Sri Lanka

Domus Sri Lanka June–July issue highlights the importance of living spaces being created to ensure people can freely interact and engage in recreational activities.

Despite the fast changing landscape, as Sri Lanka embraces high-rise concepts with contemporary interiors, the country is still very neighbourhood based where inhabitants do interact and form a community. During this transition an increased importance has been placed on public spaces for interaction to continue to nurture relationships between individuals. This issue of Domus Sri Lanka, in the Feedback section, explores the structures of Mihintale built during the ancient Anuradhapura era. With the advent of Buddhism through the Arahant Mahinda, the historical event also saw the awakening of Sri Lanka’s unique architectural and aesthetic identity. Delving into the country’s more recent history the issue further studies the iconic 210-year old Mount Lavinia Hotel, a structure built during the British occupation in Sri Lanka. International articles featured includes the an article on Mimmo Paladino’s latest work where art, numbers, urban space and local tradition are all woven tightly together in a bright blue sculpture. Further, Renato Rizzi speaks how for any School of Architecture, a “building is equivalent to edifying a community – of places, forms, minds, ideals”. In addition, Kenya Hara shares his thoughts on reflecting on the extreme delicacy of paper to bring out its design essence at the exhibition held in Milan to mark the XXI Triennale, organised by specialist paper manufacturer Takeo since 1965 to investigate the material’s potentialities. Also included is a review on L’altro Movimento Moderno, Kenneth Frampton’s latest book that discusses an area of research that has fascinated him since his undergraduate training. The distinctive designs and philosophies of the School of Architecture and Design at RMIT University in Melbourne, the Tippet Rise Art Centre in Fishtail, Montana, US and the suburban housing in Aldershot, Great Britain have also been featured in this issue. In addition, the Projects section includes Francesco Venezia’s unique design of a new exhibition space in the north wing of the Palestra Grande portico.