Villa Vista

Villa Vista is a striking multi-level house on a headland above Weligama Bay, near Mirissa on Sri Lanka’s south coast, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect Shigeru Ban. From the living spaces the views stretch across the bay, the jungle and the cliffs, and a path through the grounds leads down to a quiet beach below. With a main house of three bedrooms and a separate guest cottage, it suits families and friends who want space together and a little privacy apart.

The centrepiece is an eighteen-metre infinity pool that runs the length of the house, with a movable timber platform that slides across the water and wide views over the garden to the bay. The expansive tropical garden is beautifully kept, with a thatched pavilion out on the headland for sunset. The guest cottage has its own terrace and a long private plunge pool set against a stone wall among the palms.

Inside, almost everything is crafted from teak, from the panelled ceilings and slatted shutters to the long dining tables, softened by plush sofas and artworks. The living area opens straight onto the pool, with a work corner tucked to one side, and stairs lead down to a large dining room and a lounge beside a fully equipped gym. There is also a movie room with underwater windows looking into the pool. All four bedrooms have air conditioning, floor-to-ceiling glass doors and en-suite bathrooms, and a staff of five look after the house, with breakfast included.