City: SRI LANKA

Name & Location: Random Rust – Thalawathugoda

Built-up Area: 3,820 sq. ft.
(In case of public building, minimum built-up area should be 1000 sq. meters)

Description of Project:

Random Rust is an experimental delivery derived through fusing a strong form with designing a lifestyle. It is located away from the urban context in Thalawathugoda, surrounded by lush green environment. The site sits on a hillock covered with beautiful tree canopies, which provide cool shade against the hot tropical sun.

The narrowness of the site and the surrounding greenery were the main inspiration to generate a narrow lightweight structure, showering the house with plenty of light and air.

Random Rust is a series of spaces arranged along a verandah, along the southwest axis, which optimizes air circulation, while double-height volumes enhance vertical ventilation. Rooms are laid out linearly according to their use, with private spaces being located mostly on the upper floor of the house.

Materials of Construction Details:

The usage of materials in their exposed forms helped to realize the concept of the house quite easily. As the name suggests, the house has a truly rustic appearance.

Locally produced clay bricks were used to construct the linear segment of the house, while the cross block was constructed with a rendered finish.

Steel sections are used to support circulation and shading elements, which helped to envelop the structure lightly and elegantly along the façade.

Tall, cement-toned pillars in the living area support the single sloping aluminium roof profile with a wooden ceiling.

The floors are brought to life with cut and polished cement rendering, while solid timber on doors and window sashes celebrates the transition at the openings.

Special Features:

The composition of the building is a dynamic dialogue among horizontal and vertical volumes. The facades are articulated with great specificity and variation.

The skin of the long and linear block varies in opacity, from transparent to semi-transparent. The façade of the cross block, by contrast, is solid and punctuated by openings.

Discreet spaces can be closed with shutters, although no part of the house is entirely air- or noise-tight.

The seamless joints of large clear glass sheets at the corners of the structure extend space beyond its limits, while tall wooden louvers allow air to freely penetrate the building.

Random Rust is a geometric volume that sits lightly on its site. It is a blend of tropical and modern architecture, which employs the language of modernism to present alternative concepts for the house of tomorrow.

Name & Location : “Bed Sitter” at Piliyandala, Sri Lanka
142 sq. meter
Built-up area .
Cost of Project : (US$) 1585()
(In case of Public Building minimum built-up area should be 1000 sq. meter)

Description of Project :

By the side of the Piliyandala- Kottawa road, in a narrow, extensive plot of land 142 perches in extent, I intended to build my own dwelling & office, location of the office at the road front a house towards the rear,began its development at the road front segment, in response to a sudden requirements of a dwelling.

Therefore, it was decided to make maximum use of the plot & create a flexible space which could be transformed to an office later on an element that will act as a guard wall to future development in the site.

In response to the busy road the initial idea to create a strong solid envelop, to keep away from the hustle & bustle of the surrounding & create more tranquil interior.

The distinctiveness of the creation is the method in which, It was conceptualized two environment as approached the design, the building at present & future.

To respond the present & the future it was intended to combine the sleek geornetry that gives rise to alively anlbience & technology that proinotes energy conservation through green architecture, which defines through my own practice.

Materials of Construction Details :

The external walls of structure are 2feet thick cavity brick walls with recessed timber glazed openings protected against harsh weather conditions contribute to add discipline to the design. Thick cavity brick walls have offer the potential to control the impact of solar gain & prevent the indoor overheating.

The recessed openings in the walls which are in the ‘shadow’ of the wind can then serve as outlets for the wind, thus enabling cross-ventilation of the whole building the actual angle of the sash then determines the direction of the airflow. The cubical form has been maintained by the use of a concealed purlin roof its weight transformed to concrete beams which fortns a concealed concrete gutter at the verge.

The correct orientation, form & style of the building maximise the energy gained through the passive systems.

The interior is lit up by two light tracks recessed in the nat ceiling which runs the length of building from tnaster bed room containes a narrow sky light running the width of the room. The provision of daylight & the avoidance of the need for daytirne artificial light,lnean less energy is consumed.

The spaces is further simplified incorporating various funtions to the partion walls,one becomes a cupboard for the
Inasler bed rooin and the other a work top for the pantry. This simple internal subdivisions enhance the cross ventilation, through
the building and also produced the better overall ventilation of the building.

Special Features

The entire form of the building is a simple cube standing boldly amidst the free flowing landscape. On entry one is greeted by gravel courtyard ,with the reflecting pond at the western end. The black tiled surface of the pond ahnost like a mirror reflects the earthy coloured walls of the building .

Sheltered and unsheltered spaces blend almost, seamlessly, the living & dinning extends it self to the entrance courtyard, while the top hung windows on the southern wall allow the cool air streatns to flow through the space creating & relaxing sensation in the atmosphere.

The interior consists of utility core, where the pantry, toilet and store are located anmore flexible living quarter containing the master bed room, living, & dining.

The use or interactive space has been helpful interms of extending the boundry for each function as in
the integration of living & dining into a unit.

This year, The Award also recognizes green architecture development of worldwide context. So considering the present situation in Sri Lanka, Architectural practice and Building Construction sector has been facing to many difficulties due to uncontrolled vulnerable haphazard development in urban as well as suburban areas contextually. This situation is happening also in highly sensitive areas in Sri Lanka like in archeological sites, Rainforest sensitive areas, sanctuary areas and specially tourist attraction areas. Ella is a beautiful town in the mountains of Sri Lanka which is filled with tea estates, mountains, and waterfalls and of course with some good air to breath. Lots of people make Ella as one of their must visit destination just to witness the breathtaking views it creates. It is a dream place for many trekkers with some of the best hikes the Island provides. This hidden village got vastly popular among the tourists lately.

The motivation to build a sustainable, eco-friendly design in Ella stemmed from the growth of uncontrolled haphazard buildings that are constructed in the area, visually and physically challenging its background. There is an acute need for a vernacular touch in the area, since Ella is a tourist-sensitive locality. Visitors to the area prefer views undisturbed by haphazard structures that do not give due consideration to the context, ecology, and purpose. 

The design concept is derived from mythological legends that are popular in the area. Ella is known for its connection to the story of “Ravana”, the mythical king of Sri Lanka who is said to have ruled the land thousands of years ago. As described in folk literature, King Ravana has been in possession of a flying machine knowns as the ‘Dandu Monara Yanthraya’ – ‘Flying peacock machine.’ This machine is said to have been built in the shape of a peacock. The design of Café UFO was inspired from King Ravana’s flying machine as described in folk literature. It acutely preserves the rustic quality of the legend in relation to Ella. The restaurant was named ‘Café UFO,’ relating to the ‘unidentified flying object’ that it was inspired from, while adding a chic modernity to it. 

The main raw material used in the construction of the space is timber. The timber acquired are from rose gum trees – Eucalyptis grandis – that is grown purposefully and approved for usage by the Forest Department of Sri Lanka. 

Micro timber branches are used as rafters and degraded wooden logs have been acquired for furniture. The roof is thatched with two layers of blady grass – Imperata cylindrica – with a tar felt sheet as a waterproof insulation in between. 

Interior design has also been done with the application of eco-friendly and reclaimed materials. Interior partitioning as well as interior wall décor were done using cinnamon sticks, and reed and rush products respectively. Interior decorations and lighting are complemented with metal pots, wheels, tires, and metal water buckets, all of the materials reclaimed and upcycled. Owing to the nature of the materials used, the design and architecture of Café UFO is highly sustainable and eco-friendly. 

The lighting and space achieve a warm ambience, ideal for a dining placement. Amber, gold and brown tones are consistent in the structure, adding to the ambience while not being too harsh on the eye of the diner. The ground floor, first floor and a mezzanine level provide ample space. Each features different arrangement of seating, leaving the visitor with several choices to dine.

The construction phase of the project was conscious of the social context and community placement as well. Almost all the raw material has been procured from the area and services such as carpentering, interior detailing and masonry were sourced from the community of Ella itself. Café UFO was designed in five months and construction was completed within seven months. A sustainable project, maintenance requires merely less time and funds. 

This thoughtful and creative architectural design was owing to its application of creativity with technology towards a feasible, economical, contextual and environmentally sustainable project. RAPA chartered architects luckily got a chance to design a project in the heart of Ella town. Considering Contextual fats of the Ella, we created a concept analyzing historical connotations related to the area and convert it to innovative built form and merge with the contextual vernacular architectural characteristics very sensitively. We wanted to regain the vernacular character to Ella town through those haphazard concrete developments.