Text from Client: Tina Wendon ​Via Village Entrepreneur Centre was inspired by the needs of the war-compromised community of Ichchankulam and adjacent villages, and designed to grow with its people as their lives continue to be restored. Originally conceived by US artist/founder Tina Wendon as she taught unique crafts skills to disadvantaged women, she sought an architect to flesh out her idea with an elegant simplicity. She found that, and much more, in architect Upula Chandrakumara and his wife, Amanda. Exceptionally accomplished individually, the sum of their work together is greater than its parts. As it is with the Via Village building itself. Wrapped almost entirely around with a multi- use verandah that generates its own air flow, and further ventilated by a deep clerestory space under a vaulted, reflective roof with extended eaves, the place needs no grid-dependent air-conditioning, even on Sri Lanka's most blistering days. Additionally, the foundation is fully raised, in this way protected from absorbing heat from the ground. Clad in local materials, it sits comfortably in the landscape. Inside Via Village, a central area for large gatherings also provides for smaller, separate groups and is supported by an adjacent office, kitchen, bathrooms and store rooms. One of these rooms is multipurpose, currently an office but previously a sanctuary for mothers with babies. A ramp and generous doorways provide for wheelchair users. Form follows function at Via Village, and its design encourages its functions to evolve. Today, it can still accommodate a variety of artisanal projects but mainly provides a base for local agricultural development and support for budding entrepreneurs. It has become a learning centre and a mini-farm, a place to meet and collaborate as entrepreneurial farmers are encouraged to transition to organic production, increase their capacity and advance themselves with improved practices.