Inducing peace and calm for body, mind and soul

Philip Weeraratne in conversation with Nicola Jayasundera

Inspired by a family member’s architectural practice, gifted with creative genes and following a divine unction his mother received, Philip Weeraratne embarked on a journey in architecture by joining his relative’s firm.

As the Principal Architect at PWA Architects today, Weeraratne says his most memorable accomplishment is not a project but seeing his staff prosper and grow, in both their professional and personal lives.

As an architect, he hopes to induce a sense of peace, calm and rest for the body, mind and soul through his work by creating a platform for all the senses.

Q: How did your journey unfold?

A: From an early age, I was a creative individual who liked to work with scrap and other materials such as wood, steel, cardboard, paper etc., to create art and produce artistic creations.

I continued to foster this creative side in many orthodox and unorthodox ways, such as reading and listening to music, as well as visiting and experiencing the outdoors in varied landscapes.

Q: Is enough being done to encourage young talent in this field?

A: Hardly anything of significance or consequence is being done to encourage young talent to enter this field. We need more primary school level programmes and courses, which will unleash the creative spirits of this young and talented generation.

Greater awareness of and respect for all the arts must be instilled in the younger generation, and parents should encourage and assist their children in the pursuit of the arts, as well as creative professionalism. The public too should be educated on valuing creativity in people.

Q: What are the main design trends that prevail in this space?

A: There isn’t any particular design trend as such that prevails in this sphere at the moment but there’s a definite gravitation towards more open and minimal spaces. This makes for very fine barriers – or an absence of barriers – between inside and outside spaces.

There is a greater use of simple materials and finishes, while more expensive and luxurious materials, as well as complex decor, are less used in today’s design spaces.

Q: So what elements need to be focussed on to create a unique project?

A: Many elements come together to make a project unique. The plan and floor space are important as they form two of the most critical components that need to be established at the inception of a project, before proceeding to 3D development and detailed design.

Once this is done, even though the process of designing is always embarked upon together with 3D visualisation, it’s important that this three-dimensional image forming in the architect’s mind be constructed in harmony and synergy with the plan.

The third and final element, and the most important conclusion to the design process, is the detailed design – since the plan and 3D image of the building can then be brought to full maturity, and its best presentation be made through enhancement and accentuation of details.