Lotus Buds Orphange
A home as"Maha gedara"
This project is one of the earliest works of our practice and remains especially close to our hearts. Located in Boralesgamuwa and designed for Mr. and Mrs. Coolmayer, the home was created to house their 60 adopted children—30 girls and 30 boys. To these children, our clients were simply “Mother” and “Father,” and the design sought to reflect the warmth, care, and sense of belonging that comes with a real home..
To create a familiar and comforting environment, the architecture draws from traditional Sri Lankan forms the children would naturally recognize.
The building is arranged around a central courtyard, with common areas on the ground floor and separate wings for boys and girls. Small nooks and quiet corners were intentionally created for children to read, reflect, or play—even the water tank top became a lookout with views over the Boralesgamuwa Lake. To foster a sense of ownership, the children painted their dormitory doors in shades of white, black, and blue.
After nearly 25 years, the property was sold to Vidura School. Remarkably, despite the change in use, the building has required no additions or major alterations. This enduring relevance is a testament to the flexibility and timelessness of the architecture that was created