White, in immaculate splendour serenades the interior and exterior of W15 Escape, where art personifies creativity in forms of abstract and somatic symbols.
Words Jennifer Paldano Gunewardena | Photographs Menaka Aravinda
Get ready to step into a hideaway, a retreat for rest and quietness. An open verandah and two panelled doors take you back to yesteryear architecture that adorned Dutch period buildings. Everything rises in white from the floor to the doors. Inside the reception area is the sight of the ‘climbing man’, beautiful figurines sculpted in a pose that shows them scrambling along the wall, above a counter full of collectibles. A contemporary modern sofa with plenty of cushions thrown in, enhances the subtle sophistication in a typical sitting room. This completes the welcome setting at W15 Escape Ahangama, a boutique hotel in the southern coast of the country.
The journey to the cocooned confines of W15 Escape begins from here on. From a simple façade, the Dutch home opens to a world of perfect peace, in harmony with every piece of design that adorns the landscape. The adage, less is more echoes through the minimalist architecture. They focus on the fundamental features, retaining the simplest of arrangements in their most beautiful elements, without being disempowered of the best.
W15 Escape embraces the character of tranquillity, a one of a kind holiday experience meant for the visitor desiring a getaway from the raucous city life and yearning for a breather amidst silence. The six garden suites, one standard room and one duplex apartment with two rooms personify comfort and captivating beauty.
The garden suites and the duplex apartment are located downhill, exuding a sense of order. The chic interior exudes an impression of soberness, furniture in shades of white. The bed is the centrepiece of the bare room. As the single prominent furniture apart from the unembellished dressing table and arm chair, it is a simple platform of pampering comfort.
Hidden and built in the rear of the bed and concealed from sight are shelves and spaces that hold the closet, coffee maker and mini refrigerator. The purity in expression in the room is stark; it personifies the articulation of aesthetics along with practicality.
Light and space make way into the design of the bathroom, although stripped of ornamentation and opened to a back garden, availing guests to an experience close to nature through a design that embraces the soul of modern school of design. Outside the garden suites are, wired lounge chairs accentuated with peacock themed cushions that add colour, creating a pleasing aesthetic setting to lounge in. The duplex apartment is a family abode. It is designed as an art gallery of unusual and extraordinary artefacts from around the world. Pieces of art, faces and figures carefully chosen for their unique appeal, serve as a focal point. The layout of these artefacts is uncluttering, with space for families to laze about in comfort. A balcony leading out from the room on the second floor loft adds privacy to the unobtrusive setting of the apartment.
W15 Escape is set on a hillock that provides the most resplendent view of the ocean from a distance. The open cabana overlooking the ocean is ideal to while-away the time staring into perpetuity with a loved one. At dusk, it is a view as beautiful as watching the changing colours of nature from the shore.
The infinity pool and sun beds decorated in pristine white continue the theme colour of contemporary living spaces. W15 offers a retreat experience, where the visitor could simply lounge beside the pool, enjoying luscious beverages and cocktails. The openness that dominates the property is ideal to stretch, detoxify, de-stress and heal through Yoga and massage therapy, a delightful complementarity to the ‘home away from home’ experience afforded by W15. A stroll along the coastal roads of Ahangama will present the kaleidoscope of the surroundings and the staff at the Hotel will be glad to show the visitor the way.
The restaurant is unlike any other. It is a simple open roofed structure with tall tufted armchairs with woven cane backs, multiple lampshades that make a simple chandelier and artistic display of candelabras inside glass boxes.
The food served at W15 Escape on the other hand is eclectic; breakfast is a choice between The English or Sri Lankan Way with hearty starters and egg dishes. The menu is selected with attention to the diversity of tastes and choices. The soups, Rice and Curry, sandwiches, burgers, pizza and steaks are served with a choice of ingredients. The Sri Lankan Lamb Patties, Weligama Tuna Tartare and the Coconut Spiced Chicken Salad as their names suggest will be scrumptious choices. Passion Fruit Brulee and Buffalo Curd with treacle are a sweet extravaganza that will tingle your sense.
Via the southern highway, the journey to Ahangama may take approximately two hours. Once inside the hotel, everything from the stressful outside world is away from sight, the only shifting vision will be the rising and falling waves at a distance. The sublimity of W15 Escape conveys it all.
Mahavihara Road, Ahangama Kanda, Ahangama.
Tel: +94 (91) 228 3672
reservations@w15escape.lk
