We started building SOLA 156 days ago, which is almost half of our total construction time. In this update, we’ll talk about our progress over the past few months, the challenges we’ve faced, and give you a glimpse of what SOLA will look like when it’s finished.
When we finalized our construction budget in November 2023, our architect warned us that the most unexpected expenses often come during groundwork like excavation and concrete casting. Just four weeks into construction, we saw his prediction come true. (Note: Any change to the budget or layout after signing with the contractor usually means extra costs).
While building the cabana walls, our structural engineer found that a column we moved in the bathroom wasn’t supported properly by the concrete slab. So, we needed to add a hidden “bracket” (See picture below) under every lodge for extra support. This took three weeks to design, cost, and build.
We’ve made several other changes along the way, both big and small, which took time (and cost variations) but will add value to our hotel. Here are a few examples:
The ground structure of all eight lodges is complete, and most masonry work is done. It’s amazing to see the dimensions of what we envisioned for over two years. The lodges, raised up to 2 meters, offer stunning views of the jungle and paddy fields. Though it’s still just a skeleton, the finishing touches will make these lodges unique places for our guests to enjoy.
We’ve started adding necessary cables into the lodges before plastering the walls. The ground structure of the pavilion has also been cast, and we’re waiting for the steel to arrive to build its iconic shape. We are only two weeks behind schedule due to various changes and delays, but there’s still time to catch up.
We knew building a hotel the size of SOLA would be demanding and require attention to detail. Now that the ground structure is built, the interior design needs even more detailed decisions. We need to make numerous decisions daily, which has been more than we expected, but we’re enjoying the process. Recently, we finalized the sanitary ware order and custom furniture design for all lodges, lightning set-up, basin designs, pavilion staircase details, wardrobe lodge design, and the overall landscaping concept (which will be magical, more on that in a future post) – Everything seems to come together.
Since we’re opting for custom-made designs, we need to finalize and order everything 3-4 months in advance to meet our opening date in December 2024.
In June, we’re doing our next site visit to Sri Lanka, focused entirely on selecting samples for everything. This will be our last trip before ordering all the finishes, including wall colors, floor materials, railing materials, and all items for operating the restaurant and hotel (like plates, cups, cutlery, bedding, and towels).
