RUHUNU MAGAMPURA MARITIME EXPOSITION MUSEUM

SLIIT

Project idea

The site which is selected for museum is located in Hambantota town and that area has a maritime trade history in Sri Lanka. Godawaya was the transshipment port which is situated at the old mouth of the Walawe River. The port of “Godavaya” (“Gota Pabbata Pattna”) fulfilled the need between the 1st and 10th centuries.
It also fulfilled the task of shipping locally produced goods from the hinterland. A German team excavated the site and discovered a jetty made of stone pillars up to 3.50 meters high, a customs house and the remains of an ancient monastery, as well as clay lion-seals used by customs officials, Roman coins, beads, bangles, and pottery (including ceramics originating from China, the Middle East and Rome). And also among the finds were large storage and cooking pots, stone benches, grinding stones, and glass and iron ingots. Gems, Pearls, Tea, Rubber, Coconuts, and Elephants exported to India and Myanmar. Apart from gems, pearls, iron and elephants, the islanders exported rice, ginger, honey, beryl, amethyst, gold, silver, chanks, tortoise shells, spices and muslin cloth.
Trade in ancient times involved mostly luxury goods. Sri Lanka imported silks from China; horses, perfume and glass from India; wine and corals from the Mediterranean; and superior-quality ceramic goods from all over.
According to these historical evidence it prove there was a great developed international trade of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka is located in middle of the maritime silk route from China to Europe. So Hambantota has a great international maritime trade history and there is no such a place to show that history to world.
And also when talking with the people of the area, they said nothing about the development of Hambantota. They don’t have any sense about development, why they need development, what are the opportunity they get, like that. But in the past days, they had a great maritime trading history and well developed city. But during colonial period the harbor shifted to Colombo & Galle. After that the level of prosperity dropped down.
The given location also has historical places like Ruhunu magampura Heritage museum, Gallows tree, Martello tower, Light house and Old Court building. But within these things the area is totally dead. These are the reasons for propose this project.

The objectives are to show that, remind people, how Hambantota performed as a successful international maritime trade hub in the south which will remind them the Hambantota still has potential to be one as past and change people’s mind through the building. Increase the sense about maritime history and increase the income of other two museums which are located in Tower Hill area. Attract more people to the Tower Hill area and keep the area as an active open public space.

Concept is “Theertha” (moving from one time to another time)

To achieve the concept the museum has three parts. Those are past gallery, present gallery and future gallery. This is shown in my project by representing the past glory and future aspiration which are connect through the present.
When thinking about building form it is come up with the Chinese philosophy “Ying Yang”. The black side represent past and white side represent Future. How they could be collided together to bring out a positive impact on the museum visitor.

Project description

When the building placing in the site I selected to place in east edge of the site because to have more free space in middle of the site and decrease the foot print of the building (building foot print is 31%). Having more free space in middle of the site is create an open public space. So this space will helpful to connect other two old museums with the new Museum. And also having open public space will be attract people.

The exposition museum is six story building with the height of 27m and width of 51m. The museum have entrance (lobby, ticket counter) an exit lobby 01, Introduction gallery, Main gallery 01 (Gallery of the past), Exit lobby 02, Main gallery 02 (Gallery of the Present), Extra low voltage room (ELV room), observation floor, Main gallery 03 (Gallery of the Future), Museum artifacts store with lab, Administrative office, Services room (Generator room, A/C plant, Transformer), Public toilets and staff toilets.

The theme of the museum is Glory of Hambantota through Harbor. In the Main gallery 01, there will be exhibit, types of goods they imported and exported, method of transportation (how did they sent goods), the people who came to trade. Main gallery 02 is open public space. It will show what’s happening in today. Main gallery 03 is in fourth floor. This floor is more futuristic. There is no tangible exhibits. It used hologram technology to show the future. Visitors who come to this museum will enter to the Main gallery 01 through the Main gallery 02. They will see how their city, country developed in past. Then they go through the Main gallery 02. Then naturally they started to think about the past and present situation and compare it. While they thinking about it they enter to the Main gallery 03 which show the future of the Hambantota and country. End of this gallery there is a view point which is direct to the upcoming Hambantota harbor. After this gallery they compare each time periods together and they started to think about development, why they should develop like that. So having a journey through these three galleries, my intention is to change visitor’s mind.

There is a replica ship in middle of the museum deck area. Visitors can observe the replica in different level from the museum. When you look at it from sea side, this will look like an entrance gate way arch to the country.

The landscape idea is to create passive cooling system in open public area. Site edges has tree barrier which gives shades and act as a tree barrier. And middle and edges has shallow water ponds which help to cool open public space.

Technical information

The main structure is shear wall structure. But in the top floor it is a bridge, it has 30 m expand. So for that I have used steel 3D truss. In the building it has two wings that is shear wall and then on top I have that steel 3D truss.
In the below ground floor there are some columns which are supported to slab which has the ship. For these columns I have used column footing foundation.

In my design it has used concrete, timber, steel, permeable concrete. Concrete used as a main construction material and keep it without finishing layer because I wanted to give rustic quality. In the open deck which has the ship on top I used timber floor finish. Because it is an open public area and people are gather here. So the finishes should give the comfortable feeling. Permeable concrete is used for paved area. Because it can absorb water and it absorb less solar radiation and emit less heat.

Orientation of the building is east to west. But east side and west side have small opening to avoid solar radiation. In this design the museum area is fully air conditioned. Because it has artifacts which needs conditioned environment. For cooling system I have used chiller plant. When using A/C in the building it use lot of electricity. So for generate electricity I have use solar panel on top of the building.
When thinking about the heating of the building all the glass are UV protected double laminated self cleaning tempered double glass which has an air gap in between two glasses.
In the landscape design also I have create naturally cooling system. Hot air from the sea side reaches the building gradually, through the tall archway and meets the water fountain in the middle. The hot air then cools itself while moving around with the big number of trees placed around the boundaries and inside the landscape. This process cools and ventilates the ground area.
In the roof top it has flat roof with slop. In the four corners of the roof has gutters. Gutters collect the water from roof slab and discharge to the down pipe which is going through the shear wall. Then the water is collected by rain water harvesting tank and it use for shallow water fountain. All the rain water collect and treat for usage of building purposes.