Sri Lanka is the home of buildings of simple elegance and universal charisma: conversions and developments proud of the past, sensitive to present desires and yet prepared for the future, show the best of multi-ethnic decoration.

A Dutch colonial villa, a tree-house overlooking a riverbank, a renovated manor, a 21st-century eco-village, a 1930s Art Deco chalet – James Fennell and Turtle Bunbury have captured an enchanting and subtle portrait of Sri Lanka’s faded grandeur, modern vision and timeless beauty.

The discerning choice of houses, whose very survival in the recent tsunami symbolizes the way this island has always resisted threats to its spirit and equanimity, is illustrated by over 250 specially commissioned colour photographs of their interiors and the breathtaking landscapes that surround them.

Engaging commentaries explore the dreams behind these homes and the impact they have had, not only on those living there, but on modern architecture throughout the Tropics.