Śūnyatā, an artist's beach house in Nilwella, Sri Lanka

Where the Bodhi Tree Meets the Indian Ocean

Designed and built by South African muralist Ricky Lee Gordon — named by National Geographic as one of street art's eleven greats — Śūnyatā is a converted fisherman's house on the southern shores of Sri Lanka. Open to guests from December to February each year, the two-bedroom retreat is structured around Sri Lankan arches, limestone walls and high ceilings designed to flood every room with light, a direct nod to Gordon's architectural inspiration, Geoffrey Bawa.

The furniture is entirely bespoke, crafted by a local carpenter, and the terrazzo sinks are inlaid with shells gathered from the nearby cove. Artists in residence have included French poet and painter Remed, photographer Marco Brandenberger, and New Zealand sculptor Aaron Glasson, whose polished-titanium and formwork statue — part offering to nature, part lighthouse, part bird bath — remains in the garden.

The Sanskrit word śūnyatā translates, loosely, as "emptiness" — form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Gordon chose the site in Nilwella immediately upon seeing it, an old fisherman's house sitting adjacent to a monastery, with a Bodhi tree was hanging over it. He spent a month living in the unmodified structure first, sleeping under a mosquito net, before designing anything — letting the light, the wind and the tides tell him where the walls should go.

The living areas are open-plan with high ceilings and wide windows aligned to the gardens and the sea. Two lounge spaces serve double duty as studio areas, and there are additional nooks designed for reading or quiet work. Custom brass-welded fittings appear throughout bathrooms and kitchen. The terrazzo sinks, made with sea shells from the beach out front, were a spontaneous collaboration between Gordon and his mason, Kumara. A palm-leaf roof covers the outdoor dining area, also designed by Gordon.

Sheltered gardens face the sea, shaded in part by the Bodhi tree from the adjacent monastery — a detail that makes the boundary between retreat and spiritual life agreeably unclear. From the garden you can walk directly to a private sea cove for swimming. An outdoor dining area and multiple garden seating areas extend the living space outward. Aaron Glasson's sculpted titanium-and-formwork garden installation functions as a meditation platform and, apparently, an excellent bird bath.

Read an interview with Ricky Lee Gordon in our magazine section here.

Layout

This vacation home for rent in Nilwella, Sri Lanka sleeps up to four guests. The house has two double bedrooms, both with open-air breezes and natural light. Gordon designed the bedrooms intentionally compact — monastic in scale — with the communal living areas, studio spaces, and garden receiving the generous proportions. There are two full bathrooms, each with bespoke terrazzo sinks and custom brass fittings. The kitchen is fully equipped with an adjoining indoor dining area; a covered outdoor dining terrace extends the space toward the garden and sea.

Experiences

Ayurvedic consultations and treatments can be arranged on request. The house is minutes from the surf breaks at Hiriketiya Bay. Bike rentals and daily tuk-tuks to local beaches, temples and markets are available as optional add-ons through the property.

Good to know

Śūnyatā is available to rent from December to February only — roughly three months per year, in alignment with the dry season on Sri Lanka's south coast. A local cook is available on request. Optional services include airport transfers, Ayurvedic treatments, bike hire and arranged tours.

Amenities & services

Wifi throughout, TV, fully equipped kitchen, local cook available on request, laundry facilities, private guest parking. On request: airport transfers, bike rentals, daily tuk-tuks, tours, Ayurvedic consultation and treatments.

Around

Nilwella sits on Sri Lanka's southern coast between Dickwella and Tangalle, within a few minutes of the horseshoe-shaped surf bay at Hiriketiya — a gathering point for surfers of all levels and a natural social centre for the area. Nearby Tangalle is a working fishing town with strong beaches; Rakewa Beach is a marine turtle nesting site and a departure point for whale and dolphin watching excursions. The ancient Mulkirigala Rock Temple, carved into a granite outcrop, is within comfortable reach, as is the Katharagama pilgrimage site. Uda Walawe National Park, known for wild elephant herds, is roughly an hour away; Yala, with its dense leopard population, approximately two hours north. The UNESCO-listed fort city of Galle — and the acclaimed white tea lowland plantations nearby — is just over an hour along the coast. Colombo is approximately two hours by road. A car or tuk-tuk is essential.

Location

Nilwella, Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Nearest airports: Colombo Bandaranaike International (190 km), Mattala Rajapaksa International, Hambantota (69 km)