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HOUSING PROJECT

HOUSING IN URBAN CONTEXT Slave Island, Sri Lanka

Project type Mixed use

Site Location Digana - Sri Lanka

Duration December 2021 – June 2022

Software Used Sketchup AutoCAD Lumion Enscape

PROJECT SUMMARY

The slave Island, Colombo holds its name as a home for the lower income community. despite its historical values it is being exposed to rapid urbanization hence the originality and qualities of the context is observed to be degrading.

In the recent past the slave island in the city of Colombo holds its reputation as home for the underserved community. Although having labelled as such, the community of the region still holds their values and norms together despite of their multi-cultural and, multi ethnic nature. The different levels of their qualities of life have woven the identity of the slave island into a place which has built of “different rhythms of life “ which hold the harmony of it.

They have created A BALANCE between their lives and the place they live. The solid stable nature; The voids their lives lack and the future they dream to uphold. Yet their economic stability and contextual characteristics degrades these norms where their above attributes of life are scattered which defines them as a low-income low level community.

As 'house' is the economic base of a family addressing Housing needs of a community will uplift the IDENTITY they hold while stabilizing the BALANCE of people and their user environment.

The designed aimed at creating Balance and Harmony of space through the "Rhythm of Life " which the Slave Island Holds with it, in its Context & its people.

THE PHYSICAL CONTEXT

The proposed site and its surrounding holds a great historical value for its settlements. With the developing central business district of Colombo it is highly likely that this site will be at the verge of development in the recent future disregard of its value. The site also holds and urban park which could be a used as a better urban garden.

Therefore following are to be considered in the physical context; Preserving the history

preserving the green habitat

Respond to future developments Although our site doesn’t have any historically valuable buildings it is important to retain the quality of the “slave island” which its history had treasured and valued.

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

THE SOCIAL CONTEXT

The society that’s living in the given site are of multi disciplinaries. Most of them are of lower income whereas few are of middle income standard. Categories of people that depend on the site could be identified as,

1. Ones that are living on the site 2. Ones that make their living from the site (shopkeepers)

Therefore it is clear that the design solution should address the problems of both these parties. in identifying the problems they posses following should be examined & resolved.

•Most of them have very bad conditions of living. Hence the need of housing is clearly visible. • they keep up their life through small scale businesses run in aligned with their houses. •A place to claim as their own : ownership & identity

How to resolve the conflicts between different social statuses?

•Though being multi-ethnic and multicultural the dwellers posses

the sense of harmony and peace among each other.

•When it comes to different income levels. The same house and amenities might not suit each other.

How to maintain the lifestyle they possess?

•The Families have a survival network in the city around them Jobs, education ,

health facilities & Transportation

•Concern on their growing needs. •Retain their Identity but improve the Quality of Life

In the recent past the slave island in the city of Colombo holds its reputation as home for the underserved community. Although having labelled as such the community of the region still holds their values and norms together despite of their multi-cultural and ,multi ethnic nature. The different levels of their qualities of life have woven the identity of the slave island into a place which has built of “different rhythms of life “ which hold the harmony of it.

have created A BALANCE between their lives and the place they live. The solid stable nature ; The voids their lives lack and the future they dream to uphold

Yet their economic stability and contextual characteristics degrades these norms where their above attributes of life are scattered whereas they are to be considered as low income low level community.

As house is the economic base of a family addressing Housing needs of a community will uplift the IDENTITY they hold while stabilizing the BALANCE of people and their user environment.

PROBLEM Scattered norms of a community labelled as underserved and unwilling WHAT TO DO Build up the identity they deserve HOW Creating a BALANCE of lifeeconomythrough the upliftment of housing

The balance between the SOLID- VOID - SPACE will provide the opportunity to build-up the community through housing in their urban context.

Empty spaces for community gathering

solids

voids space

The built-up area

Mixed development (shops) as a semi-public platform Space for growing needs: INCREMENTAL HOUSING STRATERGY

public

Expansion and connection to the park

Semi public private

Own house for living

HOUSING TYPOLOGIES Mainly 5 types of housing units are introduced to cater low income families, lower middle income families and single unit housing for rentals . As the family grows they can change their housing spaces accordingly. Although extensions take place the building façade remains the same

INCREMENTAL STRATEGIES

SECOND FLOOR PLAN NOT TO SCALE THIRD FLOOR PLAN NOT TO SCALE FOURTH FLOOR PLAN NOT TO SCALE

FIFTH FLOOR PLAN NOT TO SCALE SIXTH FLOOR PLAN NOT TO SCALE SEVENTH FLOOR PLAN NOT TO SCALE

83 Shiruni Pieris 2022 Portfolio

The projects was derived with the technical analysis of its Environment, structure & façade , lighting and interior to achieve maximum of the opportunities the context offers.it focused on building a passive design which is affordable and that responds to the incremental strategies of the community.

The Environmental strategy was to Achieve a sustainable design solution that inspire people to live an active life in fulfilling their housing needs responsibly with the least possible impact on the climate and environment. This was achieved through the adaptations to the local climate, solar and wind study and the use of renewable energy at the site.

The structural resolution focused to give minimum impact on the environment both during and post construction stages while responding to the surrounding environmental factors. The solid void façade structure is a key element which showcases the nature of the community that's living. it is abstracted from the placement of different typologies of houses which serve to the different types of families of the community.

Natural and Mechanical lighting used To achieve a habitable space which responds to the psychological needs of housing through its interior and in achieving a design solution which conserves energy as much as possible. The belongingness and interactive nature created through these spaces uphold the housing complex not only as a house or shelter but a 'Home' for the slave island community as place which uplifts them which opportunities of economy and their standard of living.

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