“everything combines to create an aura of romance and tranquility" - Financial Times UK

The house was built in the early 1990’s by Walter Laing, a French architect, as a present for his wife’s 50th birthday. The couple had travelled extensively in Asia and after spending a year trying to find a suitable site, they found a hill overlooking the Indian Ocean next to the sleepy fishing village of Madiha, between Mirissa and Matara.

Forty-five villagers were recruited to help terrace the site, and the house was designed around the magnificent 180 degree view. Temple masons were brought down from Kandy and antique doors, window frames and teak floor boards were bought from old Waluawa's (traditional Sri Lankan manor houses).

The current owner has made a few additions such as creating a couple of extra rooms, adding a separate building for a larger kitchen and building an infinity pool, but the house could easily be developed further.