/ 6/-'0rsi/jq/r>y THE CONCEPT OF MAIN SPACE' IN ARCHITECTURE: AN EXAMINATION OF THE THEORETICAL STANDPOINTS AND DESIGN PARAMETERS ' A ' c J A Dissertation Submitted to the University of Moratuwa As a Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Architecture DOG© 8 ^ 3 3e>>(?O. @ ©os^ 7 / 7 1 4 7 2 V P - o | M.M. KARUNARATNE Department of Architecture University of Moratuwa July 1999 71714 T H ABSTRACT More often than not, it is the square, which is considered the centre of space: the 'core space' and "climax' of the urban structure. Similarly in architecture, it is the 'Main Space' which is considered the centre of space, the core space' and 'climax' in an architectural building. Yet, the Concept of Main Space in architecture is one which has resulted in many contradictions. The concept is accepted by some yet rejected by others; the arguments regarding the concept, varies from one school of thought to another. Should there be a Main Space in Architecture? Are not all spaces equally important? Is the Main Space always a destination? Is the Main Space the largest in a composition? Is the Main Space necessarily an interior space in architecture? etc. are questions that evoke a variety of responses. Against such a diversity of standpoints, the young designer is rendered confused and fails to recognize the exact role of a Main Space' in architecture. Examining these standpoints of the Main Space, the Theoretical Standpoints regarding the main issues of the concept, the study reveals the importance of the 'Main Space', as the main component in establishing spatial coherence in an architectural whole. Thus, the Main Space is considered as the ideal organizer of an architectural whole, capable of organizing a building spatially, functionally, socially as well as symbolically. An examination of the design factors of a Main Space, the Parameters; as the spatial organization, spatial hierarchy and spatial quality, the study demonstrates the difference a properly articulated 'Main Space' makes to architecture and it's experience. This study thus affords the reader, a better understanding of the Concept of 'Main Space' in Architecture: of what it is, when, where and how it has been achieved and therefore, how it may be achieved. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation is here due to the support and encouragement of so many, that I am greatly indebted to in many ways, that a simple thank you just is no t enough. The gratitude of mine is given to Prof. Lakshman Alwis the Director of Postgraduate Studies Faculty of Architecture, Prof. Lai Balasooriya the Dean Faculty of Architecture, and Prof. Nimal de Silva the Head of Depar tment of Architecture. Further, it is extended to Archt. Ranjith Alahakoon, Dr. LSR Perera and Archt. Chris de Saram, the Year Masters of Year Six. My deepest gratefulness is offered to Archt. Vidura Sri Nammuni , for being my tutor, guiding me throughout the whole process. Archts. Ashley de Voz, Milroy Perera, Bernard Gomez and Jeevaka de Soyza. I thank the staff of Hotel Blue Waters, Hotel Saman Villa Bentota, Indra Traders Colombo and Mr. Sirinda Unambuwa and family for the kind co-operation extended during inspection of the buildings. My batch-mates Adikari and Priyantha for your designs and discussions. Peshali, Kanchana, Tamara, Hiranthi and Yasodha for being such good friends, through both good and bad times. Last but not least, my greatest gratitude is extended to my mother and father, to w h o m this is dedicated, supporting me all ways in every struggle. iii CONTENTS List of Figures vi List of Plates viii INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER ONE: ARCHITECTURE AS ORDERING SPACE 5 I N T R O D U C T I O N 5 1.1 T H E C O N C E P T O F O R D E R 5 1.2 O R D E R IN ARCHITECTURE 7 1.2.1 Unity 7 1.2.2 Hierarchy 8 1.3 ARCHITECTURE AS O R D E R I N G SPACE 10 1.3.1 Components of Unity in Spatial Order 10 1.3.1.1 Centre 11 1.3.1.2 Path 12 1.3.1.3 Enclosure 13 1.3.2 Principles of Spatial Order 14 1.3.2.1 Cosmic order 14 1.3.2.2 Geometric order 17 1.3.2.3 Orchestration of spatial progression 20 1.4 ARCHITECTURE AS O R D E R I N G SPACE; A SUMMARY 22 CHAPTER TWO: MAIN SPACE' • AN EXPOSITION 23 I N T R O D U C T I O N 23 2.1 C O N C E P T O F C E N T R E - D E F I N I T I O N AND PURPOSE 23 2.2 CLASSIFICATION O F CENTRES 25 2.2.1 Organizing Role of Centres 25 2.2.2 Form of Centres 26 2.2.2.1 Centres of mass 26 2.2.2.2 Centres of path 27 2.2.2.3 Centres of space 29 2.3 C O N C E P T O F "MAIN SPACE' 31 2.3.1 'Co te Space' 31 2.3.2 Climax 32 2.4 C O N C E P T O F 'MAIN SPACE'; A SUMMARY 36 IV CHAPTER THREE: AN EXAMINATION OF THE THEORETICAL STANDPOINTS & DESIGN PARAMETERS 37 I N T R O D U C T I O N 37 I T H E EXAMINATION O F T H E T H E O R E T I C A L S T A N D P O I N T S 38 3.1 N E E D 38 3.2 L O C A T I O N 47 3.3 SPATIAL O R G A N I Z A T I O N 53 3.4 ENCLOSURE 55 3.5 T H E O R E T I C A L STANDPOINTS; A SUMMARY 57 II T H E E X A M I N A T I O N O F T H E DESIGN PARAMETERS 58 3.6 SPATIAL O R G A N I Z A T I O N 58 3.7 SPATIAL HERARCHY 58 3.8 SPATIAL QUALITY 59 3.9 DESIGN EXAMINATION 59 3.9.1 Design Example One -Communi ty / Recreation Centre in Borclla 60 3.9.1.1 Project by Jayantha Adikari 61 3.9.1.2 Project by Tamara Fernando 65 3.9.1.3 Project by Peshali Perera 68 3.9.1.4 Project by Kanchana Senasinghe 71 3.9.1.5 Project by Priyantha Wijesinghe 74 3.9.1.6 Conclusive remarks 75 3.9.2 Design Example T w o - Flotel Blue Waters 76 3.9.3 Design Example Three- Saman Villa 81 3.9.4 Design Example Four - Indra Traders Building - Co lombo 85 3.9.5 Design Example Five - House at Battaramulla 88 3.10 D E S I G N PARAMETERS; A SUMMARY 91 CONCLUSION 92 R E F E R E N C E S 95 v K LIST OF FIGURES Page ft 1.1 Legislative Assembly Building 9 1.2 Temple at Thebes 9 1.3 Hagia Sophia 11 1.4 Herber t F. Johnson Flouse 12 1.5 Tangalle Bay Beach Flotel 12 1.6 Plans- Villa Savoye 13 The Pantheon 14 1.7 The Chinese "Flail of Distinction' 15 1.8 Ancient temple of Sri Rangam 15 1.9 Vidhan Bavan 16 1.10 Plan and Section - British Council, India 16 1.11 Plan- Falling Waters 18 1.12 Plans- Ratnavibushana house, Moratuwa 18 1.13 Plan & Section- Lloyds Building 19 1.14 Ground Floor Plan & Section - Architect Geoffrey Bawa's Office 21 2.1 Plan & Section- Bentota Beach Flotel 28 2.2 Section- Scharoun's Philharmonic Hall, Berlin 31 2.3 Conceptual Plan & Section- Scharoun's Philharmonic Hall, Berlin 31 2.4 Main Floor Plan & Section - Light Flouse Flotel 33 2.5 Main Floor Plan & Section - Flotel Triton, Ahungalle 34 2.6 Main Floor Plan - Kandalama Hotel 35 2.7 Plan & Section - New Parliamentary Complex 36 3.1 Plan and Section - New Parliamentary Complex 39 3.3 Floor, Plans, Wickramasuriya Flouse 40 3.4 Plans, Lilani de Silva Flouse 41 3.5 Tara Group Flousing 42 3.6 Rokko Housing 42 3.7 Layout Plan- Tropical Villas 43 3.8 Section through main axis - Tropical Villas 43 3.9 Main Floor Plan - Le Kandyan 44 3.10 World Commercial Centre- 45 3.11 Plan - Falling Waters 47 3.12 Kandalama Flotel 48 3.13 Architect Geoffrey Bawa's Office 49 3.14 Cinnamon FIill Flouse, Lunuganga 49 3.15 M R F Headquarters 50 3.16 Flotel Triton, Ahungalle 51 3.17 LIC Centre - Office Complex 52 3.18 Staatsgallene 56 3.19 Project by Jayantha Adikari- Axonometric view 61 3.20 Project by Jayantha Adikari- Ground , Upper Floor Plans 62 3.21 Project by (ayantha Adikari- Elevation, Section & Interior Design of 'Mam Space' 63 VI 3.22 Project by Tamara Fernando- Ground Floor Plan & Section 65 3.23 Project by Tamara Fernando- Upper Floor Plan & Elevation 66 3.24 Project by Peshali Perera- Ground Floor Plan & Section 68 3.25 Project by Peshali Perera- Upper FloorPlan & Elevations 69 3.26 Project by Kanchana Senasinghe- Lower Level Floor plan 71 3.27 Project by Kanchana Senasinghe- Section, Upper level Floor Plan & Interior design 72 3.28 Project by Kanchana Senasinghe- Elevation 73 3.29 Project by Priyantha Wijesinghe 74 3.30 Flotel Blue Waters - Plan & Section 76 3.31 Saman Villa - Layout Plan 81 3.32 Indra Traders Building, Co lombo - Plans & Sections 85 3.33 Flouse in Battaramulla - Plans & Sections 88 vii LIST OF PLATES Page 1.1 Glass House 8 1.2 National Theatre 8 1.3 Robie House 12 1.4 Villa Savoye 13 1.5 The Pantheon 14 1.6 The axis of Mundi of Hinduism 16 1.7 The traditional Islamic Char bagh 16 1.8 European icon, the Age of Reason 16 1.9 Pyramids at Giza 17 1.10 Acropolis 17 1.11 Falling Waters 18 1.12 Ratnavibushana House 18 1.13 Lloyds Building - Exterior View 19 1.14 Lloyds Building - Interior View 19 1.15 Architect Geoffrey Bawa's Office 21 2.1 Sienna, Italy 26 2.2 Falling Waters 27 2.3 Arc de Tr iomphe 28 2.4 Venice, Italy- 29 3.1 N e w Parliamentary Complex, Sri jayawardenepura - Exterior 39 3.2 New Parliamentary Complex, Sri Jayawardenepura -- Interior 39 3.3 Wickramasuriya Flouse 40 3.4 Lilani de Silva Flouse- the formal living space 41 3.5 Lilani de Silva Flouse- the informal living space 41 3.6 Tara Group Flousing 42 3.7 Tropical Villas- the entrance 43 3.8 Tropical Villas- the path 43 3.9 Tropical Villas- the 'core space' 44 3.10 Le Kandyan- exterior vies of 'Main Space' 44 3.11 Lc Kandyan- about to enter 'Main Space' 44 3.12 World Commercial Centre- Exterior View- 45 3.13 World Commercial Centre- Interior of Mam Space > 45 3.14 N e w Parliamentary Complex, Sri (ayawardencpura- aerial view 53 3.15 Lighthousc Flotel 54 3.16 LIC Centre 55 3.17 Staatsgallene 56 3.18 Model- Project by 'Tamara Fernando 66 3.19 Hotel Blue Waters- aerial view 76 3.20 Hotel Blue Waters- the approach 77 3.21 Flotel Blue Waters- the approach to the building 77 3.22 Flotel Blue Waters- about to enter 78 3.23 Flotel Blue Waters- sense of arrival 78 V l l l X 3.24 Hotel Blue Waters- the coconut palm garden 78 3.25 Hotel Blue Waters- interim Climax 78 3.26 Hotel Blue Waters- Progression towards "Main Space' 79 3.27 Hotel Blue Waters- The 'Main Space'- the Climax 79 3.28 Hotel Blue Waters- Connection of water 79 3.29 Plotel Blue Waters- The Lounge 79 3.30 Hotel Blue Waters- The Coffee Shop 79 3.31 Hotel Blue Waters- progression away from the 'Main Space' 80 3.32 Hotel Blue Waters- in the midst of the Sound of the roaring sea 80 3.33 Plotel Blue Waters- Lounge and the Coffee shop 80 3.34 Saman Villas Ltd.- aerial view 81 - the approach 82 - about to enter 82 - the sense of arrival 82 3.35 Saman Villas Ltd.- progression 83 3.36 Saman Villas Ltd.- interim climax 83 3.37 Saman Villas- progression 83 3.38 Saman Villas- interim climax at reception lobby 83 - progression 83 3.39 Saman Villas- Interim Climax 83 3.40 Saman Villas- progression 84 3.41 Saman Villas- the "Main Space' 84 3.42 Saman Villas- informal path leading to the villas 84 3.43 Saman Villas- the Restaurant 85 3.44 Indra Traders- exterior view 86 3.45 Indra Traders- interior, the "Main Space' 87 3.46 Indra Traders- interior 87 3.47 Indra Traders- waffle detail 87 3.48 House in Battaramulla- exterior view 89 3.49 House in Battaramulla- progression towards courtyard 89 3.50 Plouse in Battaramulla- the courtyard 89 3.51 House in Battaramulla- the formal living space 90 3.52 House in Battaramulla- progression towards verandah 90 3.53 House in Battaramulla- the "Main Space', the verandah 90 3.55 House in Battaramulla- the 'Main Space' from lawn 90 IX