Built as a hospital by the Dutch, it has been used for several different purposes, over the years. It is believed to have existed since 1681, as recorded by German Christoper Schweitzer.harbour allowed it to serve Dutch seafarers.[2]
Most patients were provided with a mat, while the most ill were given a mattress. Patients clothing was imported from
Paintings from the era show that it once had a canal running along what is now Canal Row lane. This canal was filled in by British colonists after their capture of the city.[2]
The building was the Colombo Fort Police Station from the early 1980s to 1990s, prior to which it housed the Colombo Apothecaries. It suffered heavy damage in the
In 2011, it has been transformed into a shopping and dining precinct, where the historic architecture has been preserved.[1]
The building reflects seventeenth-century Dutch colonial architecture.[2]
The building has five wings forming two courtyards. It is designed to keep out the heat and humidity and provide a comfortable environment within. Like many Colombo Dutch buildings of the era, the walls are 50 cm thick. The structure features massive teak beams. The upper floor is located in the front wing and can be reached with a wooded staircase. This upper storey has a wooden floor. A long open veranda runs along the length of each wing of the building.[2]
Paintings of the front and rear views of the Colombo hospital, done in 1771 by a Dutch artist—presumably Johannes Rach—are preserved in the
The original landscaping has disappeared.[2]
6°56′01″N 79°50′37″E / 6.93356°N 79.84356°E / 6.93356; 79.84356