Exhibitor’s Stories

Enlisting the local vernacular to offer an immersive and ethical experience

Tourists are attracted to Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park’s diverse wildlife. Luxury accommodation there should be a delicate, socially responsible, and sustainable affair, and at the same time, it must offer a one-of-a-kind experience coveted by top-paying customers. In the Wild Coast Tented Lodge, sustainability and luxury are designed by the architects at the Netherland’s Nomadic Resorts to be complementary. Its dining and bar pavilions feature an open woven grid bamboo structure clad in reclaimed teak shingles. Its high vaulted ceiling and multiple ventilation slits help sea breezes to circulate and mitigate the tropical heat. Besides serving as an amenity, the swimming pool also cools the dining area naturally, making it possible to go without air conditioning even in the hottest months of the year. To further minimize the environmental impact and respect the local heritage, stone carving and mud brick construction, the time-tested techniques and style popular in the rural vernacular, were used throughout the resort. Elephant dung and clay, a by-product from the gravel sieving process, were mixed to create a cement replacement. Local craftsmen and builders were engaged to practice the same skills to construct the rural vernacular for generations.