Institutional-Repository, University of Moratuwa
Welcome to the University of Moratuwa Digital Repository, which houses postgraduate theses and dissertations, research articles presented at conferences by faculties and departments, university-published journal articles and research publications authored by academic staff. This online repository stores, preserves and distributes the University's scholarly work. This service allows University members to share their research with a larger audience.
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Recent Submissions
item: Conference-Full-text
Personalization of house entrances in urban low-income settlements with reference to family background: a case study in Swarna Place, Colombo
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2025) Wijeweera, C; Wijerathne, PNS; Hirudini, SM
Entrances of low-income houses express families’ social and cultural identities as well as their spatial preferences. Even within standardized government housing schemes, residents personalize their entrances to reflect individuality. However, limited research has examined how this personalisation is related to family background and socio-cultural context in urban low-income housing. Addressing this gap, the present study aims to investigate how entrance personalization in a government-provided low-rise housing scheme, located within a larger low-income settlement in Swarna Place, Colombo, corresponds to family background. Based on literature on low-income housing and family spatial behavior, the study identified spatial layout, volume, materials, roof form, and landscape elements as key physical parameters influencing entrance character. Family income and occupation were used to determine socio-economic background. Ten houses were analyzed through onsite measurements, observations, and photographic documentation, supported by semi-structured interviews and video recordings. Architectural and user analyses showed that families with higher income and occupational levels created more refined spatial connections and finishes, while those with lower levels showed abrupt, improvised adaptations. Across all cases, socio-cultural identity was expressed through religious and cultural symbols. The findings indicate that while entrance personalization reflects family background, shared cultural patterns persist across socio-economic groups, highlighting the need for design frameworks that support personalization while sustaining collective identity.
item: Conference-Full-text
Social reflection of lifestyles in Moratuwa urban area: an exploration of inherent art forms as an attribute in the urban context
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2025) Fernando, SC; Wjesundara, J
Art has a dynamic ability to reflect and express human skills that embody creativity and imagination across the various forms of artistic expression. Moratuwa is one of the vibrant cultural landscapes which once historically functioned as a mirror of social values and traditions, with the reflection of art forms. However, the dynamic relationship between art and society is facing disruption by the younger generation’s diminishing engagement with traditional and contemporary art forms, where modernity often overshadows cultural continuity. Exploring these traditions within Moratuwa’s urban context reveals their importance in maintaining cultural identity and a balanced way of life. The research aims to highlight the essentiality of art in human life, explore its reflection on Moratuwa's past and present, raise awareness among the younger generation about its vibrancy, and analyze its positive impact on the city's unique perspective, through urban context by integrating contemporary influences, while maintaining traditional values. The research deployed three methods, which are interviewing professionals in the art field, literature reviews, and deep self-observations along with discussions with the community and artists, about three art forms, music, wood carving, and drama, that are considered as the social reflections of people’s lifestyle in Moratuwa within urbanism. Moratuwa is known as a famous city in Sri Lanka for carpentry and cultural art. As a positive result, this research emphasizes how inherent art forms serve as powerful media to reflect and communicate the evolving lifestyles of Moratuwa’s urban context. Therefore, there is a need to reframe and revitalize the city’s identity through a deeper architectural appreciation of its cultural heritage in its urban development. This initiative will foster awareness, appreciation, and renewed interest in the art forms along with economic progression. It shapes the social fabric of contemporary Moratuwa, which will be a significant attribute in its urban form, bringing a uniqueness to the city's perspective.
item: Conference-Full-text
The Effects of the transition from public to private spaces in the urban low-income houses on family life: Swarna Place, Colombo as a case study
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2025) Dissanayake, YR; Thalawatta, MD; Hirudini, SM
In Sri Lanka, Colombo accommodates most urban low-income settlements, which are predominantly self-built and characterized by dense spatial arrangements. In these congested houses, the transition from public to private spaces is often unclear and abrupt, affecting residents’ spatial usage and family life, posing the question of how transitional spaces in the house influence family life. This study examines how such transitions affect family life in low-income households, with a special focus on Swarna Place, an urban settlement in Colombo. A literature review on urban low-income housing and its impact on family life, along with a pilot study, was conducted. The road-to-house distance, threshold spaces, and spatial connections were selected as parameters for studying spatial transitions. The functional use of spaces and weekend activity types were analyzed to understand families’ spatial use and interactions. Ten cases covering the settlement were selected, and spatial plan data were gathered through on-site measurements, observations, and photographs. Family life and spatial use data were collected through observations, semi-structured interviews, and photographic and video recordings. Spatial connectivity and spatial use analyses were conducted to examine the impact of spatial transition on family life. Findings reveal that road-to-house distances and garden spaces are minimal or absent. A small threshold often serves as the only transition between the street and the house. The living room functions as the main family space, with most bedrooms opening to it, enhancing connections and interaction but compromising privacy. The study concludes that improved spatial planning between public and private zones in the house is essential to balance interaction and privacy, thereby enhancing family life. Broadly, it emphasizes integrating transitional spaces into future housing schemes to promote family well-being while maintaining privacy. The outcomes can support in-situ upgrading projects that respect residents’ spatial behaviors.
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Usage of contemporary public bathing spaces and community behaviour: a case study of Gunasinghepura Housing Scheme, Colombo
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2025) Siriwardana, SMCS; Hewapaththuarachchi, RW; Hirudini,SM
Historically rooted in collective cultural practices, public bathing in dense urban settlements has evolved into a complex social phenomenon, intersecting with issues of space, identity, and community interaction. Most of the public bathing spaces including Gunasinghepura were built in the nineteen hundreds during British period. This study investigates community behaviour associated with contemporary public bathing spaces, with reference to public bathing spaces in Gunasinghepura housing scheme in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The research was developed with an extensive literature review on public bathing places and community usage. Through the literature review, location, spatial layout, materials, and other physical elements were selected as physical factors that affect the usage of public bathing spaces. Types of users with reference to gender and age, time of usage of the facility, and users’ residential locations were selected as the parameters to clarify user behaviour types. Spatial and physical data of public bathing spaces were collected via onsite measuring, observations and photographic recordings. User behaviour and spatial usage data were collected via observations, semi-structured interviews and photographic and video recordings. A spatial analysis and a user behaviour analysis were adopted to identify the usage of public bathing spaces and user behaviour to examine how these spaces are occupied, navigated, and transformed by daily communal activities. Findings reveal that public bathing spaces continue to serve not only as functional spaces for hygiene but also as informal arenas for social exchange and community cohesion, where users adopted diverse behaviours. The study concludes that public bathing spaces play an important role in creating social interactions in specific contemporary urban contexts and emphasizes the need for preserving and developing them with a careful design framework.
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A Study on placemaking through youth friendly spaces in Sri Lankan urban context
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2025) Jayasinghe, C; Wijesundara, J
Urbanization in Sri Lanka, driven by industrial expansion and rural-to-urban migration, has transformed cities into hubs of education, employment, culture, and services, particularly for youth. However, urban public spaces and placemaking efforts often overlook the deeper spatial, social, and experiential needs of young people, focusing mainly on functional requirements rather than meaningful engagement. There is a critical research gap in understanding how youth, the urban context, and placemaking interconnect, especially within Sri Lanka, where studies rarely investigate how spatial design influences youth behavior or how youth contribute to the shaping of public space. The purpose of this research is to examine how placemaking can create effective, inclusive, and sustainable spatial interconnections between youth and the urban built environment within the Sri Lankan context. This study explores the relationship between youth behavior and spatial qualities within the urban context, emphasizing how architectural and urban design approaches can contribute to meaningful placemaking. A qualitative methodology is adopted, utilizing three case studies as the primary basis for data collection and analysis. The focus is on identifying how specific spatial qualities influence youth behavior and how these insights can guide more responsive, youth-centered, and contextually appropriate urban places. Findings highlight that youth-friendly spaces are essential for fostering social inclusion, encouraging active participation, and nurturing civic responsibility. When ‘placemaking’ is aligned with the real needs and lived experiences of young people, it enhances their overall quality of life and strengthens both community well-being and the long-term development prospects of the nation..