Sri Lanka is host to an abundance of talented individuals when it comes to the creative job industry and the architecture sector is no different. Various architects are now standing out in the field with their unique concepts and designs and Dilini Mapagunaratne is one of them.

It was her mothers’ suggestion to try pursuing architecture that would eventually lead her to discover her passion for the field. “I had no clue as to what I wanted to do, but I was interested by architecture, so I took the aptitude test and passed; but even then I wasn’t really taking it seriously. It was only once I started study that I realized how much I liked it.” She fondly recalled.

Studying for the eight year degree was not an easy task; students are required to work in the sector during the degree to gain insight and valuable working knowledge about the field. And with the birth of her two children 5 years into the degree, Dilini was juggling motherhood alongside work and studies.

“I gave birth to my first son during my 5th year and six months later, was surprised to discover I was pregnant again with my second son! I stopped my studies then to focus on raising my children but with the support of my husband and parents I took up studies again; so in total, it took 12 years to finish my degree.”

Dilini went on to work at several prestigious firms before setting up her own company in 2009. She explained that there are several pros and cons to working for a big firm as opposed to working on your own; and while working alone does have its challenges, it does give her more freedom of thought. Plus, working from home gives her more time to spend with her family; something she wasn’t always able to do when working at a firm. “There are some people who say work comes first for them; I don’t understand that because for me, my family always comes first.”

 

 

Having worked on several hotels, offices and apartment buildings, Dilini has plenty of experience when it comes to coming up with creative designs to accommodate her clients, and cites her own personal style as ‘simple and minimalist.’  

“For me, the process of creating a design is a mix of fusion and inspiration, from both the requirements of the client and the feel of the site and its surroundings. It’s the context and feel that you get that matters when creating a concept. I would say designing interiors are more challenging than exteriors due to the limited time restraints and because of all the detailing required but then again, the challenge is what makes it interesting.”

 

 

Talking about the future of the architecture in the local sector, Dilini said Sri Lanka's don't realize how much we have going for us and don’t appreciate that fact that we have so much potential. “I love architecture because it’s nice to be creative and have a result that anyone can admire later on. Architecture is a good profession to grow old with because as you mature, your designs mature with you, so it’s constantly evolving. Nothing comes easy to anyone; you just have to work hard.”

Whilst Dilini says she doesn’t see herself moving away from the industry, she would like to open her own interior designer store in the future to run alongside her work. “Sri Lanka is still evolving when it comes to home décor, accessories and specialized detailing. So I’d like to have a store where you can find custom made furniture, fittings and light stands to give that final touch that all designers look for.”

 

 

 

By Lake Argent

Pics by Pradeep Dilrukshana