Simply Serendip

THESIS ADVISOR ERIK G L’HEUREUX DEAN’S CHAIR ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

AY 2018/2019 M.ARCH THESIS, SEMESTER 1/2

SIMPLY SERENDIP

KATE LIM WEI RONG

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL OF DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENT NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

Simply Serendip Golf Resort

Kate Lim Wei Rong Thesis advisor Erik G L’Heureux National University of Singapore

This publication is a condensed volume of the thesis research and final architecture project. It is presented in a largely pictorial format for convenient browsing.

For more information please refer to the online portfolio or reach out at m e w

9889 5298 katelimwr@gmail.com https://issuu.com/katelimwr

Foregrounded in Sri Lanka, the architecture thesis questions the inherent interpretation of site in architecture production and addresses the moral role of architecture and the architect in the wake of recent neo-colonial government policies and developmental pressures.

The site in question is a controversial one.

It was the final battleground of the Sri Lankan Civil War that ended bitterly in 2009. It is also home to a group of locals who claims ownership to the land but had been excluded from the area due to the civil war displacements. Furthermore, it is a site listed in the LLRC (Lesson Learnt and Reconciliation) master plan as a gazetted tourism zone. Over and above that, the site is an emblem of a much larger set of issue of land grabbing and human rights infringement plaguing the island. These discordant realities sits in sharp contrast with the popular image of Sri Lanka as a bucolic tropical island, famed for its peaceful and idyllic resorts. Therefore, it is a microcosm of these wider issues thus offering a site to examine.

The architecture project is realised in a luxury golf resort and presented through a journey of 10 events set within the lush compound.

Each episode sets out to respond to a specific condition of the site, and which individual interpretation opens up contradicting dualities that allows for both sublime and surreal comprehension.

The thesis hopes to bring forth a conversation about violence in architecture, the moral role of the architect and architecture and to reflect both a literal and metaphorical framework to critique and approach the sites of contestation in Sri Lanka.

Site - Siteless

The following drawings question site in its scale and offers alternative ways to read site.

Is site always with a definite boundary?

How can site be defined?

Is site just land? How deep can site go?

Is site more than terrain? How high can site be?

L-R: Air Force Strikes The escape across the lagoon Multiple bombings Palm trees used as torture devices

L-R: White Phosphorus Attacks Attacks at dusk Constant shellings on site Red Cross rescue boats

The fantastical resort map An unconventional plan

The fantastical resort map An unconventional plan

The following drawings challenges the conventional methods of representing site and it’s organisation.

The fantastical map has no edge, it has no order, only arbitrary relations.

Due to the constantly shifting boundaries, locations of events are seen in relation to another, as nodes in a field.

The scalable 12 km long site could be reorganised and fitted into a square format and the scale of each episodes is contorted, appearing larger than reality.

The long scroll Revealing the journey across a section cut

The long scroll Revealing a journey across a section cut

This drawings presents the journey in 10 unique but consequential architecture and landscape events across the site.

The long scroll rethinks the conventional Plan Section and Elevation. The contamination across the site is conveyed across in the drawing where air could be read as water or land and vice versa.

It is mundane in plan but in the continuous section cuts these 10 episodes connects and reveals the complexities and contradictions in the site.

Simply Serendip Golf Resort

The arrival begins on a helicopter ride high above the grassland of Sri Lanka.

Emerging beyond the clouds the Simply Serendip Golf Resort appears - an enclave of simplicity, it is the perfect place to open up to the serendipity.

Trope of Exaggeration - An anticipated arrival -

Both luxurious and militaristic, the helicopter ride provides a wide perspective of the site.

Villas at the Simply Serendip Golf Resort are⁣ set within palm-fringed grounds and gardens, with swimming pools flanked by aromatic frangipani trees.

Trope of Exclusivity - A defined private boundary -

The traditional villa hut is a foil - it is really a large roof which conceals the living quarters sunken three metres below ground.

Constant interaction with the site and earth are established. The field of vision is trained at the surrounding crown of the earth while stationary - standing in front of the toilet sink, lazying down by the pool and leaning at the balcony.

As if one is constantly submerged in trenches.

The golf resort features over 17 18-hole gourses.

Here you can tackle the challenging award winning golf range featuring simulating putt putt courses.

Trope of Exaggeration - The erratic Putt Putt course -

The erratic Putt Putt course reflects upon the pock marked earth. Scars from the constant shelling rained on the site day in and out.

A round of 18 hole golf or more changes the perception of how wide and large the site can be.

Set within the golf courses as well as are expert level terrains, with swineous and deep bunkers that will challenge your golfing skills.

Trope of Exaggeration - The mutated golf bunkers-

The golf bunkers mirrors the bombs dropped on the “No Fire” zone.

Aggressive repeated bombings on the same location at timed intervals forms the mutated double craters.

For those seeking to harness the powerful purification process.

The resort has its own in house Serenity Spa boasting traditional Ayurvedic massages and water baths to completely detox and purify your body, soul and mind.

Trope of Seamlessness - The leaky spa house-

The leaky, steamy spa house symbolizes the questionable white phosphorous attacks on the safe zone.

Thicken acrid vapors rising from the series of hot boiling wells clings to the skin and lungs. A large semi open clear inverted domed roof hovers above. Pregnant with steam vapors, the over head sky is always in view, at times clear at times misty.

Wispy streams of hot steam escapes from the porous roof, hugging the surrounding landscape.

Flanked by a sea of coconuts and a gentle sea breeze, a swim in the infinity pool is what you need for a well relaxed evening.

Trope of Seamlessness - The vast infinity pool -

The spectacular 30 Olympic size long infinity pool bridge stages the frantic swim across the murky lagoon to safety.

Immerse under the canopy of foliages, which hints beyond the surface.

Or drift aimlessly in the 8 meters deep powerful water jet systems and send dust ripples down the clear pool as you kick up the sandy floor beds.

On your 3rd day transit from the villas to the equally luxurious 5 star glamping tents for an alternative idyllic experience.

On route, approach your personal butler if you wish to practice your swing at the world’s largest driving range. The panoramic seamless view of the beach is not to be missed.

Over 200 driving range stalls hugs the site, a carpet of wildflowers fills the driving range floor, and the warm sun shines beyond at the ocean.

Trope of Seamlessness - The enfilade and the view of the horizon-

The journey across the site is along the sunken rocky pebbled paths running in tandem to the driving range markers.

A constant seamless horizon view is constructed for the driving range.

The driving range enfilade turns into the enfilade of artillery.

Watch out for the golf balls.

A complimentary palm grove tour is arranged for the guests. Guests can sip on wild coconuts while watching the experienced toddy pickers deftly scale the willowy palm trees.

In this hidden garden, the harvest of the palm flower is done. To create the arrack so famously known in Sri Lanka.

Trope of Juxtaposition - The toddy picking spectacle -

20 metre high expressionless walls hugs a mass grove of Palms. Within the formal order of the raw concrete walls a wild overgrowth of palm trees defines the large expanse of a garden. Peaking above the wall edge, a tinge of palm leaves sways in the light breeze passing over head.

A tiny window at the top and a row of openings at the base reveals what lies behind.

The row of openings at the base frames the marked trunks - scars left from the tortures during the war - and the toddy pickers as they begin their accent.

A pause and the tiny top window above reveals the toddy picker’s finale as they reach for the palms.

End the 5 day trip with a chartered yacht ride to catch the golden sunset from the Indian Ocean and the dazzling display of fireworks that is on every evening late into the night.

Trope of Juxtaposition - The exit -

The journey across the landscape ends with a ferry ride.

It is the reflectance of the red cross rescue boats that provided the only liberation out of the site.

The sunset washes the sky, sea and ferry in a golden muted hue.

As the ferry turns to look back at the site, the unreal estate finally fuses into one entity.

Site

The Leaky Spa House

Advance through a secluded entrance.

Thread across on warm stone paths to the steaming pools and pavillions scattered across.

Peak through the rusticated copper curtain mesh and breathe in lingering metallic smell that fills the air.

The leaky roof offers a view to sky from the steaming sauna pool.

The Vast Infinity Pool

The warm summer sun shines through the pristine pool surface catching the caustics array from the kicked up sand beds.

Strange forms of planter island hints beyond the surface, bisecting a moment of deep pool and sandy floor.

Rest at edge of the large planter islands

The Driving Range Enfilade

The sunken rocky pebble paths runs in tandem to the driving range markers.

Look beyond the driving range enfilade for a sight of the seamless horizon.

A large heavy charred timber roof defines the driving range stalls, hiding the golfer from sight.

Episodes

Concept model: Stalagmite model of air

Concept model: Worms eye model of air

The fantastical resort map printed on fabric

The long scroll printed on fabric