The Metropolitan Arbor - Headquarters for Landscape Architects

City School of Architecture (CSA), Colombo

Project idea

Landscape Architects conduct research and advice on planning, design and stewardship of the outdoor environment and spaces. It is based both within and beyond the built environment, and its conservation and sustainability of the development.
Founded in 2009, the Sri Lanka Institute of Landscape Architects (SLILA) is the professional association and the governing body of the profession of Landscape Architecture in Sri Lanka, representing more than 250 members.
Functions of the Institute -
 To promote and advance the study of, and research in, landscape architecture and its related subjects and the arts and sciences connected therewith.
 To promote, establish and maintain close relations with the profession worldwide, including the international exchange of knowledge, skills and experience in both educational and professional spheres.
 To establish and maintain the highest possible standards of professional practice in planning, designing, development. Management and conservation of the landscape, along with other relevant professionals and professional bodies.
 To organize, supervise and control the admission and the professional education and training of persons desiring to qualify as landscape architects, to prescribe or approve courses of study for the qualifying examinations for membership of the Institute and to conduct or provide for the conduct of such courses and examinations.
 To protect and promote the interests, status, welfare, rights and privileges of the profession of landscape architects in Sri Lanka and the interests of the public in relation to that profession, and of persons desiring to qualify as landscape architects.
 To establish, regulate and maintain libraries and benefit schemes for the benefit of members, officers and employees and their dependents.
The project is a design for the Headquaters for the Sri Lanka Institute of Landscape Architects.

LOCATION -
The site is situated in Nawala, in the Colombo District. Nawala is an up-market residential Suburb of Colombo in the western province of Sri Lanka. Nawala is currently the ceramic capital of Sri Lanka. During the past couple of years, the number of ceramic stores increased rapidly, and still counting. However, today Nawala is a cosmopolitan town encompassing all facilities.
However, the old village of Nawala, which until the 1920s was mainly uninhabited, was bounded by Canals, lakes and Marshy Lands. Its main feature was the ammunition dump, the bunkers of which are still visible in the Nawala Cemetery. Decades before the modern era where there was mass migration from villages to suburbs, Nawala was said to house large plant nurseries back then.

SITE -
The site is located down D.M. Colombage Mawatha, a road adjoining the Open University of Sri Lanka. The site was initially a marsh with rich vegetation and bio-diversity, which is lost in the present day. The site is currently being filled, and the surrounding areas are used as garbage dumps. There is no form of biodiversity and the site is a totally neglected plot.

WHY THIS SITE?
The site is in close proximity to the canal system of Nawala and also the marshlands and wetlands in the area. The project aims in connecting the functions with these elements in order to bring awareness together with conservation to practice. For this purpose the site is an ideal location to house Landscape Architecture. The site is a strong node both in terms of its natural context and the activity patterns of the city.

The idea is to connect the wetlands,marshlands, canal networks of the City with the project's Master Plan.

Project description

MASTER PLAN PROPOSALS
Through the master plan the aim is to connect the project with the City. For this purpose the following proposal were proposed.
- Green Path proposal connecting the Road network to the Main road, and also to have a ceremonial approach towards the building
- Canal restorations to promote boat rides to view the hidden marshlands and wetland ecosystems.
- Pedestrian Railway cross bridge to minimize frequent railway accidents, creating views towards the building's public spaces.

Through these proposals the aim is to create a building that merges and connects to the city, and not a mere building framed within a plot of land, as Landscape Architecture is all about dealing with Nature and human behavior to build elegant spaces to connect nature and the built environment. It also connects the natural habitats of the city with the built components.

CONCEPT -

"NATURE’S SPIRITUAL COHERENCE" – Unveiling the cohesion between nature and the built environment.

Nature plays a vital role in human kind. Our thoughts are governed by nature. It depends on the environment we stay, that our thoughts are derived. Our thoughts are governed by nature unconsciously. Nature can be interpreted as a religion, as it is proved that if we play fairly with it, the outcomes are beneficial. It also plays a major role in human psychology, as our thoughts are governed by the nature we reside. The relationship of humans to nature, and the connection between the natural world and human society is a scope not well understood.
The concept aims to reveal the value of nature and the cohesion of the natural world and the built environment, through a series of journeys and experiences, where people are free to interact.
The process aims to bring awareness on the need of correspondence between the built and natural environments, in order for better ecologically balanced cities and environments in the future.

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY -
Sustainable design is a collective process whereby the built environment achieves unprecedented levels of ecological balance through new and retrofit construction, toward the long-term viability and humanization of architecture.
Focusing on environmental context, sustainable design merges the natural, minimum resource conditioning solutions of the past (daylight, solar heat, and natural ventilation) with the innovative technologies of the present. Sustainable design rediscovers the social, environmental, and technical values of pedestrian, mixed-use communities
A green building should cater the factors of sustainability integrating possible sustainable technologies in a manner to cater the environment, society and economy.
The aim of my philosophy is to combine the conventional methods in a sustainable manner for an ecologically balanced future.

Technical information

ORIENTATION -
The building is oriented perpendicular to the Wind path to maximize the use of natural cross ventilation. It is also oriented in a manner that views are created facing the node in which maximum pedestrian and traffic patterns occur. The main access road and the side road is connected through a public pathway consisting of a public cafeteria conducted by the un-employed personals in the surrounding.

The super structure is made out of Steel H and I sections and pre-cast concrete slabs. The central steel framed structure is the main load bearing structure. Since the water table is just 2m below the existing ground level, Sand pilling is used in order to pose minimum disruption to the natural ground.
The roof structure contains transparent solar panels, which can be obtained in customized sizes. These panels allow natural light to flood to the interiors.
The material pallet was decided by conducting an analysis on the weighted average of each material individually.
The design philosophy was to make use of materials that are to be discarded. For this aspect, palette timber and reused timber panels (old table etc.) are been proposed to be integrated in the design, thereby showcasing an aesthetic beauty and potential in a material that is meant to be discarded. These theories also lead towards better innovations.
Objectives through material usage –
 Having minimum impact on the environment
 Reducing costs meant for purchasing of new materials
 Showcasing potential of materials to lead to innovative ideas
 Reducing wastage
 Making economically feasible methods for material use.

Co-authors

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