Browsing by Author "Hettiarachchi, AA"

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An Assessment of user preference in artificial pathway lighting in urban parks; Cases from Greater Colombo region
(Faculty of Architecture Research Unit (FARU), 2021-12-03) Wickremasinghe, LLS; Hettiarachchi, AA
Urban parks are critical in converting cities to liveable spaces, where artificial lighting directly affects the users’ night-time experience. This study explores the urban park users’ preferences in artificial pathway lighting, through their subjective responses towards Brightness, Correlated Colour Temperature (CCT), and luminaires of the existing lighting design, at four popular urban parks in Colombo. The reasons for the said preferences were investigated under three overarching themes: perceived safety, perceived quality of light, and restorative experience. A mixed methods approach was employed for data collection, where questionnaires were used together with measurements, in-situ observations, and photographic analysis for better understanding. The user preferences were found to be directly associated with their perception of the lit environment. The existing brightness levels are insufficient for majority of the users and has affected their perception of safety. The poor selection and placement of luminaires have negatively affected the lighting quality, while the positive effect on the users’ restorative experience has induced a higher preference towards the CCT of the light sources. The results revealed that the majority of the users opted for changes in the current lighting design, indicating that the user needs and requirements are not effectively addressed in this regard.
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Blind sense of place : a sensory ethnographic study on parameters of optimal design
Fernando, BNP; Hettiarachchi, AA
Built environment needs to be inclusive addressing all the people who are in different sensory capacities. The current research study was focused on Architecture for visually impaired. The objectives of this qualitative investigation were to explore the nature of blind sensual perception and identify the parameters of blind‘s sense of place leading to optimal design.The research was conducted, with a sample of visually impaired children (n=13, age = 16-22, male: 7 and female: 6) who are students of Rathmalana school for the blind. A sensory ethnography study was adopted to identify the nature of perception and the parameters of most preferred and least preferred spaces of the school premises. Data analysis was done through Nvivo 11 program. The blind sensual perception considering the order of prioritization of sensory modalities was identified as; haptic perception (35 %), light perception (27%), auditory perception (19%), olfactory perception (11%) and visual perception (8%) respectively. Sense of comfort (46%), and sense freedom (31%) were identified as the predominant psychological parameters leading to optimal sense of place perceived by visually impaired while safety (8%), rhythm (8%), privacy (3%) and sense of belongingness (4%) were identified as secondary factors. Being in harmony with the elements of natural landscape, cross ventilation, artificial ventilation and lighting in a conducive level were revealed as favorable characteristics. Glare, noise, irregular rhythm in vertical circulation (risers and treads of thestaircase) and lack of safety in textural design elements were identified as the unfavorable characteristics of least preferred places. This investigation revealed the importance of transcending beyond the bias of vision and designing inclusive built environments addressing haptic perception incorporating textural effects of materials, ventilation, sound, smell and lighting leading to optimal design conducive for visually impaired.
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Colour associated thermal perception : Manifestation and contributing factors with reference to red and blue
Hettiarachchi, AA; De Silva, TKNP
Theory of colour, a long-established tradition of artists, differentiates between the impacts of warm and cool colours on human beings. The lack of scientific and statistically substantiated knowledge on aforesaid colour associated thermal perception (CTP) deems to hinder its optimum integration in creating responsive built environments. Current investigation seeks scientific explanation on manifestation and contributing factors of CTP with reference to a warm colour (red-RTP) and a cool colour (blue-BTP). Hypothesised potentials of CTP to manifest as a psychological response, a biological response, altering core body temperature or an actual thermal sensation caused via the human skin due to heat radiation emitted via coloured surfaces were tested. A crossover experiment was executed with a sample of healthy male undergraduates (n=111) selected via stratified simple random sampling (age 19 – 30) under controlled laboratory conditions. Substantiating colour theory, subjects demonstrated a propensity to perceive red as warm/hot (64.2%) and blue as cool/cold (59.3%). As revealed by logistic regression, CTP neither manifests due to a fluctuation in core body temperature nor as an actual thermal sensation. It is a psychological response characterised by common as well as colour specific factors. Accordingly, thermal impacts of colour could be integrated in built environments to psychologically manipulate the perceived thermal environment against the real thermal condition to achieve the desirable thermal milieu.
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Concept of unity in Architecture : the manifestation on spirit of place
Hettiarachchi, AA; Emmanuel, R
This Dissertation calls attention to the evidence of a perfectly interconnected system of all the creations o f existence on earth. Perceiving this interconnectedness has been established as the destination of "Dwelling", the manner in which we, the human beings exist within this system. The recognition of this oneness or unity of all is considered universal and spelled out as the summum bonum of existence. Architecture, a fundamental aspect of dwelling, is determined as a process converging upon this selfsame ultimate goal implying it to exist harmoniously within the system of existence. At this juncture, a perceptual framework is brought in which personifies the site, nature or the system of existence, and treats the world as a 'being" or a 'consciousness'. Subsequently, the nature is distinguished as a pre-existing place which has it's qualitative, intangible total phenomenon, it's own guardian spirit, parallel to a human being, which is termed the "spirit of place' or 'Genius loci' in Latin. Capturing this spirit of a place is distinguished as the key to penetrate the system o f existence. The task of the Architect is demonstrated as penetrating this system by means of concretizing the spirit of a place in to buildings or man made places. In view of that, the building or the man made place is recognized as a tool or a device conducing to the perception o f unity, which is the ulterior motive of Architecture. The essay distinguishes our era as a dark era o f spiritual crisis, where the authentic qualitative values of dwelling and Architecture are being fatefully covered up by the illusive, self-centered, divisive worldview of mankind. The present human being is identified as an unbalanced being who has lost his unity - the supreme ideal of existence. Thus, the essay stresses on the need of regaining the lost unity in order tosafeguard our world from the massive catastrophe, to which it is heading rapidly.
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The correlation between colour associated thermal perception and preferred human activity
(2014-01-10) Hettiarachchi, AA; De Silva, N
Research has shown that colour stimuli could trigger certain fixed emotional and behavioural responses lVithin human beings. Consequentty, transcending its typical aesthetic value, colours have a greater potential to be integrated into design in a WqJ that can stimulate required emotions and behaviour in the built environment to enable optimum human performance. This attribute is identified in the present stuc!J as an important aspect of the Junctional value of colour'. Literature on theory of colour explains the relationship betueen colour and human's, thermal perception (TP), distinguishing warm colours (red, orange, yellozv), cools colours (blue, gree1J,purple) and neutral colours (white, grey, black). This stu4J emphasises that every human activity demands a unique thermal condition or environment for its optimum performance. In consequence, it was f!)Ipothesised that colours could be potentiallY used to manipulate human thermal environment as demanded by the activity intended in arry built space. Hitherto, the scientific investigations done on the nature and potential of this association are scarce. The present research attempts to provide evidence for TP related to a few selected colours, while identifying certain associated functions for aforementioned colours.
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The Correlation Between Colour Associated Thermal Perception and Preferred Human Activity
(2013-03) Hettiarachchi, AA; De Silva, N
Research has shown that colour stimuli could trigger certain fixed emotional and behavioural responses within human beings. Consequently, transcending its typical aesthetic value, colours have a greater potential to be integrated into design in a way that can stimulate required emotions and behaviour in the built environment to enable optimum human performance. This attribute is identified in the present study as an important aspect of the ‘functional value of colour’. Literature on theory of colour explains the relationship between colour and human’s thermal perception (TP), distinguishing warm colours (red, orange, yellow), cools colours (blue, green, purple) and neutral colours (white, grey, black). This study emphasises that every human activity demands a unique thermal condition or environment for its optimum performance. In consequence, it was hypothesised that colours could be potentially used to manipulate human thermal environment as demanded by the activity intended in any built space. Hitherto, the scientific investigations done on the nature and potential of this association are scarce. The present research attempts to provide evidence for TP related to a few selected colours, while identifying certain associated functions for aforementioned colours. A group of normal sighted, healthy volunteer undergraduates (n=72) of the same age (20-23) were shown computer generated slides of a typical room in seven different colours as specified in RGB colour model, projected on to a wall ; red( 255,0,0), orange (255,165,0), yellow (255,255,0), blue (0,0,255), green ( 0,128,0), purple (128,0,128), white (255,255,255) within a controlled studio environment. While maintaining a constant ambient temperature (26oC), the participants were exposed to each slide for two minutes. They rated their thermal perception (warmness/coolness) of each room on a 5-point likert scale and selected activities they would prefer to perform, in each room out of a list of activities provided to them, imagining that they were actually experiencing each coloured room shown in the slides. Findings of this study provide testimony for colours’ ability to alter human’s thermal perception. Explicitly, TP of red, orange and yellow colour slides were rated as warm and blue, green, purple slides were rated as cool while white slide was found to have an average TP. Red was found to trigger the highest TP and blue, the lowest TP. The following relationship between TP of the seven colours tested was arrived at; TP Red > TP Orange > TP Yellow > TP White > TP Purple > TP Green > TP Blue. Supporting the hypotheses, the participants preferred to perform active functions in the rooms which they rated to have a high TP and vice versa. For instance, red room was preferred for exercising and sports, while orange was selected for sports, dining and exercising. Yellow was imagined as suitable to support discussions, dining and sports. The colours identified to have a low TP were significantly preferred for calm activities. Blue and purple respectively were decidedly preferred for sleeping and secondly for relaxing. Green room was dominantly preferred for relaxing. White which was rated to have an average TP was chosen for calm and neutral activities, mainly drawing, reading and meditation.
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Destigmatizing mental health treatment centers through architectural interventions; insights from national institute of mental health, Mulleriyawa, Sri Lanka.
(Faculty of Architecture Research Unit, 2024) Ranasinghe, RDA; Hettiarachchi, AA
In the modern Sri Lanka context, despite frequent awareness programs and increased access to information, an inherent stigma associated with mental health disorders and treatment methods prevail. The Architectural characteristics and elements of existing mental health facilities have been found to amplify these negative perceptions hindering patients' access to effective mental health care. Within this backdrop, this study looks into the Architectural parameters that contribute to the stigmatization of mental health facilities, adopting a mixed-methods approach taking the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Mulleriyawa as a case study. Participants’ perceptions (n=36) on seven selected spaces [; admin building facade, old ward facade, specialized departments, new ward exterior, old ward interior, entrance lobby and main corridor] within the facility were gathered through an author designed online questionnaire survey, while their corresponding levels of well-being and depression, stress, and anxiety levels were evaluated using SACRA-15 Building Well-Being Scale and the DASS-21 scale respectively. A majority of the participants reported severe levels of depression, anxiety, and stress across all the spaces studied, with the highest percentage of participants relating to ‘old ward interior” [86%,72%,75] followed by new ward exterior [97%,55%,61%]. Consistent with this finding, the majority of participants demonstrated low levels of wellbeing scores across the spaces tested, out of which ‘old ward interior’ and the ‘new ward exteriors’ were significant with highest percentages of participants with low levels of wellbeing [81% and 70%]. The main corridor of the facility was the only space showing a moderate level of well-being due to significant attributes of natural light, ventilation, nature connectedness and spaciousness. The participants identified the Architectural quality of NIMH as “‘prison-like’, ‘unwelcoming’, ‘scary’ and ‘gloomy’, contributing to an oppressive atmosphere which reinforced stigma. Restricted visual and physical access, lack of visual connections, limited access to green spaces, inadequate natural lighting and color, unbalanced solid-to-void ratios and underutilization of vistas were found to contribute towards the existing and monotonous ambience with sense of containment, leading to the stigmatization of this mental health establishment. Based on these findings, the study recommends incorporating courtyards and green spaces, improving the use of color, removing visible demarcations while maintaining functional and psychological boundaries, and optimizing material choices and spatial volumes as supportive Architectural interventions to help de-stigmatize mental health treatment centers.
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Effects of open plan workspaces on job satisfaction: a study on software development professionals in Colombo
(2018) Naranpanawa, YI; Hettiarachchi, AA; Samarawickrama, S.
People in the modern world spend most of their time in workspaces. Yet these workspaces are rarely designed to promote humane aspects. Open plan offices are getting popular despite their effect on people. Recently there is a boost in the local information technology field where many young people work. Therefore identifying effects of open plan workspaces on workers’ job satisfaction has become vital. Vision is the prominent way of experiencing a space and spatial layout decides the occupant’s visibility in a space or through spaces, creating sense of privacy and interaction. Even though several organizational and environmental factors affect job satisfaction, this paper focuses only on visibility and privacy levels in open plan offices. Visibility graph analysis was recognized as a quantitative analysis tool to measure spatial configuration and a self-reported questionnaire survey was launched to collect qualitative measures on user experience. The analysis proves that different open plan configurations have different visibility patterns and create different levels of privacy. Higher satisfaction levels are reported from software company workers in open plan offices and increased privacy levels are identified in offices having individual workstations with different levels of visibility, which promote flexibility and adaptability within the workspace.
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Environmental psychological considerations for people working in shared spaces; a study of co-working spaces: concerning Colombo, Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Architecture Research Unit, 2022-12-02) Thilakarathne, TMSK; Hettiarachchi, AA
While coworking has been a global trending topic since the new millennium, the Sri Lankan coworking industry starts with the economic boom at the war's end. As coworking is a new concept in the country, its adaptations and impacts need to study for future adjustments and growth. This study aims to provide a basis for space design fields to make sense of human behavior in co-working places by specializing in the context of "space." The layouts of two Colombo-based coworking environments were examined; Co-nnect and Likuid Spaces. The results showed that both the coworking environment layout arrangements and co-workers’ attitudes should improve in being true to core working core values. While it gives a standard framework for future research, it sheds light on the Sri Lankan interior designers, business researchers, and venture capitalists towards new opportunities in the coworking industry.
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Experiencing landscapes with spatial navigation by visually impaired children of the blind school, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka.
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2018-10-05) Karunanayaka, DJAMP; Hettiarachchi, AA; Wijesundara, J; Dayaratne, R
Navigation through the environment helps experiencing the landscape by all the users including the ones who are having different sensory capabilities. The current research study focuses on spatial navigation of visually impaired in experiencing landscape Architecture. The research objectives were to explore the nature of sensual perception and the parameters pertaining to experiencing a familiarArchitectural landscapeby visually impaired childrenleading to favored and dis-favored navigations. The research study was conducted with a sample of visually impaired children (n=10, age=15-20, male: 5 and female: 5), who are students of blind school, Ratmalana. Sensory Ethnography was adoptedas the principal method and the data collection was done via small group observations, interviews anddiscussions. The hierarchy of sensory modalities associated with perception of visually impaired was identified as; haptic perception (34.5%), auditory perception (34.5%), olfactory perception (14%) and visual perception (17%) respectively. The psychological factors associated with overall navigation ofvisually impaired were recognized as; sense of comfort (30.5%), sense of freedom (21%), sense of discomfort (30.5%), sense of safety (9%) and sense of being unsafe (9%). The significant parameters leading to favored navigation were identified as less distance to the destination, availability of solid and void difference, natural ventilation, thermal comfort, connections to nature, less glare and being uncrowded. Dis-favored navigation were found to associate with more distance, crowded spaces, more turn-offs in the paths, darker spaces, spaces with more glare and noise.This investigation highlights the importance of transcending beyond the bias of vision and addressing different perception modalities when designing landscape architectural interventions to achieve optimal and inclusive spatial navigation.
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The Factors contributing to dropouts and incomplete academic standing : a study on Architecture Undergraduates of University of Moratuwa
Hettiarachchi, AA; Senevirathne, JMTK
Increasing dropout rates of undergraduates is an alarming issue faced by the higher education sector of Sri Lanka and worldwide. According to data from Higher Education Statistics agency of United Kingdom, 6% of first degree entrants aged under 21 who enrolled in 2013-2014 years did not continue their studies beyond their first year (Havergal, 2016).As highlighted by Barefoot (2004), the high rate of student dropout between the first and second year is a major concern for the majority of US colleges and universities. Student success rate is regarded as a primary indicator of institutional performance which reflect the overall quality standards of a learning environment. Students persisting to complete their educational goals is a key gauge of student success, and therefore institutional success (Voigtand Hundrieser, 2008). Accordingly, it is an obligation of each and every higher educational institution to commit in establishing conducive learning environments and effective and sustainable student retention programs aligned with their educational missions ensuring student success leading to high rates of completion.
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Impact of class room colour on primary education : a study implemented in a boys’ primary school, Colombo
(2017) Hettiarachchi, AA; Nayanathara, AS
Primary School is considered the starting point of the learning process of a child and should be designed with a conducive learning environment aligned with the intended learning outcomes. Colour being an important visual element of design is recognized to have a direct impact on a child’s psychophysiological and behavioural aspects. This study investigates the impact of long term exposure to a monochromatic class room on primary education. Participants were 213 grade 2 students (age-7, gender- male) of a boys’ primary school in Colombo studying in identical classrooms (n=6) having a monochromatic interior (orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink) for two consecutive years (grade1 and grade 2). Students and class teachers were given two distinct questionnaires on student’s preference, performance, learning and behavior. Subject preference of student participants revealed that certain colours support specific skills of primary grade children. Blue and orange demonstrated most favourable impacts on their learning and behaviour. Blue was found to enhance creative artistic skills of children while orange and yellow were identified to support logical thinking associated with mathematics. Green and purple were found to have a balanced impact on improving both logical and creative thinking. Orange and green classes were with a majority of students significantly skilled in learning. A positive impact of blue colour on school attendance was identified. Accordingly, the potential of colours in creating conducive learning spaces aligned with the learning objectives of primary education, was revealed.
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Impact of colour on worker productivity and satisfaction in the garment industry: a case study implemented in awissawella, Sri Lanka
(2019) Gunathilaka, DMLR; Hettiarachchi, AA; Samarawickrama S
Attracting workforce to Sri Lanka’s current apparel industry has become quite a challenge. Absenteeism and labour turn over have been recognized as critical factors on productivity of workers and consistent quality of the products. Accordingly, identifying strategies to enhance job satisfaction, performance and productivity of workforce is vital for the sustenance of the industry. In view of this, the current investigation investigates the potential of colour, being an established psychophysiological agent to enhance worker satisfaction and productivity. A sample of female machine operators (n = 30, age – 25 - 60) of a garment factory in Awissawella, Sri Lanka was tested during a period of four weeks via a mixed method. Colour of the internal walls of the factory space was changed on a weekly basis to record the level of satisfaction and productivity induced by each colour. Existing wall colour (pink) was replaced initially by blue (a cool colour) and secondly red (a warm colour) followed by white (a neutral colour) using coloured fabric. Employees rated their level of satisfaction and productivity via a questionnaire survey while the records of their productivity were obtained from the administration. The study substantiated the impact of colour to manipulate worker satisfaction and productivity. Most employees (77%) were satisfied to work in the blue interior while 73% of employees were dissatisfied in the red interior. 50% of workers were satisfied with white interior while 24% employees were dissatisfied. However, Red interior was found to maintain an average worker productivity of 70% compared to the existing productivity level of 63% with the pink interior. Average productivity induced by blue and white interiors were 65.4% and 56% respectively. Accordingly, red was found to improve productivity over blue and white though many employees were dissatisfied regarding the presence of red in the interior. It is recommended to extend this study seeking the favourable quantity, proportion or the percentage of colour red that needs to be incorporated in an interior to increase productivity of employees while being satisfied. Testing the combined impacts of red (warm) and blue (cool) hues and their corresponding proportions for an environment where employees are equally productive and satisfied can be another aspect to investigate.
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The Impact of interior layout on human behavior : a study of co-working spaces
(2019) Thilakarathne, S; Hettiarachchi, AA
Coworking is a trending topic in the working world since the new millennium. Its productivity in creative matters is increasing the validity of the subject steadily. At the end of the war, with the bloom of the economy, Sri Lankan coworking got a huge rise in the working community with its IT and tech-based businesses. As it is a new concept to the country, the impact of Sri Lankan culture in adapting to coworking should be examined in future adjustments and growth. Hence, as the first research of the subject area, a broad framework was developed for the use of future researches. The Theory of Proximity and the Five Coworking Core value system paved the ground for the research. The case was elaborated under-identified four parts for the consistency in the rationale which was build up in the process. Since the Theory of Proximity has not studied priorly in Sri Lankan interior design field, it was necessary to study the cultural aspect of the participant coworkers towards the coworking concept, except to analyzing the layout design. Two Colombo-based well-known coworking environments were examined Co-nnect and Likuid Spaces. Also, the results showed both the coworking environment layout arrangements and co-workers’ attitudes should improve in being true to the core values of core working. This research provides a universal framework for future researches in analyzing the adaptability of the coworking concept to any context of the world. Moreover, it sheds light on the Sri Lankan interior designers, business researches and venture capitalists towards new opportunities in business.
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Impact of natural spaces on mental health and satisfaction in work environments ; referenced to The Service Providers in Selected Health Care Institutions of Sri Lanka
(2019) Bandara, DU; Hettiarachchi, AA; Samarawickrama, S
Productivity of a facility is defined by the efficiency of the workforce and outcome of the facility. The natural spaces and the Landscape establishment maintenance has not been prioritized in Health care institutions and the importance of those factors have not yet been identified. According to reports government constantly supports the development of health care services and technical facilities by providing a considerable amount annually. Even though the overcrowding and delays in the health care institutions cannot mitigate, functional way of increasing the facility productivity is improving the efficiency of the workforce. The hypothesis is that the healing environment based on natural element has effects on the workforce efficiency because of its impact on Mental Stability and Satisfaction. This study intends to identify workforce response to work experience through the evaluation of mental comfort and satisfaction levels of the service providers in the healing sector. Both Open ended and multiple choices, questionnaires were used as the assessment method. Lanka Hospitals, Nawala is selected as the case study due to the well-designed landscape spaces in the premises. The literature suggests that the nursing staff spend most of the time in the movement due to their duties; therefore, nursing staff was selected for gather data. Findings suggest that there is no significant impact from the natural elements in the interior spaces. Furthermore, the natural outside view from the break room and the floor lobby areas have been selected as the most favoured feature of the workplace. It is concluded that the outside view from the health care institutions has been impacted more with compared to the other natural elements like interior landscape elements. It is concluded that natural spaces and visual accessibility to the outside view is making a significant positive impact on the Mental health and Satisfaction in health care work environments.
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Impact of nature connectedness in reducing depression, anxiety and stress of working community during Covid - 19 pandemic Insights from IT Sector in Colombo, Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Architecture Research Unit, 2022-12-02) Hettiarachchi, AA; Wijethunge, WMDL
Professionals in the IT sector are subjected to many stressors leading to an array of mental imbalances and disorders. Nature deprivation: lack of connectedness to nature amidst their busy task oriented, accuracy related stressful work schedules can be highlighted as a significant factor causing poor mental health. In view of this, the current investigation focuses on inquiring the impact of ‘Work From Home’ (WFH) scenario on depression, anxiety, and stress levels of the IT sector employees during pandemic with special reference to their level of exposure to nature. A sample of Software Engineers who were working from office before pandemic (n=35) based in Colombo, Sri Lanka were examined in this investigation via a mixed method. DASS 21 self-report scale was adopted to record the perceived depression, stress, and anxiety levels of participants both before the pandemic when Working from Office (WFO) and during the pandemic once shifted to WFH scenario. A questionnaire survey designed by the author was executed to record the participants level of connectedness to nature during WFO scenario and during pandemic when WFH at his/her own workstation. It was observed that the number of participants having depression, anxiety, and stress in different levels (45%, 52%, 45% respectively) during WFO with less nature connectedness (46%) has significantly reduced during WFH scenario (30%,34%, 16% respectively) with increased nature connectedness (74%). Increasing the possibility to create more connections with nature by participants during WFH set up can be identified as a significant variable in reducing their depression, anxiety, and stress levels. The findings of this study sheds light on actions that organizations can take to lessen the negative impact of techno-stressors on mental well-being of workers in the IT industry.
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Impact of the quality of space of learning environment on the quality of life of autistic children :
(Faculty of Architecture Research Unit (FARU), 2021-12-03) Premathilake, KWHK; Hettiarachchi, AA
Children with Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD)are found to struggle with diverse challenges in achieving quality of life in their education environments. In view of this the current investigation looked in to the impact of the quality of space in their learning environments in enhancing the Quality of life of Autistic children. Two types of school environments that accommodate students with ASD were examined namely, a special education school (A) and two mainstream schools with special educational units (B & C) in Kandy, considering 10 participants from each school (n=30). Inclusive design parameters were examined by a photographic survey and observations by the investigator and recorded via a 5-point Likert scale based on their level of presence. Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedQL) was adopted to measure quality of life of participants. School A demonstrated the highest averages of for quality of space (65%) as well as quality of life ( 61.7%) while C ( 34%/48.3%) and B ( 30%/44.7%) showed lower averages respectively. Accordingly, the study observed a clear relationship between the Quality of Space and the Quality of Life of children with ASD, highlighting the potential of enhancing the quality of life of the students with ASD by improving the quality of space of local schools.
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The Impact of viewing vistas on psychological well-being a study on the service providers in selected government hospitals in the hill country, Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Architecture Research Unit, 2024) Rathnasinghe, AS; Hettiarachchi, AA
This research explores the impact of natural vistas on the psychological well-being of healthcare professionals, in Sri Lankan government hospitals around the hill country region. Given the demanding and stressful nature of their roles, understanding the preferences of medical staff for scenic views and the effect of these views on their well-being is crucial. The study is rooted in the Attention Restoration Theory by Kaplan and the Stress Reduction Theory by Ulrich, with a focus on specific parameters: Observer Landscape Distance (OLD), connection to the outside, visual content, and visual privacy. Data Collection was done in two stages: primary and secondary data collection. A mixed method approach was used in the research. The study was carried out in two hospitals in the Haputhale and Bandarawela districts. Literature suggests that the nursing staff spend most of the time in movement due to their duties; therefore, the nursing staff was selected to gather data. The research explores the relationship between exposure to natural vistas and the well-being of these professionals, considering factors such as accessibility and placement of nature views, selection of suitable vegetation and the integration of restorative elements within hospital environments. The findings reveal that borrowed natural landscape views have a restorative effect on the mind, enhancing psychological well-being among medical staff. This highlights the significance of landscape architecture in hospital design, especially in hill country regions. Emphasizing surrounding vistas and elevations, rather than solely focusing on physical infrastructure, could substantially improve the quality of life for medical service providers.
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Improving quality of group work: reflections on module - colour ( ad 1030 / dd 1030 )
Hettiarachchi, AA
Working in groups has been established to have multiple benefits in higher education. Yet, its effective execution to achieve the expected outcomes in terms of quality has always been a challenge. The mark received via assessing both the process and product of a group work is considered to represent its quality in the present study. Lack of cohesiveness, commitment, / enthusiasm, uneven contribution of group members and uncertain learning outcomes, were found to affect the expected quality of a group activity carried out for colour module ( AD 1030 / DD1030), shared by B. Arch and B. Des Level One in year 2009. Only 16% out of 104 students were able to produce good quality work, obtaining above 70 marks, meeting the expected learning outcomes. To assure high quality group work in the subsequent academic year, several strategies were adopted. The students were free to form own groups to uphold interest throughout the process. Assessment criterion and expected outcomes were explicitly and transparently communicated beforehand and reviewed frequently. Prompt feedback for improvement was given at interim submissions where groups which met the outcomes were praised to create a sense of challenge and motivation. The group mark (80% of the final mark) was awarded to each member and * . adjusted for individual contributions via controlled peetf assessment (20%). Ground rules were established at the onset to ensure quality, unleash creativity and to facilitate an enjoyable learning experience. Consequently, 99% of 104 students scored above 70 marks, witnessing a remarkable improvement in the quality of group work.
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An Investigation into the relationship between visual greenery of urban canal environment and emotional well-being of teenagers in low-income settlements
(Faculty of Architecture Research Unit, 2024) Hettiarachchi, TC; Hettiarachchi, AA
Urban canal areas, especially in low-income settlements, frequently suffer from inadequate design, which affects the emotional health of teenagers, a demographic that is especially vulnerable to emotional challenges. This study explores how design parameters, such as the density of visual greenery, spatial greenery distribution, and blue-green integration along canal waterfronts, can influence eudaemonic and hedonic emotional well-being and the quality of life for teenagers in these areas. The study, conducted with 40 teenagers living in low-income settlements near canal environments, examined five visual scenarios with varying green coverage ratios (low and high) and greenery distribution (continuous and patchy) using 3D simulations and virtual methods to enhance participants' understanding. High outdoor greenery, regardless of distribution type, is more beneficial than low greenery. The best scenario for psychological well-being is high greenery with a continuous distribution, resulting in very high well-being levels. This setup fosters selfsatisfaction, positive feelings, optimism, vitality, and autonomy, affecting both hedonic and eudaemonic well-being. In contrast, conditions with no greenery are the least beneficial. These findings offer valuable recommendations for landscape architects, architects, and urban planners to prioritize emotional well-being and create child-friendly, therapeutic landscapes in outdoor canal environments.