Sri Lanka’s Newest Luxury Hotel Imitates Nature

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Sri Lanka’s Newest Luxury Hotel Imitates Nature

The remote Wild Coast Tented Lodge offers five-star amenities, sustainable design, and the chance to see stunning wildlife up close

Spring 2018 By 

“At the five-star Wild Coast Tented Lodge in the south of Sri Lanka, canvas villas resemble cocoons, and soaring bamboo-clad pavilions could pass for rocky outcrops. And it’s all by design: The eco-friendly The interior of the dining pavilion.Photo: Tim Evan-Cooksafari-style camp was conceived to blend in with the pristine environment, a remote location near the vast Yala National Park and the Indian Ocean. “We didn’t want to disturb the unique character of this rough landscape,” says architect Olav Bruin of Nomadic Resorts, who designed the resort with the Dutch interiors firm Bo Reudler Studio, using local artisans. Whether you stay for two days or two weeks, time at this extraordinary getaway—equipped with a spa, restaurant, pool, and bar—is bound to be unforgettable. resplendentceylon.com 

Below, Bruin answers some questions from Galerie. 

GM: What factors influenced the design of the resort?

OB: During our first visit to the site we were impressed with all the massive rock outcrops and big boulders scattered around the area. We didn’t wanted to disturb the unique character of this rough landscape so we came up with the idea to design the buildings in the shape of large boulders so they would seamlessly blend in with the environment. The roofs are clad in a rough texture of reclaimed teak shingles which will become grey over time, similar to the rocks around.

GM: What were some of the challenges of the site?

OB: The area has a unique biodiversity, which we needed to respect. We gently rubbed shoulders with the elephants that visited the site and stole our sugar and emptied the water tank, we watched monkeys bounce on the membranes, wild boars ate our lunch, and a giant squirrel came to visit the mock up villa—all the while leopards prowled around. The isolated location required a precise logistics and procurement plan for the prefabricated tented villas.”