Continuity of Place in Sri Lanka: Barefoot Gardens Ayurvedic Health and Retreat Center

Abstract

Tropical regions throughout the world, despite their tremendous cultural diversity, share certain continuities of place that reflect the climatic, geographical, and ecological similarities of the natural environment of the equatorial zone. This thesis examines those continuities that exist in Sri Lankan culture, looking at the evolution of architectural traditions in Sri Lanka and their relationships to the natural environment. This is achieved through a study of the cultural significance of elements and experiences in the natural world, such as water and procession, which provide a cultural point of reference amidst Sri Lanka's complex history. These ideas are applied and tested in the creation of an Ayurvedic Health and Retreat Center, which seeks to revitalize and perpetuate this holistic system of medicine in the hilltop city of Kandy. Barefoot Gardens establishes continuity of place by allowing the rhythms of nature to directly inform the rituals of daily life and human activity.