Serenity Redefined: Imagining the Highlands Retreat Through the Lens of Modular Design
Santani, Sri Lanka
The Highlands retreat in Sri Lanka is a masterpiece of immersive hospitality. Nestled among lush tea plantations and rolling hills, its layout celebrates harmony between human design and the natural world. This project serves as a compelling example of how modular solutions—like our Tomu Villas—can be used to achieve this effect. Imagine adapting the magic of this property using innovative modular construction: a model for wellness retreats that balances timeless beauty with modern efficiency.
Each “chalet” is 500 square feet
Reimagining the Retreat with Modular Hospitality
What makes the Highlands retreat so compelling is its thoughtful design—a communal hub at the property’s heart, surrounded by private sanctuaries that blend seamlessly with their environment. This concept aligns perfectly with how Tomu’s modular villas can be configured for similar experiences.
The stand-alone, single-bedrooms are a spacious 500 square feet. A Studio Villa by Tomu would be the most comparable offering, at 504 square feet. There are sixteen Mountain View Chalets and four Garden View Chalets that are designed for families with children. The chalets have a chic, minimalist look with polished concrete floors, ceiling fans, up-cycled rubber wood lounge chairs and recycled teakwood safari chairs on the balcony. Each room has a rainfall shower.
For those interested in ADR: A stay at Santani starts at: Double / Wellness included from US$711 per room per night in a Garden View chalet and Double / Wellness included from $790 per room per night in a Mountain View chalet.
Private rooms dispersed throughout the property with a central main structure
A Centralized Hub for Connection: A wellness retreat often centers around shared experiences. By placing private bungalows around an existing structure— incorporating a spa, restaurant, or yoga pavilion—it becomes the heartbeat of the property. This primary space would ground the retreat, serving as a welcoming area for guests to connect with nature and each other.
Dispersed Private Villas: Radiating outward, modular villas could echo the property’s existing design ethos by offering guests intimate spaces for rest and reflection. These units, constructed offsite and installed with minimal environmental disruption, can transform any landscape into a retreat.
Creating Magic Through Modular
Great design is as much about emotional resonance as practicality. Modular construction enhances the guest experience in ways that are both unexpected and delightful:
Design Freedom in the Details: Modular construction doesn’t have to feel prefab. Customization options allow for accent lighting, personalized color palettes to suit the location and thoughtful textures that immerse guests in the environment.
Subtle Emotional Wins: Each villa can be placed strategically for moments of discovery—guests might wander down a shaded pathway to find a villa overlooking a creek or nestled in a wooded area.
A Narrative of Care: Modular architecture emphasizes sustainability, an ethos that resonates with wellness travelers who value eco-conscious choices.
Why Modular is the Perfect Fit for Wellness Hospitality
While the Highlands retreat wasn’t built using modular techniques, its design serves as an inspiration for what Tomu’s solutions can achieve. Modular construction isn’t just a building method—it’s a philosophy for efficient, beautiful, and sustainable hospitality:
Fast and Flexible: With prefabricated units, a retreat like this could come to life much faster, with the option to scale as demand grows.
Sustainably Aligned: Tomu’s modular systems produce less waste and minimize on-site disruption, meeting the growing demand for sustainable travel options.
Tailored for Every Vision: From sleek, modern aesthetics to natural finishes that blend with the environment, Tomu’s villas can be adjusted for the retreat’s design vision.
A thermal salt soaking pool
A Vision Built for the Future
The Highlands retreat showcases what’s possible when design, nature, and purpose align. Now imagine recreating that magic with the flexibility, cost savings, and sustainability of modular architecture. Tomu Villas offer the tools to transform any property—whether it's a verdant mountainside or a coastal hideaway—into an unforgettable wellness retreat.
Through modular innovation, the possibilities are endless. The Highlands retreat provides inspiration; Tomu makes it attainable. Are you ready to reimagine hospitality? Let’s build the future, one villa at a time.
