The Turtle Bay

Bachelor of Architecture Studio Project

The Turtle Bay is a coastal conservation and community centre designed to protect Sri Lanka’s endangered sea turtle species, whose nesting grounds are increasingly threatened by coastal development and climate change. This project marked my first foray into designing not solely for human use, but with equal consideration for non-human species and fragile ecosystems.

The design integrates low-impact structures along the shoreline to facilitate safe turtle nesting, while providing educational and livelihood-supporting spaces for local communities. Passive lighting, natural materials, and careful control of human activity zones were employed to minimize ecological disruption.

The Turtle Bay was a formative exploration into the ethics of coexistence, prompting questions about how architecture can serve as a mediator between conservation and culture, and laying the foundation for my continuing interest in cross-species design.