throughout the site enhance both the microclimate and sensory experience.

The architects employed a geometric language of intersecting linear planes and cubes, creating clean lines that contrast with the organic forms of the preserved vegetation. This architectural composition allows for an open-plan layout that dissolves boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, providing the artist with direct visual access to the natural surroundings that inspire their work.

Notably, the project demonstrates how contemporary architecture can respond to Sri Lanka's urban heat island challenges while maintaining design excellence. The preservation of mature trees, integration of sustainable features like solar panels, and the creation of a beneficial microclimate make this residence a model for environmentally conscious urban development, without compromising on aesthetic sophistication or functional requirements.

Design Team - Founded in 2018, Dishna Thilanka Architects (DTA) has emerged as a distinctive voice in Sri Lanka's contemporary architectural landscape. The Colombo-based practice, led by Principal Architect Dishna Thilanka, BSc.Arch (Hons) AIA SL, brings together a multidisciplinary approach that merges artistic sensibility with technical precision.

The firm's design philosophy centers on creating atmospheric architecture that transcends mere functionality, influenced by Thilanka's background in fine arts and music. This cross-disciplinary perspective has shaped their portfolio, which spans from intimate residential projects to large-scale commercial developments.

The current core team includes Structural Engineer Supun Lokuge, BSc.Eng.(Hons), who brings expertise in innovative structural solutions, complemented by qualified quantity surveyors and specialized architectural drafters. This collaborative structure enables DTA to deliver comprehensive design solutions that balance aesthetic ambition with technical feasibility.

DTA's work is characterized by its emphasis on environmental integration, sustainable design practices, and the thoughtful use of local materials. Their recent Path Art Studio and Personal Residence project exemplifies their approach to context-sensitive architecture, demonstrating how buildings can respond to both climate and culture while pushing the boundaries of contemporary design.

The practice continues to expand its influence in South Asian architecture, with projects that consistently challenge conventional approaches to tropical modernism.