Doornberg House, Galle, joins the Eden Villas luxury collection
Eden Villas, the leading luxury villa expert in Sri Lanka, has added the new Doornberg House to its portfolio of exquisite houses on the south coast.
Steeped in history
Built in 1712 for a Dutch admiral, Doornberg is perched on an acre of manicured lawn, sitting above the ancient town of Galle, offering an 180-degree panorama with views of the UNESCO-heritage Galle Fort and the Indian Ocean beyond.
The property has had various guises throughout its fascinating history, as a private residence, a school, and an orphanage. In the early 2000s the house underwent a reconstruction led by the highly recognised Sri Lankan architect Channa Daswatte, a protégé of Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka’s most prolific and influential architect.
Doornberg then operated as The Dutch House, a home and private boutique hotel, from 2002 in which time it hosted many illustrious visitors from the international worlds of politics and literature.
Restoration over renovation
In 2021, after a period of neglect, the current owner, Peter Harris, purchased the property and commenced a careful restoration to return the building to its former glory. The project was mainly carried out by hand in the absence of electricity, and included sourcing 23,000 terracotta tiles from an old Dutch church north of Negombo. Harris prioritised restoration over renovation, with the view that something can always be repaired and given another life rather than being discarded. Doornberg first opened as a private villa earlier this year, and is available to book in its entirety or by the individual room, through Eden Villas.
House tour
Four Palladio columns frame the impressive front verandah, with its shuttered windows featuring the elegant, moulded woodwork characteristic of the early 17th century. A six-metre-high formal entrance gallery leads to the great room, the principal living space and centre of the building. The flanking bedrooms preserve the original symmetry of the house. Pillared columns support the deep internal verandahs which open to a grassed courtyard, shaded by an imposing Rose Apple tree in the centre. The roof is steeply pitched and clad in the original terracotta from the period of the build.
Doornberg House contains four private suites, all with independent garden access. Each air conditioned suite features a reading lounge, restored netted Dutch bed, ceiling fan, monogrammed linen on custom-made 10-inch mattresses, and a large period bathroom with cast iron bath. Throughout the house there is a significant collection of contemporary art, featuring pieces commissioned from Sri Lankan artists and multi-disciplinary works from Chinese and Australian artists. Extensive lawns bordered by indigenous planting lead to a secluded pool area, hidden from the house. The 16-metre length pool is set against a dominating mango tree and the verdant jungle surrounds.
Booking details
Eden Villas (www.edenvillas.com) offers Doornberg House to book by the room or as an entire property. Nightly rates from £260 when booking by the room, including breakfast and afternoon tea, and from £945 when booking the entire property.
About Eden Villas
Founded by Jack Eden, the award-winning Eden Villas is Sri Lanka’s leading luxury villa specialist, offering a gorgeous selection of high-end properties along the south coast of Sri Lanka. From historic inland retreats to lakeside hideaways, and from modernist hilltop villas to ultra-glamorous beach houses, Eden Villas currently has more than 30 breathtaking properties to choose from, all of which come fully staffed and with the services of a devoted Concierge team, drawing on over 20 years of Sri Lanka expertise.