Browsing by Author "Coorey, SBA"

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8

item: Conference-Full-text
Apartment design for sense of wellbeing: a case study of apartment dwellers during the pandemic in Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Architecture Research Unit, 2022-12-02) Seneviratne, TTA; Coorey, SBA
The impact of Apartment Design on the well-being of occupants has become even more critical during the time of the Covid-19 Pandemic. This health crisis is emphasizing the need for resilient built form, especially in the field of housing. Unlike standalone housing, communal housing in the form of high-rise apartments pose many challenges to the lifestyle and the sense of well-being of residents during a pandemic. Lockdowns, social isolation, and quarantine have an adverse impact on the physical, social, and mental well-being of apartment dwellers. This study aims to explore the sense of well-being, their adaptations, and resilience to living in apartments during the Covid-19 pandemic, through a case study of an upper-middle-income apartment complex in Sri Lanka. Primary data on respondents’ perceptions, lifestyle during the pandemic, and the challenges to their well-being are explored via online surveys among 38 respondents. Secondary data on the apartment design features are explored via observations and document analysis. Both descriptive statistics and content analysis is conducted to explore the quantitative and qualitative data respectively. Findings reveal apartment design considerations for more resilient and adaptable dwellings in the face of a pandemic, to address the sense of well-being of its dwellers.
item: Conference-Full-text
Behavioural adaptations and housing modification: a case study of a low-income high-rise housing estate in Sri Lanka
(Department of Building Economics, 2024) Warakapitiya, GYD; Coorey, SBA; Perera, NGR; Giridharan, R; Sandanayake, YG; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Ranadewa, KATO; Chandanie, H
Rapid urbanisation and population growth have intensified housing challenges in Sri Lanka. In response, the government initiated Urban Regeneration Projects (URPs) to create a slum-free Colombo. These projects involved constructing high-rise housing blocks for relocating low-income settlements and freeing up land for urban development. Unfortunately, several initiatives encountered failures due to inadequate services, limited employment access, substandard living conditions, poor maintenance, and unforeseen social consequences. This research delves into the adaptive behaviours of relocated low-income families in high-rise housing. It examines the challenges they face in daily life and explores the measures they take to overcome these obstacles. The study employs a case study approach, utilising interviews, surveys, and observations within a selected low-income high-rise housing block. Basic housing needs such as sufficient indoor and outdoor space, privacy, social interaction, community living, physical comfort (light & ventilation), safety, and security, are crucial for residents. To meet these needs, inhabitants adapt through behavioural changes, including multifunctional use of space, shared space, family activity organisation, and extending domestic activities into semi-public zones. Privacy emerges as the most critical requirement, often prioritised over social interaction and physical comforts. Residents primarily address these needs through behavioural adjustments rather than extensive modifications, given the challenges posed by mass housing.
item: Conference-Full-text
An Examination of green space exposure for well-being: a case study of Colombo city
(Department of Building Economics, 2024) Samaranayake, HSAJ; Coorey, SBA; Sandanayake, YG; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Ranadewa, KATO; Chandanie, H
The rapid increase in population density has led to a scarcity of green spaces and limited access to green space for urban dwellers. Green spaces play an important role in promoting human well-being; both socially and psychologically. Ensuring equal access to green spaces is essential for creating equitable cities. When everyone has the opportunity to enjoy parks, gardens, and natural areas, it contributes to a healthier and more inclusive urban environment. However, Colombo, Sri Lanka’s bustling city faces challenges in providing habitable and accessible green areas for its residents. This paper aims to assess green space exposure in the city of Colombo. The study examines the provisions, distribution, and accessibility of green areas across CMC’s administrative areas, including North Colombo, Central Colombo 1, Central Colombo 2, Colombo East, Colombo West, and Borella. By using a multidimensional approach that combines ArcGIS mapping, spatial tools, population statistics, and remote sensing (via NDVI mapping), the research explores green space availability and proximity-based accessibility for the diverse urban population. This investigation is crucial for informed urban planning and enhancing the quality of life for Colombo’s residents.
item: Conference-Full-text
Relevance of Threshold Spaces in Low-income Communities of Colombo for Sustaining Social
(2015-10-05) Gunathillaka, D; Coorey, SBA
Low income communities in Colombo represent life styles that are established through interdependency and strong social ties. Inadequate resources, land and services are some reasons for interdependence and strong social bonds act as mechanism for facing day to day challenges. Threshold spaces are observed within these settlements where social activity, exchange and interaction take place. They play an important role as spaces where social ties are reinforced. Hence the existence and function of such spaces are critical in sustaining these communities. However during resettlement such socio spatial relationships and the threshold spaces are ignored and the opportunity for social ties is lost. Hence this paper aims to identify and acknowledge the threshold spaces existing in low income settlements. Further the architectural elements that shape such spaces are explored and understood for shaping future settlements. Data is collected in three selected cases in the Kotahena area. A variety of threshold spaces were observed in these cases. The spatial formations and architectural elements in threshold spaces were explored using maps, sketches and photographic studies. The social activity and interactions were explored using systematic observations, activity maps and interviews. Ten residents were interviewed from each case. This research will be beneficial to identify how different qualities such as, separation, connection, communication, differentiation, transition, interruption, continuity, boundary and crossing in threshold spaces have been gained without interfering with social relationships and by composing architectural elements in various ways to the satisfaction of the commune.
item: Article-Full-text
The role of socio-spatial relationships in sustaining communities case study of low income settlements in Colombo
(2014-04-10) Mahamudalige, K; Coorey, SBA
LoI}) income settlements in Colombo represent communities that have high interdependence and social ties. Such communities are observed to be significantfy linked and dependents on their public and semi public spaces tuhere social activities and ties are reinforced and sustained. But it is observed that when such communities are resettled in other vertical or horizontal neighbourhoods such socio-spatial relationships are ignored and hence results in disruption of communities and loss of social ties. Therefore the existing socio-spatial relationships in such settlements can be considered as an asset to the settlement that urban designers and Architects must recognize in future resettlement programmes.
item: Article-Full-text
The Role of Socio-Spatial Relationships in Sustaining Communities. Case Study of Low Income Settlements in Colombo
(Faculty of Architecture University of Moratuwa, 2013-12) Mahamudalige, K; Coorey, SBA
Low income settlements in Colombo represent communities that have high interdependence and social ties. Such communities are observed to be significantly linked and dependents on their public and semi public spaces where social activities and ties are reinforced and sustained. But it is observed that when such communities are resettled in other vertical or horizontal neighborhoods such socio-spatial relationships are ignored and hence results in disruption of communities and loss of social ties. Therefore the existing socio-spatial relationships in such settlements can be considered as an asset to the settlement that urban designers and Architects must recognize in future resettlement programmes. This paper examines the levels of physical integration or segregation of public - private spaces within such settlements and explores the impact on social integration. The importance and role of such spaces for enhancing social integration among the community is highlighted. Spatially integrated and segregated spaces within the settlement are analyzed via axial maps and their social integration is explored through activity maps, photographic surveys, observations and semi structured interviews. The study sheds light on the success of highly integrated spaces as oppose to the segregated spaces and highlights that spatial integration, the integration of private to public space in the fowl of space, fowl, activity and function plays a vital role in creating and sustaining socially integrated communities.
item: Conference-Full-text
Spatial configuration and neighbourhood characteristics’ impact on activities in informal spaces: a case study of Badulupitiya informal settlements in Badulla
(Faculty of Architecture Research Unit, 2022-12-02) Perera, MKS; Coorey, SBA
Spatial configuration plays a role in the formation and types of neighbourhood activities. The common in-between spaces in an informal neighbourhood plays an important role in sustaining socio-economic networks and activities within the neighbourhood. The spatial configuration can create and enhance these activities and networks among its residents. This research investigates the spatial configuration of urban, dense, self – organized (informal) neighbourhood in Badulla and the activities generated within these spaces. It explores the positive social networks and interactions impacted by spatial configuration. Systematic observations, user perceptions, and space syntax is used to explore activities in space, the quality of space and the spatial configurations . Research findings show that necessary and social activities are dominant in spatially integrated space which are also visually and physically accessible, connected to the neighbourhood and commercial activities with high levels of surveillance. While optional activities dominate the spatially segregated spaces study also shows that these spaces are also socially disconnected with poor land use mix, links to residences, and low visual connections with other buildings. Physical characteristics further deterred these spaces from being socially and physically active. Even though functions that encourage social and active activity types are located in these spaces, such as play areas, playgrounds, these spaces are underutilised. Study shows that the physical chracteristics of the spaces also play a role in generating different activity types and nature of activity. Generating spaces with more surveillance, connectivity to other land uses such as shops, and houses and higher visibility can encourage more social activities even in the segregated spaces. The ad-hoc street side spaces and streets, lanes, alleys have become the major social spaces in the neighbourhood. Designated social spaces must be spatially integrated with a higher visibility, and accessibility to residential, commercial functions for better utilisation of those spaces.
item: Article-Abstract
Vertical Living Vs Sustainable Communities: Open Design within High Density Urban Neighbourhoods in Kong Space Hong
(2014-08-07) Coorey, SBA
is an important determinant for building sustainable communities. In Hong Kong the open spaces allocated within vertical neighbourhoods act as extended semi-public living spaces from the otherwise tight private living spaces. This paper focuses on such open spaces which are designed and allocated for communal activity. In the case of hyper dense cities such as Hong Kong the attributes of urban compactness and mixed use, have implications on the quality of open space, impacting the residents' satisfaction and use of such spaces. Such implications hamper the quality of open space and thereby its influence on building sustainable communities. Literature identifies some negative factors such as the lack of open space provisions, crowding, lack of privacy, lack of greenery and poor environmental quality and positive factors such as reduced. travel time, better social contact and safety in open spaces. This paper tests the impact such factors have on the overall satisfaction and use of open space in vertical neighbourhoods. Questionnaire surveys are conducted in selected high density neighbourhoods in Hong Kong in order to collect data on open space evaluations by the residents. Statistical analysis is done to identify the significant variables influencing optimal user satisfaction and its implications on building sustainable communities in vertical neighbourhoods.