Varuna Attanayake - BSc(Hons) Architecture - Year 03 - 2022

‘ABOUT ME’

I am a designer and an architectural graduate who has completed the final year of the BArch Architecture Program at the SLIIT School of Architecture offered by the Liverpool John Moores University in UK.

I have gained a considerable amount of experience up until now at acedamic level and have acquired skills in various aspects related to architectural designing.

I’m a creative and dedicated designer who is ambitious in my design work and my unwavering commitment is to continue providing society with better design solutions.

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Project: Comprehensive Design Project

BSc Year 03 Semester 02

Project name : Railway Station in Meegoda, Sri lanka.

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Project: Origination Design Project BSc Year 03 Semester 01

Project name : Visitor lodging and Accommodation center in Kanneliya Rain Forest, Sri lanka. Curriculum vitae

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PROJECT SUMMARY

The comprehensive design project of 2022 is focusing on Meegoda town & its immediate context which is decided to be developed as a Tech corridor under the Homagama development plan issued by Urban development authority, Sri Lanka.

The project was to design a Railway station to resolve the transport related issues faced by users travelling to and from Meegoda.

The project will focus on the issues that can be solved through a sustainable approach by identifying the underlying problems related to transportation within the context of Meegoda to provide feasible architectural solutions through the proposed Railway station.

With the activities of the economic center, the movement within the context increases. Since the activities are uncoordinated, the area is prone to higher levels of traffic congestion during peak rush hours. The surrounding context is also constantly changing throughout the day due to the activities of the economic center creating a chaotic and an unsettling atmosphere.

The proposed architectural solution was to revitalize the busy context of Meegoda through the railway station to adapt to constant change.

BArch Year 3 Semester 2: Comprehensive Design Project Railway station in Meegoda, Sri lanka

“TRANSITIONAL LINKAGE”

Revitalizing the Meegoda railway station as a transitional space, that creates links to the major activity points of the context and facilitate uninterrupted movement of the pedestrians and passengers.

This creates a dynamic space that can adapt to a constantly changing context and enhance mobility and accessibility within the context.

Constant change is unsettling to the human mind. Therefore a place that can adapt to change and a place can promote social interaction will bring peace of mind to the users.

The proposed Railway station will be developed as a transitional space between the major activity points of the city by connecting them seamlessly and making a more accessible Railway station.

The proposed railway station will act as the gateway to the Tech city of Homagama.

The activities of the immediate context of the site is heavily affected by the activities of the economic center. But since the activities around the area are scattered around the city, accessing these distant points is a challenge to the average user.

Large number of people trying to access these major activity points during the peak rush hours of the day creates issues such as traffic congestion, pollution, road accidents etc.…

The existing railway track divides the city into two parts and greatly reduce the accessibility of pedestrians. This increase the threat of causing railway accidents for the pedestrians.

Therefore by having a centralized entry point to the city that guides and connects the user to major activity points and functions, the mobility and accessibility of the city can be enhanced.

This in turn helps to reduce traffic congestion and pollution. By highlighting the city image, through a community oriented approach , the community can be properly vitalized and get involved.

Therefore this can be developed as both, a gateway and a connecting bridge to the Meegoda city and its functions. The goal is to create a transition link between the Economic center, major activity points of the city, and the 2 ends of the railway track.

Welcoming and generous

DESIGN AMBITIONS

The large and open station hall links with public spaces at north and south directions.

A New connected and accessible city

Support active street life and create value

The station hall delivers new north-south routes through the station, and opportunities for east-west routes through the pedesrian ramp.

Economic center, commercial spaces and the retail spaces nearby provide vibrant and lively spaces for everyone to use and enjoy.

• An extension from the Economic center accessible through the railway station will be proposed.

• Temporary storage units are proposed to the extension between Railway station and the economic center.

• Entrance will be allowed from the opposite end of the platform by developing the existing station building as an extension of the proposed building. (Museum functions, ticket office function are promoted.)

• A pedestrian bridge that connects the two main roads together through the building Is proposed.

RAILWAY STATION

SCALE 1: 100

Users are taken 2m down from the road level in to the ground level using stairs. Users entering the building initially enters into a entrance lobby, which connects the information booth to the right side and information gallery to the left side. The central lobby is located at the middle providing both visual and physical connections to the entire building. Through the central lobby space, open dining space is placed to the left side and an open waiting area to the right side. Right Infront of the central lobby is the Ticket counters and arrival/ departure corridor. These 3 main spaces are placed at right angles to one another making them easily accessible.

UPPER FLOOR PLAN

SCALE 1: 100

Mostly used by pedestrians in the Meegoda context as an access bridge. The pedestrian ramps creates two wings that connects to the pedestrian platform. An overhead footbridge provides access to pedestrians in the opposite platform to access the building. The pedestrian platform has observation decks providing both visual and physical connections to and from the context. When observed from the observation deck, railway platforms, incoming trains, paddy fields and the surrounding landscape can be observed. It offers an 180° view of the context. Seating areas with plant boxes are placed on the ramps making the space habitable and biophilic.

‘URBAN OSMOSIS’

The concept of selective permeability inspires the idea of interpriting the Railway Station as an Urban Osmotic System. The Railway station is interpreted as the semi - permeable membrane. The movement of particles between 2 systems are an interpretation of movements within context and the railway station.

The ambition is to revitalize the busy context of Meegoda through the railway station making it adaptable to the constant change.

The Railway station will be developed as a transitional space between the major activity points of the city by connecting them seamlessly and making a more accessible Railway station that also act as a centralized entry point to the city.

The Meegoda Railway station offers a grand welcoming to its users and reflects the identity of the city through the building.

The building acts as the gateway and entry point to the Meegoda city.

PERSPECTIVE SECTION

The building consist of transparent, open, permeable, humanscale spaces that offer intimate connections into the landscape.

Pedestrian pathways are incorporated into the building and the bridge connecting the site’s Eastern and Western halves crosses over the station in the center, providing access to the station’s public and commercial areas.

The station’s new entrance is covered by the long-span roof structure towering above it. The distinct roof gives the building its own identity. This project will create a new landmark and acts as a catalyst for the urban change.

Pedestrian corridor

Pedestrian Bridge & Platforms

Arrival/ Departure lobby

Walls:

Hempcrete block walls are used. They offer structural strength, lightweight ness and breathability to the design. They also offer high levels of water, moisture, flame and pest resistance.

Ceiling:

A large distinct copper plated ceiling made up of copper panels, running parallelly to each other across the main building is supported by connecting it to the steel frame structure using steel joints.

Roof: Foundation:

Large distinct roof is supported of a steel frame structure, connected to the concrete beams providing structural strength and stability to bear the weight. Roof supports a skylight system connected to the steel frame.

A typical wall foundation with reinforced concrete footing is used. The use of foundations for load bearing purposes is restricted to the area of pedestrian ramp.

FRONT ELEVATION

SCALE 1: 100

WAITING AREA

ENTRANCE LOBBY

PROJECT SUMMARY

The Origination design project 2022 was to design a Visitor lodging/ accommodation center in kanneliya rain forest to solve accommodation related issues faced by local an foreign tourists that travel to Kanneliya rain forest.

Visitor lodging/ accommodation center is designed to use a property for short term living accommodation on a commercial basis. Therefore accommodation facilities should provide tourist facilities that inspire, are sustainable, are safe, efficient, and cost effective, and that maintain their utility and charm through time.

Currently, visitors face many problems due to lack of proper accommodation facilities which limits the number of visitors. The existing constructions poses massive threats to the rain forest and its bio diversity.

The project will focus on how these issues can be solved through a sustainable approach providing an intimate experience with the nature to the travellers and thereby acting as the bridge which interconnect the highly sensitive rain forest, travellers/ visitors and the community around it.

BArch Year 3 Semester 1:

Origination Design Project

Visitor lodging and Accomodation center in Kanneliya Rain Forest

The conceptual idea of merging the gap was generated by adressing the major problems of the surrounding context.

An initial background research along with a SWOT analysis was carried out to assess the challenges and development opportunities.

The major problem identified from the research was that the built environment, users and the forest reserve exist as separate entities. This is a result of various improper practices followed by humans. To merge this disconnection, a binding link must be identified.

‘MERGE THE GAP’ CANAL

The proposed eco - lodge acts as this missing link and it offers immersive access to the landscape while simultaneously promoting environment conservation allowing the users to experience the environment In an intimate way.

The goal was to create a place which blends into the sensitive environment, allowing the tourists to interact with one another and experience the surrounding in an intimate way through the adoption of a biophillic attitude, involving local communities to be an active part of the facility by giving them a sense of responsibility and creating a dynamic which benefit the forest reserve, tourists and the local communities.

CANAL CANAL

ACCOMMODATION CENTER PEOPLE

DESIGN PROCESS

The site is located at the entry point to the forest reserve, it has a huge amount of potential to be developed as an eco - tourist lodge for local and foreign tourists, researchers, biologists etc...

Tourists can interact with one another and the surrounding area by incorporating interactive spaces into the design that work in harmony with the surroundings.

The unwelcoming, disconnected, monotonous ambiance can be reduced by developing a sense of community within the facility.

A community-based eco-tourism lodging facility empowers the local community to participate actively in the facility.

This can create many employment opportunities for the people while also establishing in them a sense of belonging over the forest reserve.

GATHER

ENTRANCE LOBBY/ PUBLIC SPACE PRIVATE SPACES

COMMON INTERACTI VE SPACE

FOREST

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

GROUND FLOOR PLAN: MAIN BUILDING

SCALE 1: 100

Users entering the building initially enters into a entrance lobby, which has a courtyard to the right and indoor pond to the left. The recep tion is at the immediate entrance. Users can wait until they are checked in in the waiting area. Connecting the entrance to the other parts of the building, the central lobby is located at the middle.It provides both visual and physical connections.

Through the central lobby space, there is a visual connection to the 2 observation decks located at right angles to one another. there is a continous and uninterruped view into the landscape through these spaces.This brings out the essence of the concept followed int the building planning. Below the observation deck 1 is the dining space. When observed from the observation deck the roof of the cabanas sticks out of the existing landcape, among the trees which reminds the user that there is more to explore, creating curiosity in the mind.

SCALE 1: 100

The users leaving the main building can either access the dining space below the observation deck which leads to the private acomodation spaces located to the right hand side of the site.

Depending on the type of users, this distinction is made. Environ ment enthusiasts, reseachers, biologists etc.. staying upto multiple weeks can access the Cabanas. These spaces provide intimate ex perience of the nature and landscape to the users connecting them with the environment.

The other set of accomodation spaces are used by regular visitors. (visitors statying 1-2 days). These spaces can be accessed directly from the reception lobby using the ramps and staircase towards the right hand side of the building. The spaces provide comfortable living to the users. The spaces are oriented to give the best views of the landscape to its users.

Above these spaces are the observation decks allowing the users to observe the entire view of the canal and forest from 3 different sides.

SCALE 1: 100

GROUND FLOOR PLAN: CABANAS AND DINING AREA UPPER FLOOR PLAN: CABANAS AND DINING AREA

MAIN BUILDING

Roof of the main building is a green roof structiure. Plants are grown above the R.C.C slab.

The roof is at 3 levels replicating the downward slope in the site as you progress.

The roof is held at I m. 0.75m, 0.5m respectively above the structural columns, leaving an air gap between the wall and the roof slab. The roof structure perfectly blends into the landscape and the surrounding context.

ACCOMODATION SPACES

Majority of the materials used are sustainable and are locally sourced.

Materials used have a strong sense of eco friendly architectural practices and they blend the structure into the surrounding environment seamlessly.

OBSERVATION DECK

The observation decks built on top of the accomodation space and the dining space allows the users to intimately connect with the landscape and observe the entire view of the canal and forest from 3 different sides.

‘MERGE THE GAP’

The proposed eco - lodge offers immersive access to the landscape while simultaneously promoting environment conservation allowing the users to experience the environment In an intimate way.

This method allows wildlife to flow freely around the built spaces, forming a symbiotic relationship between the natural and manmade worlds. This allows the built environment to become a part of the existing environment rather than a separate entity.

It promotes a series of spaces located at the slope of the site, that is connected to the main spaces in the flat land (common interactive space, public spaces) using pathways built upon platforms to minimize the impact caused on the environment.

A dynamic nature is created in which the forest and the users coexist and benefit from one another, merging the gap between the forest and people through an architectural intervention..

The building will act as a bridge which interconnects people and the forest reserve allowing the 2 entities to interact with one another.

PERSPECTIVE SECTION

Galvanized steel for water drainage Galvanized steel for water drainage

Herbaceous perennial ground cover, decorative

Herbaceous perennial ground cover

Soil with high water retention capacitya, 150 mm

Soil with high water retention capacity, 150 mm

Cloth of non-woven polypropylene, 2 mm

Expanded polystyrene panel , 8 mm

Column Cloth of non-woven polypropylene, 2 mm Expandedd polystyrene panel, 8 mm

Durable shell breathable high density polythene, waterproofing, 10 mm

Multilayer film with aluminum vapor barrier, 3mm

Multilayer film with aluminium vapor barrier, 3 mm Concrete slab, 250 mm

Concrete slab (250-?) mm

Double glazed window

Exposed bamboo ceiling layer

Exposed bamboo ceiling layer

Rammed

MAIN BUILDING STRUCTURAL DETAILS

WALLS: Rammed earth walls are used. They offers high level of moisture resistanIce and is sustainable. Provides structural strength to the building.

ROOF: Green roof supported on extended columns of the rammed earth wallproviding structural stability to the design while maintaining the ambiance of interior and exterior spaces.

FOUNDATION: Since the built area is flat in general, a typical wall foundation with reinforced concrete footing is used.

Cabanas are located facing the canal which brings views of the North and North-western directions of the site.

Large double glazed windows are used to extract natural light in to the living spaces. Louvers and perforated screens are used to control the light that enters the building and windows are placed at the opposite ends to extrac light into the living spaces.

Skylight system is used to light the shower in the bathroom. Majority of the light that is extracted into the cabanas are from the evening sun and are taken in from the North facade.

ROOF TRUSS STRUCTURE:

Holds the upper part of the roodf struc ture and provides stability to the roof. Weight is balance on the 2 bamboo beams and on the central beam.

Built to facilitate stack ventilation and to allow natural light to penetrate into the living spaces.

Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology School of Architecture | Bsc(Hons) - Liverpool John Moors University. Primary and Secondary School 2 0 0 4 / 0 1 - 2 0 1 8 / 0 8

G.C.E O/L (English Medium) - Vidura College, Colombo G.C.E A/L Biology Stream (English Medium) - Vidura College, Colombo