18/01/2026
‘Domus Simplex’
Personalized House at Piliyandala
Principal Architect : Chamara Liyanage: B.Arch (Hons), M.Sc (Landscape Design), AIA (SL), MILA (SL)
Structural Engineer : Niresh Pramal Geegana: B.Sc Eng (Hons), AMIESL
Contractor : Malith Fernando
Photography : Onil Wasantha Migel Arachchi
Total Floor Area : 851 Sq.Ft.
Land Extent : 6.0 Perches
Period of Construction : 12 Months
Current Status : Completed
A house should be a sanctuary that nurtures everyday living, offers freedom of expression, and provides comfort and security for a family. Yet, within today’s complex and competitive social context, many houses have become little more than collections of spaces responding solely to functional demands. The scarcity of land, escalating land values, and the rising cost of materials and workmanship often compel families to construct only the bare essentials, turning the house into an economic burden rather than a meaningful home.
This project emerges as a response to that condition. Located in the Colombo District near Piliyandala, the house is designed for a small family—a couple and their small child—and explores the concept of a bed-sitter as a contemporary model for living with minimal yet meaningful spaces. It demonstrates how architectural quality, freedom of living, and affordability can coexist through thoughtful design.
Built on a compact six-perch plot, the house is organized under a single mono-pitched roof and comprises two bedrooms, a vehicle porch, living and dining spaces, an open kitchen, and a bathroom. Green garden strips at both the front and rear are integrated into the layout, enhancing natural light, cross ventilation, and a strong connection to nature. Natural airflow is effectively facilitated throughout the house through the strategic use of louvered bricks, doors, and windows, which not only enhance ventilation but also contribute a distinctive architectural aesthetic. To ensure privacy, openings along the roadside are deliberately minimized, while the façade is carefully articulated as a sculptural composition. Colored cement-rendered walls, reused vibrant windows, and simple cubical forms come together to create a visually rich yet restrained architectural expression.
Equally important, the house geometry was sensitively articulated in response to its surrounding social context—a calm housing scheme characterized by similar plot sizes and house forms. The design consciously avoids visual dominance, instead achieving harmony and continuity within the neighborhood fabric.
The rear garden opens fully to the living and dining areas, creating a seamless spatial relationship with the semi-open kitchen, expressed through a modern architectural language. This collective space forms the heart of the home, encouraging daily interaction and shared family life. Internally, the volume of the house is carefully optimized to ensure effective use of every nook and corner. Most spaces are designed in coordination with specific furniture placements, while the deliberate introduction of colorful furniture and artwork brings vibrancy and spatial dynamism to the interiors.
The selective reuse of colorful doors and windows not only establishes a distinctive aesthetic identity but also plays a significant role in reducing overall construction costs, reinforcing the project’s commitment to affordability and sustainability.
Ultimately, this house stands as a refined example of living well with less. Through simplicity, sustainability, and clarity of design, it demonstrates how minimum space and limited resources can be transformed into meaningful, efficient, and comfortable environments. The project underscores the essential role of the architect in shaping homes that are not defined by excess, but by intelligence, sensitivity, and purpose—redefining the true meaning of a “house” as a place of balance, dignity, and enduring value.
