The Renaissance of Batticaloa Fort - Heritage Interpretation Center

City School of Architecture (CSA), Colombo

Project idea

Batticaloa Fort, located on the island of Puliyanthivu in Eastern Sri Lanka, stands as one of the country’s most significant colonial relics. Constructed initially by the Portuguese in 1628, it was later expanded by the Dutch and British, transforming over centuries into a multi-layered architectural palimpsest. Its location, nestled between the Batticaloa Lagoon and the city, was strategic, serving as a military stronghold and a symbol of colonial dominance. However, for the people of Batticaloa, the fort represented more than just colonial power; it was a part of the everyday landscape, quietly narrating stories of trade, resistance, and coexistence.
During Sri Lanka’s 30-year civil war, the fort's narrative took a darker turn. It was repurposed as a military base, heavily guarded and inaccessible to the public. This prolonged occupation severed the emotional and physical ties the community had with the space. The monument fell into neglect, stripped of its historical and cultural vitality. As access was restricted and its meaning redefined by conflict, the people’s collective memory of the fort faded. Once a landmark of identity, it became a forgotten zone of silence and loss.
This project seeks to rewrite that narrative. By introducing a Heritage Interpretation Center, the initiative aims to restore the identity of the fort and reestablish it as a living, breathing part of the community’s heritage. It’s not merely an architectural restoration, it’s a socio-cultural revival. The fort is returned to the people, not just physically, but emotionally and symbolically. It becomes a platform for healing, learning, and pride, a monument not only of the past but of resilience and resurgence, which will become central to the memory and identity of its people.

Project description

Heritage interpretation is not merely about presenting historical facts, it is a method of storytelling that connects individuals emotionally and intellectually with their past. Through tactile, spatial, and visual experiences, the project enables the public to engage directly with the fort’s legacy. The guiding philosophy can be summarized simply: through interpretation, understanding; through understanding, appreciation; through appreciation, protection.
The project identifies heritage as a powerful but often overlooked resource for urban and social development. In Batticaloa, the fort has been underutilized due to physical restrictions and institutional neglect. The proposed intervention challenges these barriers by opening up the space and embedding it with meaning. It creates an inclusive environment where the public can access, engage with, and celebrate their shared history.
Under the concept of "Resurgence: Heritage to People", the design aims to reanimate the lost legacy of the fort and use it as a catalyst for social and cultural renaissance. To fulfill this, three types of spaces are created:
• Exploration Spaces – immersive environments that evoke emotional resonance and allow visitors to intuitively connect with the fort’s history through atmosphere, surprise, and spatial storytelling.
• Interactive Spaces – areas that promote dialogue, memory-sharing, and reflection, enabling community learning and shared narratives.
• Expressing Spaces – dynamic zones that accommodate cultural activities and functions, encouraging individuals to interpret and express their heritage in diverse ways.
Together, these spatial layers aim to reposition the fort as a proud, living symbol of identity and resilience for the people of Batticaloa.

Technical information

The approach of this project is grounded in conservation ethics and international heritage charters, including the Venice Charter (1964), Burra Charter (Australia ICOMOS, 2013), and the Nara Document on Authenticity (1994). These frameworks informed the treatment of architectural elements and guided decisions regarding what to preserve, what to restore, and what to reinterpret.
Through detailed documentation and historical analysis, structures from different colonial periods—Portuguese, Dutch, and British were identified. These buildings, despite suffering from years of neglect, were carefully retained. In contrast, insensitive modern insertions were removed to restore visual clarity and authenticity. The design introduces a “plug-in” contemporary structure that is distinguishable, aligning with conservation best practices. It avoids mimicking historical styles, instead complementing them with materials and forms that are honest to their time.
The new museum structure is positioned above the public realm to maintain ground-level permeability. It reflects the vertical rhythm of the Dutch colonnades opposite it and extends this logic horizontally through a grid-based landscape that visually stitches the old and new together. The new addition employs raw concrete vertical fins, a minimal and durable solution that houses a lightweight volume to emphasize spatial lightness and contrast.
A series of decks and ramps reconnect the disconnected parts of the fort, recreating the spatial experience that once existed. Public functions such as cafes and galleries are designed to spill out onto the ramparts, activating them as social spaces rather than restricted zones. These interventions create a spatial loop that encourages movement, exploration, and reflection. Furthermore, the public spaces on the rampart could enjoy the beauty of the moat, the city, and the lagoon beyond.
Material choices and color palettes delved into the fort’s colonial past. Historical research informed the restoration of colors and finishes, particularly in the Dutch buildings, where the original yellow walls and blue timber windows have been carefully revived.
The social impact of this project is profound. For a community long fractured by war and displacement, the fort becomes a neutral ground for unity. The space is reimagined to support cultural events, educational programs, community gatherings, and creative activities, all of which encourage intergenerational dialogue and collective memory-building. In a city lacking inclusive public spaces, the fort becomes a rare place where people from diverse backgrounds can come together and experience ownership of their shared past. In doing so, the project transforms the fort from a forgotten stronghold into a living, breathing part of Batticaloa’s urban and cultural life.