Words: Amrita Hapuarachchi
According to the Sulfis, Ishq is a love that all encompasses mind, body and soul. It can be compared to the love of
the divine. Walking into Ishq Colombo, it is no wonder why.
Upon entering, one is welcomed by a wall of green vines even though we are in the centre of the city. The ambient
soft music welcomes you and immediately relaxes you as you walk through the hall and settle into the comfortable
couches lining the entrance of this beautiful home.
Designed by Channa Daswatte, a protégé of one of Sri Lanka’s great architects Geoffrey Bawa, this beautiful
villa pays homage to its Dutch colonial past while remaining contemporary at the same time. Ishq is also
influenced by the Yusoof family’s love for Moroccan architecture with its wide horseshoe arches and ornate
carvings on the walls, as well as beautiful calligraphy on the lovely paintings found throughout the villa. From
the luxurious brushed brass fittings to the elegantly landscaped garden, attention to detail takes you back to the
old-world charm of the colonial era while being contemporary in its comfort.
