"Design with Nature" incorporation of natural elements in contemporary architecture in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This dissertation intends to study the use of natural elements in architecture in order to address the issues relating urban built spaces and contemporary architecture in Sri Lanka. Architecture can be defined as an impact on the nature, as a result of the interaction between man and environment. Due to limitations in human needs and the limitations in their technology, this interaction cause less damage to the natural environment at the earlier evolutionary process of human civilization. As the civilization got sophisticated that equilibrium between nature and man had collapsed resulting damage to the environment. There are various examples that matured architects in earlier civilizations both western and eastern contexts have creations those in harmony with the nature. Even the forefathers of modem architecture like of Frank Lloyd Write or LeCorbusier had some of their master pieces skillfully blend with the natural environment. Human being tended to create new technology and various forms of arts have been developed. Architecture is one of that directly affects the natural setting. In the process of creating the built fabric the nature get amended and loose stability. This phenomenon can be averted if the new creations were done accordance with the environment. Every Human being tends to have some sort of relationship with the nature thou the competitive character of society prevents them enjoying the qualities fully, they interact with the natural environment as they were permitted. Many western urban centers developed with industrialization have incorporated many natural features as parks, water bodies and various types of landscapes to their urban planning and designing and also most of basic concepts for contemporary designs are derivative of the nature. This study focused on exploring the possibilities of incorporating some elements of nature in the forms of water, vegetation, rocks and boulders to improve the quality of the built environment. It is also try to understand the different ways of these elements been used and levels of assimilation. Architecture had been created in different contexts and to facilitate different types of activities. Use of natural elements in these conditions varied in types, quality and quantity giving the built spaces different kinds of expressions. One objective of this study to introduced a typology for these natural elements and records the meanings and expressions they are generating. Being a tropical country, Sri Lanka posse's diversity of natural environment and the different geographical conditions allowed vast array of elements that can be accommodated into the built environment. This is evident in the evolution of traditional Sri Lankan architecture and many ancient remains of urban contexts and buildings provides with valuable information regarding them. The influence of Buddhism on the Sri Lankan community may be a fact that island's architecture created in harmony with the nature also another aspect examine in this study.