AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF THE ATTITUDES OF SRI 
LANKAN ARCHITECTS TOWARDS 
GREEN ARCHITECTURE 
A Dissertation Submitted to the University of Moratuwa 
As a Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of 
Master of Science in Architecture 
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N. Y. Y. GEEKIYANAGE. 
Department of Architecture 
University of Moratuwa 
July 1999 
71716 
T H 
AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF THE ATTITUDES OF SRI LANKAN 
ARCHITECTS TOWARDS GREEN ARCHITECTURE 
CONTENTS 
ABSTRACT i 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii 
INTRODUCTION 
0.1 The argument iii 
0.2 Intention of the study iv 
0.3 Method of work iv 
0.4 Scope and limitations v 
CHAPTER 1 
THE MODERN ENVIRONMENT MOVEMENT 1 
1.1 THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 3 
1.2 THE CONCEPT OF ECOLOGIC ARCHITECTURE. 4 
1.3 THE CONCEPT OF GREEN ARCHITECTURE 5 
1.3.1. PRINCIPLE 1 
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY 
1.3.1.1 THE LOCATION OF THE BUILDING IN RELATION TO 
THE MEANS OF ACCESS. 7 
1.3.1.2 THE GEOMETRY OF THE BUILDING ENVELOPE 7 
1.3.1.3 THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE BUILDING TO ITS SITE. 7 
1.3.1.4 THE WAY IN WHICH THE USERS AND BUILDERS 
RELATE TO THE BUILDING. 7 
1.3.2. PRINCIPLE 2 
WORKING WITH CLIMATE 13 
1.3.2.1 REGIONAL CLIMATE 13 
1.3.2.2 MICRO - CLIMATE 14 
( 1 ) REDUCTION OF SOLAR GAINS 15 
( 2 ) ENHANCEMENT OF THE WIND 17 
( 3 ) NATURAL LIGHTING 20 
1.3.3 PRINCIPLE 3 
MINIMIZING NEW RESOURCES 23 
1.3.4. PRINCIPLE 4 25 
RESPECT FOR USERS 
1.3.5 PRINCIPLE 5 27 
RESPECT FOR THE SITE 
1.3.6 PRINCIPLE 6 30 
HOLISM 
CHAPTER 2 
2. THE CONCEPT OF GREEN ARCHITECTURE ; THE ATTITUDES AND 
INFLUENCES 
2.1 THE EVELOUTION OF SRI LANKAN ARCHITECTURAL PRACTISE 31 
2.1.1 THE TRADITIONAL " SRI LANKAN ARCHITECTURE 31 
2.1.1.1 THE TRADITIONAL SRI LANKAN HOUSE. 32 
I 2.1.1.2 ANURADHAPURA PERIOD 34 
2.1.1.3 POLONNARUWA PERIOD 35 
2.1.1.4 KANDY PERIOD 36 
2.1.2 THE COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE 
2.1.2.1 PORTUGUESE PERIOD 36 
2.1.2.2 DUTCH PERIOD 37 
2.1.2.3 BRITISH PERIOD 38 
2.1.3 THE POST - INDEPENDENCE TRENDS 
2.1.3.1 MODERN MOVEMENT 39 
2.1.3.2 POST-MODERNISM 42 
2.1.3.3 CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE 
( 1 ) HASSEN FATHY 43 
( 2 ) CHARLES CORREA 45 
( 3 ) ANDREW BOYD 49 
(4 ) MINNETTE DE SILVA 49 
( 5 ) ULRIK PLEASNER 52 
( 6 ) GEFFORY BAWA 54 
CHAPTER - 3 
3. THE ATTITUDES ; TOWARDS DESIGNING OF "GREEN" BUDLDINGS 
3.1 INTRODUCTION 64 
3.2 EXAMPLES - BASIS FOR SELECTION 
3.2.1 A COMMERCIAL BUILDING BY ASHLEY DE VOS 58 
3.2.2 AN OFFICE BY ANURA RATHNAVIBUSHANA 62 
3.2.3 A RESIDENCE BY C. ANJALENDRAN 65 
3.2.4 A HOTEL BY ASHLEY DE VOS 69 
3.2.5 A HOTEL BY SUCHITH MOHOTTI 73 
3.2.6 PROPOSED MULTI-STORY BUILDING BY THUSHARA 77 
ARIYARATHNA 
CONCLUSION 81 
ANNEX - 1 84 
ANNEX - 2 85 
BIBLIOGRAPHY 89 
i 
ABSTRACT 
In the span of time it is only yesterday that the built-environment departed from 
ancient tradition. For thousand of years, our ancestors respected and honored the 
primeval forces. Every where, buildings strove to express a harmony between 
people, land and cosmos. The dawning of modern age, so called "age of reason" 
radically upturned this ancient, almost unbroken paradigm of the world. This was 
due to invention of materials, mass-scale production process, technologies, building 
densities and practices. Due to this, the building has become a major contribution to 
present environment degradation. For the purpose of finding solutions for these, the 
concept "Green Architecture" has emerged. Simply defined this is not a new 
concept, it is a re-emergence and interpretation of traditional concepts to address the 
modem environment movement based on the built-environment. It can also state that 
this is an "attitude"; in congruence with "natural" and "built" environments. This 
study aims to examine the attitudes of Sri Lankan architects towards Green 
Architecture, as they are the main contributors of the building industry. The study 
initially identifies the modern interpretation of green 'principles', afterwards the 
evolution of green attitudes and interpretations are revealed according to them from 
the vernacular traditional architecture to present day. Next through a questionnaire 
based research it is searched for the attitudes and interpretations of present day 
architects towards Green Architecture. This study finds that the attitudes of present 
as well as the earlier architects comply well with the 'green' attitudes the cause 
behind the built-environment that still contributing positively towards the modern 
environmental crisis Is revealed. 
11 
ACKNOWLEGEMENTS 
A number of individuals have assisted in preparing this book, whom I acknowledge with 
gratitude 
To Prof. Nimal De Silva, Head of the Dept. of Architecture for the encouragement and initial 
guidance. 
Dr. L. S. R. Perera, Senior Lecture, Dept. of Architecture for the inspiring discussions, advice 
and comments and the constant encouragement throughout the study 
Dr. R. Emmanuel, Senior Lecturer, Department of Architecture and Archt. Vidura Sri 
Nammuni, Senior Lecture, Dept. of Architecture for the valuable advise given at the preliminary 
stages. 
Archt. Suchith Mohotti, Archt. Ashley De Vos, Archt. Anura Rathnavibushana and 
Archt. C. Anjalendran for spending their valuable time in discussing and answering the questions on 
the subject area. 
Somathilake aiya, Thushara aiya, Menaka aiya, Lakma akka,Nihantha, Anil, Geethani, 
Hiroshinee and Indika malli for providing me with some important materials that I really needed for 
the study. 
My dear friends Messy, Tomsy, Pesh, Hira, Kanchi and Shana for all the assistance offered 
throughout, 
To Nilantha for the continuos encouragement, assistance and tolerating my moods and always 
being there for me 
My loving parents and sisters for sharing my tears and joy, unceasing care, silent blessings and 
most of all believing in myself right throughout.