Thesis & Dissertation

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University of Moratuwa Theses and Dissertations by University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.lib.mrt.ac.lk.

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item: Thesis-Abstract
A Changing profession : the role and function of the master builder in the practice of contemporary architecture
Kumarage, AI
What will the role of the architect be in the twenty-first century, as there are greater and greater challenges in the present building industry. The architect, in the late twentieth century has developed skills to handle these complex problems of the future, becoming an administrator and, in the change from a production to an information society, an information administrator. The architect has lost the hand- on skills of the craftsman, but is skillful in delegating tasks to a multi headed team to bring information from hundreds of components. The architect is as adept as an assembler of manufactured parts. As the twenty first century approaches ,it is important that the architect, who become an administrator, delegator, and assembler of parts, recognize with trepidation the erosion of the profession's essential being, that of the designer. The architect is the one professional component who can act the part of humanist with regard to density of site and scale for the pedestrian, who can envision great site composition, who knows what ceiling, floor, and mechanical system can yield real integrated quality, and who chooses the color of the motar of the brick joints, the joints of the precast, the shape of the hand rail, and the proportion of tread to riser. The architect, who walks in to the twenty first century, or the twenty-second century for that matter, should give up these choices with great reluctance. It is imperative that architecture retains its important heritage and ascendancy with pride and conviction as the profession uniquely qualified to build the peaceful civilization of the future.
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Comparative study of traditional and contemporary settlement patterns in Sri Lanka with special reference to Kurunegala District
Jinadasa, KN
The concept of a settlement is the place for living together as a group. Therefore the arrangement of the, settlement can be identified as the altered environment to ensure the spread of development efforts and the quality of life in a more. complex manner for a large group of people. In Sri Lanka, traditional settlements were able to fulfilled these objectives as a community. They built their house on a trial and error basis to satisfy their requirements noted on their own imagination and their own calculations. Traditional house is an architectural solution without professional architects. Traditional house was an answer to the multi faceted social , environmental and technological forces of their own societies. Continuity of the form also have made a reasonable contribution evolving repetitions. Thus the whole settlement has a certain character according to their living pattern since , social ,technological and environmental factors are localized. The house type varies from society to society, bringing in regional variations. The need for housing existed for ages but became a problem when it was unable to fulfill user needs and desires satisfactorily for the solution to the issue of housing in the resent past. As a result new form of housing have been forced into rural setting disregarding the continuity of tradition. Because of the magnitude of the problem and its sympathetic nature , eventually forced housing projects introduced to solve that problem. In this case the government becomes the paying client to the architect and the actual user becomes the voiceless user group. They have no chance to sound their actual needs . Therefore forced house does not fulfill the social environmental and technological needs of the rural society. Therefore it is important to understand problems arisen in forced settlements specially in comparison with traditional settlements which was extremely compatible.
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Critical analysis of selected regulatory provisions for persons with disabilities in the built environment with special reference to Sri Lankan situation
Jayasinghe, JAAM
Architecture is the thoughtful structuring of places to inhabit. It is to create an environment that will generate a particular activity pattern required by a set of users to achieve their goals. Any conscious change in the environment with or without a built structure, which leads to man's physical and psychological well being may termed as "Architecture". "Architecture is the process and the product of human habitation. It is the only art that caters to physical needs- shelter and bodily comfort. It is the only art that encompasses all his psychological needs, privacy, security, identity, aspirations, self expression".(Habraken, 1985)Architecture is primarily a spatial experience. It incorporates all other arts in presenting this experience: the rhythm of music, the movement of drama. It differs from all other arts in the way it presents its experience. As Meiss (1990) points out music, drama, painting, sculpture also have their spatiality, but it is defined from exterior, offering only the possibility of mental presentation. Architecture is the art of hollows; it is defined both from the interior and from the exterior; walls have two sides. One penetrates it with one's mind as well as body. Every person is sensitive (in varying degrees) to the built environment he lives in. He creates it, modifies it and changes it constantly. The built setting, too, modifies him, changes him, their behavior. It can be life suppressing or even crushing. It can be life enhancing and mind purifying too. This is a reciprocal process, the end result being essentially a change in man. But what kind of changes does it makes in him? As Christoper Day (1990) points out, built environment is potentially a dangerous tool. It can be used to manipulate people. It can make people feel ill. Therefore the purpose of Architecture is to create a space, psychologically and functionally conductive. Development of whole person physically, mentally, emotionally is the areas that an architect fulfills his user. Architecture brings out the vital relationship between man and the built environment. If the relationship is ill matched, it could have ill effects on the user. It could nnoy and irritate the user all the time. Nature has been created impartially to every body, but man has created partially among himself by constructing buildings, roads, houses without considering the disability, that may occur to any body at any time, Disability is a subject, we are slowly beginning to face. No population is exempt from disablement. Every one is at risk, all the time. Any person can become disable during his or life time. With the development of modern technology, it was anticipated that the number of disabled persons would decrease, but unfortunately it is on the verge of increasing. For example war, drug and chemical fire arms, industrial hazards can be considered. A study done recently estimate that some 8.5 million disabled persons are added annually to the global figure or 23200 a day. Unfortunately this population is so helpless. They need opportunities to participate in the busy life of the world, to be involved to do the same sort of things that other people do.
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Critical examination of new materials and technology on architectural expression
Disenka, SPC
"To believe that one can attain beauty by untruth is heresy in the practice of art ..... "(1) "In architecture, the question of truth and untruth refers to the relationships between form and construction or between form and content" (2)"The fusion of these two elements is the absolute aim of all great art . The simplest example is offered by poetry which cannot exist without the close association or the magic symbiosis of sound and meaning". (3) The above statements strengthened the fact that a built form and a choice of materials& construction systems should have a close relationship ,as such an arrangement will facilitate full realization of the meaning of such a built form . This meaning attribute has to be regarded as the dominant element of the built form and one that breathes vigor and vitality into it and helps to ensure its survival. The role of materials and technology is to provides the physical entity for this meaning .Since the expression is visible aspect of this meaning, materials & technology act as a media of architectural expression .Therefore in the creation process of architecture there are two distinct ends come in to play harmonizing with each other. Materials and technology: Architectural Expression An important point to note is that Industrial Revolution in Europe in the 15th century ,has actually served as a strong stimulus to the growth and expansion of building industry. This situation has in a sense created a great change in this relationship, and therefore it impacts on architectural expression. New technical innovations gave designers a new opportunity of designing buildings ,using new materials which in turn generated better conditions , for ensuring that the built form carried the appropriate meaning and expression .Not with standing the above, the principle point to note is that this situation has also created new trends on the score of as to whether those new technical innovations would really meet a successful architectural entities. "The sources of the visual vocabulary of structural technology which is used in high tech architecture are various and for the most part. not architectural . They occur in the world of 'pure' structural engineering -principally in long -span bridge building -and also in the vehicle technology and aeronautical engineering fields" (4) "The dual investigation has brought me to the conclusion that a technically perfect work can be aesthetically inexpressive. Good technology seems to be a necessary though not sufficient condition for good architecture". (5) Therefore in this situation it can be said that new materials and technology has created a dual impact on architectural expression. The following study is a detail examination of this impact .In this situation I regard this subject I have under taken as an exciting challenge to probe into a field that is both complex and rich and from which certain valuable impressions and conclusions, could be drawn. It is important to note that If I had more time I could have gone into more detail in this examination.
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Critical examination of traditional spaces in high desity housing and neighbourhoods
Athuraliya, P; Nammuni, VS
Man is a conscious animal, who tends to respond directly to his surrounding environment. He eventually converses with his surroundings. He features and event respond to and reacts against them, thus making him self of that environment. In other wards he always tries to adjust him self for new experiences of different places. It is believe that the transitional spaces is the environment help him in this adjustment.According to the Oxford dictionary transition is "passage or change from one place or state or act or set of circumstances to another" spaces which allow such changes to take place could thus termed as "Transitional spaces". They denote a "change of condition" from one situation to another imposing an important psychological effect on people existence of a "Transitional space" has been considered as are of the essential features, where two different qualities in environment are happened to marry. In place where such transitional spaces are lacking or poorly designed, enormous pressures are found to be brought on the user and on this activity pattern as well. Urban high density housing and neighborhoods is one such examples in which this phenomenon is apparted. Growing urban population and increasing land value has become the major contributing factors in this deprivation of transitional spaces. Every square inch of land is found to be valued in terms of rupees and cents leaving the quality of the place and comfort of the user totally ignored. This study thus aims at examining the value of transitional spaces as a mean of creating a "successful" neighborhood. Further in attempts to point out ill effects of deprivation of such spaces for the mere purpose of achieving benefit in monotony other quantitative terms
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Critical study of role of colours in generating architectural space
Piyasena, NMN; Dayarathna, R; Perera, LSR
The primary purpose of art is convey an appropriate message to the preceiver through the expression of feelings. Therefore architecture which is its sublime from fulfilling there requirements becomes an art. As an art, architecture provides the back-drop to convey the appropriate message to create meaningful spaces which are identified as architectural spaces.Every living organism requires space for its existence. Therefore the framework provided for their existence is considered as the dimensions of living things. Space can be limited or unlimited. Limitless space around us is considered as infant space. When the space is bounded by natural or man made limitations it becomes realistic. Space could be considered as the major force, evoking or conditioning the human mind. It provides not only the participant or the user with adequate physical movement but also create emotional satisfaction. The emotional satisfaction of the percevior could be achieved through the meaningful articulate inside the space. It helps the observer in preconceiving spaces in their true perspective. That means it communicate the appropriate message to the participant thus creating the derived environmental quality within the particular space.Therefore architecture mainly consider with qualitative needs while filling the quantitative needs. The environmental quality in architectural space is determined by several factors. That is form, scale, proportion, interrelation of spaces, objects inside, and the way how these factors blend with each other. Quality of an architectural space is also affected due to expression of visual surfaces of enclosure planes and objects and their interrelationship to each other. Most effective visual property of the surface is its color, its light and its texture. However the way people perceive or respond to the environment emotionally or spatially depend on their physiological nature, personalities, their cultural and social backgrounds and the environment itself. Color can be regarded as one of the visual properties of surfaces and also can be experienced through the sense of vision. It is also known as the character of the surface or enclosure planes within a space character of form. Various colors can be achieved in different ways such as the way that materials are manipulated using color pigments on a surface. Color can be identified both in nature as well as in man made environment.Color in nature play a dominant role in creating well balanced, non disturbing and effective environment. Flowers, plants, fruits, plumage of birds, the gaudy fish, sunset, blue sky are the most striking colors of nature. Color also indicate time as much as it changes with time. Altering the day cycle and from one season to the other. Physiology shows that color has an enormous effect on the human emotional responses. Therefore color perception not only does lead to give visual striking but is also deeply involved in evoking variety of human emotions and thereby affecting human behavior. Color as a basic and vital force is lacking in architectural spaces. Now we are speaking about color balance, color harmony, color contract etc. All depend on color value, tone and brightness of the color. Most of us are not making use of its power enough. In order to strengthen the study an analysis is done on selected examples by describing reasons for the use of a particular color schemes. Examples are selected on the basis of appropriateness and the clarity and they are analyzed on the following framework. 1. Activity pattern of the space 2. User of the space 3. Mood intended to create 4. Any other higher purpose the building seeks to serve.
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Dilemma in conservation and reuse of monuments and settings: an observation of the issue with special reference to the heritage city of Galle Fort
Walgampola, L
Conservation of a monument can be carried out either as a dead or a living monument. Dead monuments are preserved and kept in a totally artificial way. Living monuments on the other hand permits its citizens to live a contemporary life style while conserving and maintaining the physical fabric of the city and environment. To minimize the extra burden of maintenance and not to create dead spaces in a city the conservationists have identified the reuse of conserved spaces and monuments. The prime aim of this is to keep the monuments in use while proclaiming its significance to society. Yet the human mutilation and the enforcement of conservation policies, regulations have failed to proclaim the heritage cities of its "living" significance and is a recurring *dilemma in conservation and reuse of monuments. It is the human participation which makes the physical context alive. For to keep a city as a living monument this dilemmatic situation has to be resolved. It is needed to facilitate the citizens to fulfill their spatial needs out of their environment. Negligence of this has caused degradation of city life in conserved cities. The study notes, the need to develop an approach that is more responsive to the living patterns. The capacity of Urban space to support dwelling that is reflected in place making is to be reinforced. Having faced this current problem of degradation of city life the heritage city of Galle -Fort is to be protected in order to facilitate it as a living monument
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Physical development strategy for the revitalization of the declared conserved zone in Colombo-Fort
Wijeratne, MWAI
"We will strive for the ideal and sacred things of the city, both alone and with many... we will transmit this city not less, but greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us" Oath for Athenians, 500 Be. The centers of many cities rank among our most valued built environments, since they are of historically valuable nature and possess many hidden past experiences in the area. It is quite understandable that as an urban entity, Colombo - Fort has for some time drawn the attention of experts, not only to investigate its monuments but also to plan their preservation and renewal. Despite of its glory and reputation, Colombo - Fort has become one of the less used areas by the public today. As a solution, a revitalization programme may be considered in principle after the analysis of conditions and studies of development and causes of deterioration. A general survey of the methodology and techniques of preservation and revitalization of Colombo - Fort can be carried out only on the basis of the publication of the particular experience which involve both physical and social attributes in the area. The contribution from this study is the physical survey and the adaptation of a methodology, which is based on the concept of active preservation for the revitalization of our built heritage in Colombo - Fort.
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Quality without name : an exploratory study
Krishantha, DKN
"AII living things must perish " Life, space, nature, universe is activated on simple theory- birth, exist and decay Among this, there is "happiness drowned in sorrow;" means the life's comfort could be experienced in this life which moves between birth and death. These life's comforts are experienced by a special quality in nature life and space, which is difficult to explain or always remain as "unexplained" but This is experienced by beholders one who awaiting for and search it. This "unexplained" quality has a power to reveal the unfold world. So This is a journey to explore this unexplained quality to reveal the nature, the life, the space, the art, the architecture... and buildings.
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Responsive street edge as a step towards place making
Coorey, S
The context of the study is the Street Edge. What is the Street Edge? The very thought of the street edge brings about a perception which includes two major forces that can be defined as the physical element and the social element. In this study the simple idea of the context which is the street edge is looked into within this logical frame of mind. Where the site of the designer is the street edge. The question what is the street edge? Would be the constituents of the site. As described by Habraken, in his book 'Transformation of the site' the site has material, space, form, place and an understanding. The site is space and material: Form, Place and understanding Make the site." In this study the material is looked into as elements of the built environment as the most basic physical components and then the form as the creation of a collection of such materials or elements and the space as what is defined by such forms and then the understanding interpreted as human responsiveness creates place. Therefore the understanding of the study would be that man responding to elements, forms and space creates place. This is the framework of the mind and is used as the framework for the study. In the light of its physical attributes it can be discussed in terms of its physical form and shape and the spaces it creates. In the light of its social attributes it can be discussed according to its social and cultural meaning which in architectural terminology constitutes the idea of "a place'. Therefore it is understood that the street edge constitutes of 'space' and 'place'.
item: Thesis-Abstract
A search for an indigenous approach to designing urban public spaces
Shanthini, B
Space constantly encompasses our being. Through its volume we move, orientate ourselves to objects in space. We feel the air, hear sounds and see objects in space, Yet space is inherently formless. However as space begins to be captured, enclosed, molded, organized and experienced, architecture comes into being. Architecture is the art of space making. Making of space to contain the activities of man and man experiences these spaces. Experiences and evokes emotions such such as sadness, joy, pride, anger and many more within himself. such experiences are meaningful to man, helps him to connect himself with the space. Such meaningful connections gained through experience helps man to dwell on earth. Architecture, therefore provides meaningful experiences through which it establishes an existential foot hold to man. Provides an existential foothold to man through meaningful connections which arouse a sense of belongingness in people towards such spaces. This dissertation is founded on the basic that such spatial quality that evokes the sense of belongingness is an important criteria in producing architecture in especially urban public spaces, As man's environment around him is heading towards being entirely urban. These urban environments are to be the home for a numerous number of people, the urban dwellers. The urban dwellers spends a good quantity and quality of time of his day outdoors, working, traveling, eating, and relaxing. A good amount of time is spent in urban public spaces such as streets, parks, playgrounds and markets. Urban public spaces are dynamic spaces where the communal life unfolds. Spaces which are accessible to all. Spaces that help man to identify himself with in the urban environment. Thereby full filling a basic need for belonging and this providing an existential foot hold space i the ever changing urban environment. Therefore creatio9n of urban public spaces with the spacial quality that evokes the sense of belongingness becomes utmost important. In this context the study, explores the concept of developing an approach to design urban public spaces, with an environmental quality of belongigness. Which eventually led to the search for an indigenous approach to designing urban public spaces.An indigenous approach is an approach that creates a sense of belonginess naturally to the users of urban public spaces. Belongingness naturally in all senses, specially, contextually, culturally, socially and politically. Initially the concept of developing such an approach is explored and then by analyzing contemporary urban public spaces creation of such spatial quality is examin
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Silent language : an examination of the symbolic significance of dwellings
Senadeera, G
Dwelling is both the process and artifact. It is the process of living at a location and the physical expression of doing so. In great many cultures it is the largest artifact that a man, a woman, or their family may ever construct. It is this double significance of the dwelling, which encompasses the manifold cultural and material aspects of habitation. There are virtually no peoples in the world that do not build or shape their dwellings, no cultures for whom a form of shelter does not exist. But human societies differ, and the differences are profound, they are expressed at many levels in the dwellings of mankind. As the roof under which so much of this is acted and re-enacted in the daily, yearly and life cycles, the dwelling readily becomes the symbolic model of the greater universe of time and space in which they are seen to exist. The shapes of these traditional dwellings sometimes transmitted through a hundred generations, seem eternally valid. But from the beginning one civilisation has succeeded another, destroying the architecture of the first or ignoring it. While failing to produce satisfactory environments we are also losing the best of the old. We are in an era, when man does not take part in the shaping of his domain. He can no longer master his knowledge and skill in making of it, but depends on the experts to make him achieve the kind of dwelling he would be comfortable and secure in, as close as possible to what he would have achieved if he was in the shoes of the designer. Ancient powerful symbols and images, man's most telling evidence of a communal way of life are being neglected or totally destroyed. Modern man seems unable to produce their modern equivalents. The beauty of them has long been dismissed as accidental, but today we should be able to recognise it as a rare good sense in the handling of practical problems.
item: Thesis-Full-text
A Simulation study of thermal comfort in earth formed spaces
Gunadasa, DMNI
This is a continuation of the B.Sc. dissertation of the writer, which concludes that rocks can moderate the level of thermal comfort inside the spaces they form. It is likely that over other material, rocks have ,potential to create thermally comfortable spaces in the context of Sri Lanka. This Dissertation has expanded the range of study from rocks to earth architecture. This begins with the identification of the thermal sensation as an integral part of spatial experience and therefore as a feature of the spatial art. Integration of earth is seen as the possible mode to create and orchestrate thermal moods in Architecture. ( This deals more with the identification of the underling principles behind the thermal behaviour of earth material and the use of them as tools of Architecture. The study-is based on computer simulation of the thermal behaviour of earth formed spaces, which enables an otherwise impossible multiplicity of flexibilities, options, control over variables and accuracy of testing and comparison. The study identifies the need to integrate boulders and heaps of material, instead of walls and roofs, and discusses the need to rethink of spatial articulation beyond the conventions.
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Study of colour as an energy saving atribute in buildings
Jayawardena, KDMN
Increasing the population growth energy crisis has not disappeared indeed it is an urgent national international problem which will have to be faced in countless ways in the very near future. In Sri Lanka 65% of the total energy produced is used in buildings. Such areas are lighting ventilation and appliances / machinery, such affordability has been unbearable. So what is required is a new kind of thinking process for architects to save energy in the building. It can be easily saved by means of supply as well as demand Demand method can be divided further more as large as sector wise as well as using incentives / regulations. Finally in all the buildings sectors energy is used mostly for lighting and ventilation. The amount of natural light and ventilation, proper building design, using energy efficient fixtures, appliances and using retrofittings as well as colour of an interior space. Energy adds a new stand point by which to better understand building design. In this dissertation gives the basic concepts and directions necessary for a reasonable approach to energy conservation through using colours. Basic and vital forces of colours are not sufficiently exploited in our built environment. Despite in history and for few today. It is therefore, felt ignoring or misusing colours or not exploiting its full potential as a vital and positively corrective force is lacking. Considering energy saving, colours can deal great amount of reduction of unnecessary lighting levels, unnecessary heat and reduction of maintenance cost. This study tries to examine how colours are used to comfort the space visually as well as functionally. Then identify its scientific background and make relationship with its energy saving quality that means what amount of relationship with excess amount of energy and colour. This study is based on a pilot experiment where objective is to demonstrate that rational use of colours not only contribute to aesthetics of a building but also saving of energy inside the building.
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Study of modifications in Sri Lankan apartment housing schemes and their relationship for user personalization
Jayasinghe, JAAW; Manawadu, S
House is a medium through which a person gives an expression to himself. The house a person builds embodies certain features of the owners character, initially fashioned by the inherent views and attitudes of the community which he belongs to. The environment in which he is nurtured, the social group to which he belongs too, play a significant part in moulding his out look and ambition in life. According to Fathy, Hassan A house is a visible symbol of families identity, the most important material possession a man can ever have the enduring witness to his existence. The past housing endeavours have mostly been recognized as concepts of actualizing the dwellers quantitative requirements. Thus may have been mere provision of tangible human comfort and lacked the perceptual stimulation of home. It could be said, therefore that many housing schemes have not provided the stipulation for dwellers psychological, physical social and cultural manifestation that are essential for their existence. The approach of providing apartment housings for urban middle income is one such strategy, which lacked in qualitative aspects and coherently has been a snatch in the recent past. They provided a different built environment where occupants were used to. Hence inevitable changes began to occur, when they moved into these housing schemes. The built environment provided, rapidly modified and personalized according to the needs and life style of occupants, to fulfill their psychological, physical social and cultural aspects and to create intimate perception of home beyond the parameters of mere housing.
item: Thesis-Abstract
A study of parallelism between biology and architecture
Ariyaratne, BAH
The 'origin of living' in Earth was given birth to supreme creature of human being. Since that he interconnected with nature and survived through the millions of years. He captured the several rhythmic attributions of nature and he felt about the warmth of the land and freshness of the air, and he talked about the beauty of the flora and fauna and sparkle of the blue water. All these moral forces surrounded by man and governed by nature. He consequently helped him and dominated nature, being a part of it and observing "nature's" phenomenon of creation. Nature was given path to intellectual and physical revolution of man and he mutually connected with innumerable talented procedure. So "Architecture" became one of the visible creative result of these innumerable talents. These inspirations man interpreted as an analogy with different visual terms of nature and sciencetific in terms of studying nature's processes and applying it in his designs. Even in today most of architects illustrate about diversity of architecture according to biological concepts. Architecture and biology have unexplainable connection between with each other. Biology and architecture are vast subject areas, which have their own language of interpretations. So this is the time to study, examine, search about architectural and biological interconnections according to our intellectual vision.
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Study of spatial quality conducive to "Healing" in urban house
Senanayake, R
The context of the dissertation is to study the spatial quality conducive to "healing" in urban house. The very thought of the "healing" brings about a perception of which includes spaces which gives physical and psychological comfort to the people. Depending on the important social, cultural, economical and educational factors, "urban living" has made big change over the life style of the people. There by urbanism has great input over the people and the way of their living. Although the city life creates very depressing and stressful environment, people use to gather in the cities due to many reasons. Because of this residential problem and housing issue in the urban context has become a severe case. There by "urban house" becomes a distinctive feature of the city life and it should be a place which make its people heal by it spaces. As architecture means the creating meaning full spaces, Spaces are always reflecting the functions which maintained by its users. And it should guide it users while engaging with the activities which are enhanced in that spaces. The study is primarily concentrated on studying the spatial quality conducive to healing related to the urban house. There by architecture is mainly concentrated on creating meaningful spaces responding to the four major generators. That is, User, Context, Higher purpose and the activity pattern. User, become the most prominent generator from above and as architects we are responding to create spaces which balance the physical & psychological comfort of its users. In architecture it can be identified as the spaces which create the "sense of care" & it defined as spatial qualities conducive to healing. As architects spatial qualities conducive to healing can be designed by several methods & the "healing" can be achieved by different principles. Need of the study In urban context, "urban living" plays a key role. With the scarcity of the land in the city, social factors and the economical factors determines the spatial qualities of the urban house. With the hard life style of the people most of them are in higher depression level. There by people want to release their stress and live in a calm and quiet environment. This environment should heal the 1 psyche of the people and gives spiritual comfort. There by the house should be a place which contains the spatial quality conducive to healing. There by from this study, attempt is to identify urban house and study the spatial quality conducive to healing. The way of people experience the spatial quality conducive to healing and how those spaces will speak to people is important in terms of providing proper habitual spaces. But the physical stress of the people can be counter balance by improving psychological comfort in minds. There the architecture becomes the best medicine of creating healing environment.
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Study of strategies for energy efficient envelope designing for residential buildings in Sri Lanka
Karunaratne, R
Being scared resources energy conservation is becoming an important issue today. It behaves that the new energy conservation strategies, regulations considerable contribute to solve the problem. Energy efficient building code (EEBC) for Commercial buildings (Published by Ceylon Electricity Board) has get certain guidelines / regulations to achieve energy saving of the Commercial sector buildings. However yet there is no such rule or code to guide or investigate the domestic energy usage. At the same time electricity consumption in residential sector in Sri Lanka is almost significant percentage of the total electricity supply. Also total electricity demand of the country increasing approximately 10% annually. Hence Energy efficiency achieved through building designing is important. For this matter it attempts to examine the energy efficient envelope designing. Therefore several residential houses were examined and analyzed in terms of architectural portion of (overall thermal transfer values) electricity usage and OTTV of them, these were tested for different OTTVS to minimize solar heat gin into a building, therefore, a primary consideration in design of energy efficient buildings. Also discussed architectural techniques, types of materials on the heat transfer through the building envelope to achieve most suitable combination in the Sri Lankan context. It was found that proper ties pertaining to thermal properties of, envelope, materials, open spaces, etc helps to achieve comfort levels. There by it could be achieve balance of energy efficient and user comfort at the same time. In conclusion recommendations have been made for better envelope design.
item: Thesis-Full-text
A study of the application of the 'salvage' concept as a material usage in architecture
Kulatunga, KM
The word 'Material' is a key term in Architecture. The word 'Salvage' is a significant term in materials. A deeper meaning of these terms involve in what we can do to contemporary architecture. 'Material' means that from which something can be made. 'Building materials' help to form architecture. Architect creates architecture from any kind of materials, because any living being can create or built their living quarters using available materials. Utilization of available materials in building construction has been a basic concept since in the past. Development in technology has caused diverse impacts on Architecture, Economy and Environment. Waste can be introduced as one of the faces of it. 'Salvage' is saving and using waste materials. 'Saving' is avoiding wastage. The concept of 'salvage' could be applicable for scarce conditions appearing in the provision of natural resources. Waste is a burden for eco-system and could be turned out into valuable utilitarian benefits in the global economy. Considering 'salvage' materials as a requisite for architectural work, gets back to a significant history. However the concept of 'salvage' emerge in various cultures in varied forms. But nature of 'salvage' materials is important of its reusability. In Sri Lanka as a developing country, selection and material allocation in the construction field is most cases are very critical. This study will lead to identify, how wastes are used as building materials n an architectural point of view and how it can be applicable to Sri Lanka.
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Study of the attitudes of Sri Lankan architects towards the environmental : sustainability in buildings
Peiris, DCU; Manawadu, MS
The environmental consciousness is a common topic which can be hear in every discipline of works nowadays. Man who is a product of nature pay his respect to it by conquering it and day by day the issue becomes crucial. The built environment is a major area where this issue becomes critical. The rapid development which causes disturbing the lands and natural existences, use of natural resources, health and environmental hazards as problems. Then arises the question of how far we are going with this and what will be the end ? The term of sustainability has came to the scene and the argument of the way to be sustainable in built environment is a complex=and comprehensive issue. When it comes to the environmental sustainability in buildings it is necessary to have correct identification built on the gathered knowledge to overcome it. There are many aspects within the issue and when compromising one another one have to sacrifice, but what it needs is a fine tuned total composition. This composition is known as the holistic approach. The duty of the architects who are contributing the contemporary practice keep this in mind when it come to their duty, otherwise it likes the 'elephant to the blinds: The study goes through a analytical reception of the issue with respect to Sri Lankan practice.