PALM – Brutalism Meets Bohemia on Sri Lanka’s Southern Coast
Where Industrial Edge and Island Soul Collide
A Family Dream, A Radical Vision
When Miriam Haniffa and Laurie Spencer left their East London life behind in 2016, they weren’t chasing just sunshine—they were chasing a new way of living. Drawn by the surf, spirit, and slow rhythms of Sri Lanka’s southern coast, they envisioned a retreat that broke with the tropes of tropical design. No colonial verandas. No thatched clichés. Instead, they imagined a space where industrial minimalism could coexist with barefoot bohemia—and where travelers could immerse themselves in island life without compromising on style. That vision became PALM.
A Brutalist Dream in the Tropics
At the heart of PALM stands a bold, charcoal-black pavilion—a Brutalist-inspired structure fashioned from repurposed shipping containers, punctuated by gleaming steel-framed windows. It’s a radical reinterpretation of the tropical resort: part urban loft, part beach house, and wholly original. The raw industrial aesthetic is softened with bamboo roll curtains, woven rattan furniture, and lush palms swaying just beyond the walls. Chrome tables and polished metal accents add a touch of contemporary glam, creating a striking dialogue between rough and refined, natural and manmade.
Cabanas in the Palm Grove
Scattered through the property’s namesake palm grove are six A-frame cabanas, each built from corrugated steel—a nod to the island’s utilitarian vernacular. Step inside, and the mood shifts from industrial boldness to minimalist calm: whitewashed bamboo walls, poured-concrete bed frames, and handmade lanterns crafted by local artisans define the space. Open-air rain showers complete the experience, blurring the line between indoors and out and embracing the barefoot luxury that defines PALM’s ethos. Coming soon: two elevated suites, designed with slatted-wood walls and generous living areas, for travelers seeking a more expansive island home.
Where Boho Meets Brutalism
PALM is more than a hotel—it’s a design manifesto. It proves that tropical living doesn’t have to mean soft pastels and wicker chairs. Here, the austere lines of Brutalism meet the carefree textures of bohemian life, creating a space that’s at once unexpected and deeply harmonious. It’s a place for those who crave creative contrasts: steel and palm fronds, concrete and coconut trees, industrial edge and laid-back soul.
DNA Hotels Verdict
In a region dominated by colonial heritage hotels and minimalist beach bungalows, PALM is a bold outlier—a love letter to design experimentation and an ode to the modern tropical lifestyle. It’s where architecture tells a story, materials have character, and every detail invites you to slow down and stay awhile. For travelers who want their island escape served with a side of creativity and cool, PALM is Sri Lanka’s most compelling new address.
