Master of Science in Architectural Conservation of Monument & Sites

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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 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.
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Study on the relationship between human behaviour and elements of common spaces in tertiary educational institutes
Perera, WUU
What is space? There are two ready answers to this question. One of them is spontaneously plausible. It conceives of space as a self contained entity, infinite or finite, an empty vehicle,· ready and having the capacity to be filled with things. Consciously or not, people derive this notion of space from the world as they see it, and unless they are psychologists, artists, or architects, they are unlikely ever to be confronted with the challenge of questioning it. Plato spoke in the Timaeus of space as "the mother and receptacle of all created and visible and in any way sensible things." He thought of it as ''the universal nature which receives all bodies -that must be always called the same; for while receiving all things she never departs at all from her own nature and never in any way or at any time assumes a form like that of any of the things which enter into her; she is the natural recipient of all impressions, and is stirred and informed by them, and appears different from time to time by reason of them." Space was for Plato a nothingness existing as an entity in the outer world, like the objects it could hold. In the absence of such objects, space would still exist, as an empty, boundless container.
item: Thesis-Abstract
An Analitical study of urban space between fabric and street with special reference to main street of Colombo
Liyanarchchi, PDW
Creating a style is a complex work of art. It requires the merging of many criteria both functional and symbolic. Requirements in modem days make the city even more complex. City is an expression of essence of the people who built it and who live in it. Therefore, every city has unique characteristics of its own. In the urban city, street is the most prominent feature. Identity of the street is given by its built fabric and the social activities. The role of the built fabric varies from city to city depending on its' arrangement, detail and design. City is not only an arrangement of buildings to form one entity. It also encapsulate activity pattern of its uses. Therefore, city should express and reflect the socio-cultural background of its' society. Whilst designing urban streetscape, a proper design concept in the street architecture is essential since, the quality and the architectural language of the design depend on these concepts. Architectural language should fit into to its physical context. An architectural product which blends in with its context will achieve a rhythm. This rhythm will be a three dimensional experience to the viewer, who walk through it. Rhythm of a street can be defined as its function, composition of its built fabric and form of its space. Unless the designer clearly understands and identified this rhythm, he or she cannot add any built element to the context which blends with it. This study will endeavour to provide guidelines for the designers to identify the rhythm of the street, characteristics of urban fabric and there co relationship with the social activities. The author sincerely hope that this study will be useful in its' own modest way, to find architectural solutions for the present and future needs.
item: Thesis-Full-text
An Analytical study on sustainability in urban architecture with special reference to residential buildings in Colombo
Kulasinghe, SBA; Chandrasekara, DP
Although man seems a much-developed creature from his days of the jungle, he still is a part and parcel of a natural order of things. Man's development is reflected through his construction and technological improvements. Yet these in the long run has incurred damage and lost to the environment. Therefore the 20th century, foreseeing a future crisis and already arisen problems, became much aware of the issue of sustainability. This is an attempt to understand the broad scope of sustainable design. This study is a distillation of existing sustainable design theories, strategies, principles and guidelines with a focus on an urban Residential Buildings. A holistic perspective on this topic result in a much clearer understanding of the concept of sustainability, as well as a better grasp of how to steer the design industry towards more sustainable practices. It is important to note here, that this study is focused on sustainable design applicable to urban context and Residential Buildings. In the actual situation, the designer can never hope to reach absolute sustainability, but must strive to approach it to the limit of his capabilities. This analogy underlines one of the main goals of this study, that is, to take the existing knowledge of sustainable design, which has so far been applied in bits and pieces, and combine them all to create the most complete strategy possible
item: Thesis-Abstract
An Examination of spatial qualities in healing environment related to Ayurveda with special reference to "spa" in Hotels
Ekanayake, EMDB; Rathnamalala, S
In the ancient time "The pearl in the Indian Ocean", Ceylon was a haven or resting place for the merchants and sellers who sealed across the Indian Ocean. This paradise served their every need such as care for the sick, the finest gems and other dedications that they have never tested. Among those the natives offer, the special treatment and care given was unique and was called "Ayurveda". It is not just a mode of treatment; it's an art of living. Ayurveda stresses leading a life blended with nature so as to bring happiness in life and maintenance of good health.
item: Thesis-Abstract
An examination of the concept of a "Layered City" and with special reference to the phenomenon of a "Chalk layer"
Wedumpiliarachchhi, HH; Udalamatta, S
Cities review as much about time as place. Their shape and appearance are derived from history as well as their present functions and to some extent from their future. The city as a "historical perspective" which juxtaposition various time frames, which is represents the layers of the past, present and future. Expressing this phenomenon is called "Layered City
item: Thesis-Abstract
An Examination of the conservation strategies on historic cities and their impact on the development patterns : case study Colombo Fort
Weerasekara, AWNS; Munasinghe, H
A city is aimed to be a unified entity as a whole. Equalization of different characters and arrives to a unique character. It of course will make a city visually and psychologically comfortable. The experience then will become a delight and meaningful. The key factor of the development of a city is the unique identity. Historic cities have a unique character in their own, which has been appeared with the physical and social structure of the history. At present the conservation, preservation and maintenance of old characteristics have become indeed a crucial need of a historic city. As a result the urban environment has become destroyed and meaningless, which doesn't reflect the historical character due to many haphazard developments that have taken place. Historic cities are essential in order to determine a better future. Therefore the historic cities are being formed a threat of destroying the historical importance. Colombo Fort is also a historic city, which is being destroyed its uniqueness. While the Fort is developing rapidly, the new built structures are varying with scales, proportions and language. The street facades are also loosing the continuity, sense of enclosure and directional quality as well. Then the Colombo Fort is becoming non-legible with the other cities.
item: Thesis-Abstract
An Examination of the sense of place in a case of non-visually perceivable architecture
Chandani, MVR; Munasinghe, D
Blindness is a physical disability that makes a person unable to use of sight. This is the most prominent sense for the human being. Visual impairments limiting one or more of the basic functions of the eye: visual acuity, dark adaptation, color vision, or peripheral vision. These may result from eye diseases; optic nerve diseases; visual path way diseases; occipital lobe diseases; ocular motility disorders; and other conditions. Most of the blind people in the Developing Countries are deprived by the access to proper education, by lack of resources and cost of the equipment’s which are unable to reach. Negligence and the misconception of the society are also deprive their access to proper education. Sense of Orientation and mobility is the most prominent need for the blind with in the habitable physical environment. They face such difficulties when orientate among the 'World of Sighted People'. The physical Environment almost shaped according to the normal sighted people. It creates more complex, unfamiliar or hostile environment to the blind users and they limited to the small familiar environment.
item: Thesis-Abstract
An Examination of the significance of materials in creation of architectural expression
Chandrasoma, WPKDN; Gamage, A
"There is no effect of form which the effect of material could not enhance" George S. T In as much as the physical makeup (characteristics)of the human body control the movements of a anger ,the question of the amount !availability of building materials is among the most powerful factors that determine the kind of form, that a built form should take. In education, it can be said, that this phenomenon has played a per- eminent role, in building activities, form the earliest time to the contemporary, modem times. It is most important, that a built form and a choice of materials should have a close relationship; as such an arrangement will facilitate the full realization of the expectation of a designer through the use of materials. Such success and standards will require the use of materials, in a way that helps to bring out its native, intrinsic and hitherto untapped possibilities. An important point to note, is that whilst the resources of early builders covered a limited selection of simple materials, the architects and builders of modern times, have been endowed with a virtual glut of resources various choices , combinations , innovations, synthesis, etc, that could be used for building activity. An equally important point to note , is that the remarkable expansion, in material resources is not a phenomenon , that has grown of its own accord , but is actually a positive response to a stupendous and a ceaseless increase in building activities housing ,commercial, industrial , that has taken place , the would over ever since , the expansion of economic activities following on the industrial revolution in Europe in the 15th century. Concurrently cognizance, has to be given to the supplementary factor, i.e. that the boon, in the production of new and innovative materials, has actually, served as a strong stimulus to the problems on the score of as weather the full rang of new materials! sophisticated material would really meet an actual builders consumer demand or not. Not withstanding the above, the principal point to note, is that the plethora of new material and technology, that has entered the market, over the years has proved a effective means of aiding new built forms and appurtenant spaces to be completed to comply with contemporary need an ideas. The advent of the new material, technology, such as the steel, concrete and more significantly. Prefabricated and pre stress concrete contribute to complete revolution in the building industrial with the completion of bigger , higher, stronger and more fascinating built forms , to meet both housing and commercial needs . They opened the way to dramatic changes in architectural disciplines, styles and the character of urban and city landscape. It is also important to state that this unprecedented growth, new trends and dimension in the use of materials and technology also made a sizeable contribution to the generation of the desired. Architectural expression and the ensuring of the user comfortable environment in the built forms that were completed in the contemporary world. That this synopsis on the topic of dissertation "an examination of significance of materials in creation of architecture expression" can not be considered as completed without a brief comment on three elements/ components meaning , materials and expression are inextricably and inseparably intertwined and it is not possible to attach , any real significance or position to them, special in the context of their relationship with the user and people , unless they exit and operate together in unison. However it is correct, at the same time to take note of the fact, that the meaning element is the key and leading one among the three. It may be likened to the source or spring of the built form out of which the other elements flow and form which they derived strength and vitality of course taking this view does not imply, that the other two elements are not significant and act as essential agents for strengthen the meaning element, making it more meaningful and conveying it is message to its user/ observe and vice versa. These factors collectively help to throw light and establish the magnitude and depth of the subject that have undertaken, for the purpose of this dissertation. None the less regard it as an exciting challenge to probe in to a field that is both complex and rich form which certain valuable impressions and conclusion could be drawn. In the circumstances, it is sincere hope that this dissertation, the diverse ideas and observations, set out in it, will be found acceptable, simulation and thought – provoking to the learned body of persons who will best on honor of reading appreciating and evaluating it.
item: Thesis-Abstract
An Overview of spatial experience as a cinematic experience
Athukorala, AUSS; Silva, J
Architecture is the process of human habitation. As an inescapable form of art architecture should provide physical and psychological comfort to experience life as a dramatic process. In most of the situations architecture is not identified as a creation of unavoidable experience, and the impact of spatial qualities and experience of space, on user' s behavior patterns have been neglected. As the primary attention is merely creating only to quantitative requirements, in architecture the embodied meanings and expressional values get the minimum consideration. And intention that looks at architecture as an art has been gradually decreased. Even appears to the world as a delightful entertaining form of art, today cinema provides relaxation, aesthetic satisfaction as a spiritual form of art that bounded with the reality of life. The movement in time and space, the variety of changes in plane and rapidly switching viewpoints fills the screen with life. The perceptual and experiential attributes of space and cinema are felt for the sake of enriches psychological healing and comfortable experience of space. With reference to space-time connectivity which leads a spatial experience, visual perception, composition an images and expressive qualities, the intention was set to describe the spatial experience with relevance to cinematic experience and the utmost goal became to feed the qualitative architectural experience.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Analytical study of architecture as a tool of creates the landmarks in special references at Galle road
Sharada, HT; Munasinghe, J
Architecture is problem solving process. Hence, how architecture bound with people mind? I think it is a responsibility of the architect as well as people. Because. architect creates physical object with his talent and people feel it and make the mental images psychologically, in their mine. But, important thing is create the place which are more simple and support to create positive mental Images.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Annex - concept and expressions an analytical study of the co-relationship of the annex with the socio-economic aspect and its effects to the expression of the house ;special reference to architect designed urban annexes.
Jayasooriya, VCS; De Silva, V
"A home is ones private station in relation to the rest of the community. It plays a very large part in giving one a place in society and it is linked with other homes through personal relationship" Allsopp B., 1974, p. 36 house is a critical component towards providing man a private space to communicate with outsiders, thus symbolically expressing the family's image and status towards the outer society.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Architectural response to environmental laws with special reference to sustainable development
Priyanka, RADR; Gamage, A
This study is an attempt to understand the broad scope of sustainable development : in terms of Architectural response to the environmental laws. Sustainable development is only a notion, which has been defined and addressed in different manners by different professions. Although it has many definitions it is believed that it has been meant for a good health of world development. Within the process of sustainable development, construction industry plays a major role. As a master of the building construction industry, Architect has to associate not only with production of shelter but also with environment. Therefore developments of Architectural philosophies are much more concerned about the environment. On the other hand environmental law helps to safeguard the environment. The environmental law concepts and management procedures are used to evaluate the development activities related to environment. These concepts may help to achieve the goal ofthe sustainable development. Environmental law, one of the key areas that architects are concerned about with more or less coincidence with design strategies. Some statutory provisions of environmental law have been implemented as mandatory requirement and guide lines to Architects to follow. Therefore in this dissertation the idea is to identify the developed concepts and principles which lead to sustainable development, in both Architectural and environmental law and its impacts on Architecture. Furthermore it deals with compatibility and flexibility of environmental law with its applicability on current Architectural requirements.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Architecture for children : architectural contribution towards the development of pre-school children in space utility
Silva, MHLM; Gamage, A
When consider the human development, the most important sector is the child development. Through child development, it gains the human development; because the present child is the future adult. The child development process should suit according to child's psychological, physical and cognitive development. There fore an Architect should provide more spatial opportunities to develop this field of a child. If the society does not consider this matter, it will be a problem. As a result of lack of attention of this matter, it has been a problem to day. Objectives of this study are, find out the degree of architectural contribution in space utility for child development in the selected pre - school environments and give suggestions for upgrading above architectural contribution in space utility of pre school environment. When achieve these objectives, firstly identified the development of child's conception of space. Secondly, the development of child's spatial needs is identified. And there by fulfillments of child's spatial needs is identified. At the next step analyze the architectural contribution of space utility for child development in selected pre - school environment. Finally, give some important suggestions for upgrading the architectural contribution in space utility of pre - school environment to make better relationship with children and their environment
item: Thesis-Abstract
"Architecture for children" : examination of the role and importance of architecture on child development in pre schools
De Silva, BDS; Gamage, A
"A Baby is too comfortable in his mother's womb ever too want to leave it, but on the contrary struggles widely to return as soon as he's born" Olivier Mark,1977:12 Architecture for children in contrast to that of an adult is subjected to major changes in terms of its structure; for understanding of external structure of space depends upon the mental capacity of the individual child. These two entities the child and his mental capacity and his sense of place in the environment are engaged in an everlasting interaction which leads towards the whole process of childhood. Therefore the degree of fulfillment of the spatial needs of the child depends upon the nature of his conception of space. In the interaction between the child and the environment the spatial needs of childhood is the foremost basic human need which should essentially be fulfilled. This complex correlation is identified as analyzed through a theoretical approach in this study.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Building mass as the modification factor in achieving thermal comfort of urban canyons, in Colombo region
Gunawardena, KACM; Rajapaksha, U
From Stone Age to Modem Age humans have changed their surrounding environment to satisfy their comfort condition needs. People who lived in the tropical regions were trying to merge with their surrounding environment rather than fight against it. The dominant feature in tropics is, the lack of seasonal variations in temperature.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Chaotic development and its impact on city character
Banagethanna, ERK
The cities have a unique character like a person have his or her own identity But due to the lots of contemporary development trends which make the cities look more characterless loosing its identity make more uncomfortable to the physical attributes and the functional aspects as well and identifying the stress imposed to the city and its components is a realistic approach. To curb this haphazardness it is advisable to identify the actual impact towards the whole city structure and its character after the post development trends. The development trends have to be implemented in a very effective manner in order to see the city have the physical and functional activities more well arranged in the future in order to have the society keeping it's original architectural characteristic while giving away lots of means and ways to the development trends which will be taken place in the future.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Cinema & architecture : structure, expression & meaning in modern and extension of modern period
Chaminda, JM; Rathnamalala, S
Analytical study is intended to be done by giving architecture and the cinema a one artistic entity W1th 1n the selected scope the coherence relationship is to be revealed through the study. This study is primarily based on in search of parallelism among architecture and other forms of arts for the purpose of meaningful creation of architecture. Special rsferc•tce is given here to the crnema as a parallel art stream Thts study rs pnmanly targeting on the core actrvrty of architectural design process. The response to a situation and developing a theme (concept) and achreving the intended form of art with in the theme are s~udied here. by making parallel study with the cinema it will be able to show the importance of awareness of other forms of art for the meaningful creation of architecture. By making theoretical survey on both art forms in relevance to the scope 1s used to burld a theoretrcal frame work for the study. By makrng practical discussion with the professronals in both streams is further used to strengthen and adjust the above frame work
item: Thesis-Abstract
Climate responsive design(CRD) ; climatic strategies in architecture and their regional variations with special reference to main climatic zones in Sri Lanka
Prasangani, THA; Rajapaksha, I
As a main consumer of energy and mechanical methods for keeping its internal spaces comfortable and therefore emitting adverse components like CO2 and CFC to the environment, the contemporary buildings are responsible for current global issues like 'global warming' and ozone layer depletion. Therefore, as the Professionals involved in designing buildings, Architects has grate responsibility on addressing such issues. Making the buildings climate responsive can reduce a grater amount of such causes for these current environmental issues. The world is divided to various climatic regions considering their weather conditions and the strategies in architecture for respond these climatic conditions are unique for their basics. But considerable variations in Architectural Form can be observed even within these main climatic Zones. Therefore it is important to study on Climate Responsive Design (CRD) and its regional variations as a Postgraduate student of Architecture. This dissertation includes a study on various principles and strategies of CRD for Tropical climate in order to formulate a comprehensive set of principles and strategies for tropics which was further developed in to a CRD Evaluation Index and a research on regional variations of CRD and their applicability in traditional and modern domestic buildings with special reference to main Climatic Zones of Sri Lanka. Eighteen (18.) Houses were evaluated under nine (09) cases selected from the three main climatic zones in order to obtain reasonable coverage for the research and the results were evaluated against a 'base case' selected for each zone using the developed CRD Evaluation Index. The analysis of research reinforced the hypothesis for the research of ... 'there is a regional variation of CRD and the modern buildings have ignored such CRD strategies, which were specifically followed by the traditional buildings of tile same region'. The research was further discovered that there are various sub zones even within these main climatic regions we identified- and concluded the dissertation while opening various areas for possible future studies. Key Words.· Climate Responsive Design (CRD), Principles and Strategies of CRD CFW Evaluation Index, Main Climatic Zones in Sri Lanka, Dry Zone, Wet Zone, Hilly Zone.