Thevidu Amaratunga - LJMU Digital Portfolio Design 03 - 2024

Thevidu Amaratunga

2023 Portfolio

Master of Architecture / BA(Hons) Architecture

Liverpool School of Art and Design

My name is Thevidu AmArATungA, and I am 24 years old. After my school years I spent a year worknight dialog axiata as a customer service agent before finally enrolling at SLIIT to study architecture.

I found my interest to architecture in my school years. After spending long and shorts years on my skills for sketching and painting devoloping my own eye for art. as my personality grew it became clear that my future is with architecture.

I have finished my 3 year Architecture undergrad studies, and have experiance working in architectual projects with renouned architect.

I grew up alongside two younger siblings and went to royal college colombo for my A/Ls, and before that to D.S.Senanayake college colombo.

All these factors contributed to who I am today, and the architecture i’m persuing.

PROJECT INTRO

This project focuses on giving a sense of relief and hope to the stressed-out students in the tuition culture of Nugegoda. As the students follow the studies of A/L examination in a one-sided struggle the importance of the value of their life and time and the enhancement of their academic process will be shown through this project.

BACKGROUND

Located in the Colombo District of Sri Lanka, Nugegoda is a suburb that is rapidly developing. It is bordered by the towns of Maharagama to the south, Nawala to the north, and Kohuwala to the west. The city is well-connected to the rest of the Colombo District, making it a popular residential and commercial hub. Nugegoda is a major transport hub in Sri Lanka The suburb is wellknown for its lively markets, shops, and commercial areas, including a variety of textile stores and clothing stores. It is also home to several educational institutions, making it a popular destination for students and teachers.

SOCIAL

Considering the cultural background, Nugegoda had been a mix of ethnic groups. Nugagoda Many viharas, and few churches can be seen around the area. Festivals like Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Vesak, Christmas, Thaipongal, Diwali, and Ramadan are celebrated in Nugagoda. Besides these common events, schools and universities around Nugagoda also organize different cultural events such as cultural exhibitions, cultural functions etc.

PHYSICAL

The selected location, Nugegoda, is an Educational District as the number of private and public schools, and tuition classes are concentrated within a certain space. St. John’s Collage in Nugegoda, Lyceum International School, Royal Institute International School, Rotary International School, Anula Vidyalaya, Mahamaya Girl’s Collage, Samudradevi Girl’s Collage, Siyochem, Syzygy, Rotary, and SASIP Institute are the most immediate educational schools and institutes found in the area.

As a concentrated centre of the Nugegoda academic context most of the students visit the locations mentioned in the figure. As the streets shown above are the routes to Colombo, Panadura, Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte, and Maharagama (176, 138, 17, 163) by bus there are many students in further institutes and schools come to the locations as well.

For the interview, these locations are chosen to meet students within their breaks from classes to better understand their situation.

Design Origination

Problems

Current Solutions for Stress:

The solutions taken by the students let them relax and increase efficiency to a certain extent, but only in the sense of studying. For relaxation and mental health, the study break philosophy is commonly commented as “unsatisfactory”.

How free time is given to students:

As the students are being pressured by the competition, their schedule is dictated by the teachers and parents. The break times planned by the teachers are too little. As they have acknowledged the poor efficiency of such actions, the examination is necessary.

Pressure from family and teachers:

Although the parents mean well the lack of knowledge and outside influence is to blame. There is a trend in the tuition culture as each coming generation is more competitive than the last to stay ahead the methods being used are more and more extreme. The student who does not change unlike the competition needs proper balance more than ever in their life.

Problems & Solutions

For the students who are facing O/Ls (Ordinary Levels) and A/Ls (Advanced Levels), stress is a daily occurrence. From studying at school, and studying at tuition then at home, the amount of time spent on “studying” is massive. Of the time invested in education, the return isn’t satisfactory, proportionally to the effort put in (through interviews of the students in Nugegoda).

To achieve betterment in their academic life, a certain environment is crucial. From the home environment being nurturing and supportive to the personal environment being social and motivating. In the “school environment” where active learning occurs, a proper balance of academics and recreation is needed.

In Nugegoda there should be a facility that can bring in the students for a session of releasing, exploring, and observing. Studios with instructors to guide their talents and interests in open learning sessions as well as a massive stage for the students to showcase their talents and worth.

Concept

Intimidation to hope!

Leave an impression of importance and intrigue to the students who are set in the way of downfall, a shock which later turns into hope and belonging shall break the cycle and bring them to new heights.

The value of what is being offered, and the hope for a better and valued future will make a lasting impression and will become a habit that will enrich the student’s life. The hope following the shock of the intimidation displayed will put things in perspective for the youths.

Conceptual Imagery

Recognizing the two philosophies of Intimidation and hope as per the sequence, first comes intimidation. The intimidation directly impacts the user with all its shock and is linear.

The hope then comes a gentle and warm embrace to show the path that leads to the possible future of the intimidating goal being achievable. A circle represents strength which comes from my inspiration “the wheel”. A wheel is something that is constantly under pressure but its ability to not break and falter under such weight is commendable.

Aproach

The first look of the front façade will form a strong impression with bulky materials such as concrete making a balanced symmetrical entrance with hidden circular movements of void spaces which will invite the student in. maintaining the steady progress of the climax of the display of artworks will be found in the inner wall at a height creating a sense of hierarchy.

From the exhibit goal backtracking the view will bring the student to the circular ramp leading the student up to experience the path to success with all the studio spaces lined along the ramp as well as being part of a world of inspiration.

Intimidation is portrayed with a linear and rigid structure representing the current nature of the tuition culture. Its stubborn and brawn-for-brain attitude must be made gentle and understandable for the student.

With a circular form taking the spotlight, it contrasts and breaks the known norm of a toxic culture and makes it easy for the student to manoeuvre.

The Design

The design follows employing a central hub which connects the spaces. Initially following a physical connection, the central hub concept was implemented at the earliest of the schematic stage. Later shifting to a more visual connection and adding the two philosophies, the main building component became a circular ramp that was present even in the initial stages as a minor component. When finalizing the form and spaces I started with the front façade and purely developed a conceptual drawing, from which the final form came to be. The studio and recreational spaces are noticeable immediately and the services and similar a found below the ramp mostly away from the visual climax but have the most accessibility from the center.

Users

Primary Users

Students who are coming to tuition in Nugegoda - Nugegoda is a tuition hub for students. The range of the attraction reaches as far as Kaluthara and Gampaha. Students who go to schools in Nugegoda or live in Nugegoda - There are schools in Nugegoda such as Anula Collage and students who are not yet in their A/L examination also visit places in Nugegoda in their free time.

Secondary Users

People looking to learn about art or showcase their talent – as the Nugegoda education zone is partially a residential area, there are people with either talent or interests in the field of art. Kids and youths of Nugegoda will have an opportunity to enter a new world of art through the art centre.

Client

Rotary Institute of Higher Education (RIHE)

It was in the late 1970s, late Dr H. Thomas Rodrigo, the President of the Rotary Club in Sri Jayawardanepura, entertained a challenging ambition outside his profession. That was to unlock the academic potential of our young generation so that they could face the tumulus changes in a fast-moving world with success.

Brief

The Performance art studio –is an open stage with the classroom following a much more informal setting with constant movement.

The music and vocal art studio –is found on the upper floor. It is a similar situation to the performance art studio with individual and group performances.

The visual art studio –is found later up on the ramp with a bigger space than the other studios. It can also be used in other practices of pre-even purposes.

The practical art studio – is a part of the circular form but has broken out of it. It facilitates the use of a variety of materials and mediums and not just painting to guide artworks. The feeling there is more unrestrained in nature.

Kitchen and cafeteria – the kitchen takes up space which will allow the dining spaces to form on both sides (inner and outer). The service access will come from the path to the side that goes to the post office quarters.

Administration – it is found near the entrance but to the side to not disrupt the progression. The administration should not butt in when in the initial stage of user experience so the student can walk through the art centre and gain a better understanding and impression.

Staff room – provided with attached bathrooms and lounge areas it is found away from the major circulation.

Bathrooms – easily noticeable from most perspectives but again will not disrupt the user experience.

Storage – storage rooms are given to the studio spaces with easy access and the kitchen as part of their internal space planning.

PRECEDENTS

Chichu Art Museum by Tadao Ando

Here Tadao Ando has used proportions and spatial impressions to create inspirational spaces. from the entrance with massive states being told with proportional spacial quality as well as the use of shapes. within the museum the spaces are seperated and the paths creating glimps to each destinations. this way Archt. Tadao Ando has inspired many with simple shapes and sizes.

Daniel Libeskind’s Jewish Museum

Th concept and execution of the museum by Daniel Libeskind, is mainly done through symetrical balance and contrasting to the surrounding context. the form of the structure follows it’s own concept and inspiration and only using small methods to relate to the surroundings. Here the form is different to the context and following a strong concept the bizzare form make sense.

ENVIORNMENTAL STRATEGIES

The Studio 02 and 03 are under shelter while the Studio 01 is open. The harmful sun is blocked by the point wall (west) and the morning sun has shade from the vegetation. The ramp and the studios are covered from rain and the openings facing away from the wind direction, the rain pass by allowing the users to enjoy the unique beauty of the rain. the ramped roof has a layer of solay panels facing the noon sun as well as the morning sun.

The strongest wind comes from the west. with the urban setting the wind comes at a certain height and so it is quite warm even with the constant wind. with the double layer of roofs, it creates the effect of stack ventilation attracting the wind from bellow creating a wind path. with the wind path flowing from the entrance, it helps to circulate the air in the center.

Concrete

A vital architectural material, offers significant environmental benefits aligned with sustainability.

Longevity: Concrete structures last over 50 years, reducing replacements and conserving resources.

Recyclable: Concrete incorporates recycled materials like fly ash, reducing demand for new resources.

Energy Efficiency: Its thermal mass regulates temperatures, cutting cooling and heating needs.

Carbon Sequestration: Concrete absorbs CO2 over time through carbonation, offsetting emissions.

Low Maintenance: Durability minimizes resource-intensive upkeep.

Adaptability: Concrete structures can be repurposed, reducing waste.

Concrete, while not without environmental impact, presents an increasingly eco-conscious option in architecture’s sustainable journey.

Brick

A fundamental architectural material, offer significant environmental benefits in line with sustainable principles:

Durability: Brick structures can last for generations, reducing the need for frequent replacements and conserving resources.

Recyclable: Bricks can be recycled and repurposed, reducing demand for new raw materials.

Energy Efficiency: Brick’s thermal mass regulates indoor temperatures, reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling.

Low Carbon Footprint: Bricks are manufactured at lower temperatures compared to some other materials, reducing carbon emissions.

Low Maintenance: The durable nature of bricks minimizes the need for frequent repairs or replacements.

Adaptability: Brick structures can be adapted and repurposed, extending their lifespan and reducing waste.

Bricks, when considered in the broader context, offer an eco-conscious choice for sustainable architecture, albeit with considerations for their manufacturing process

Detail Blow up at - F | 1 : 30 Scale

Detail Blow up at - F | 1 : 30 Scale

Cantilever beam | secondary roof

Detail Blow up at - G | 1 : 30 Scale

Cantilever up - beam | concrete slab

Detail Blow up at - B | 1 : 30 Scale Masonry Strip Foundation

Detail Blow up at - D | 1 : 30 Scale

Detail Blow up at - E | 1 : 30 Scale down beam with slab overlap | Ramp