retreat center in horton plains

SLIIT

Project idea

This design is both an information center and a retreat. What I expect is to take people
coming to Hortain plains who are too oblivious to notice the extraordinary beauty of the
domain of Hortain plains, in a journey to provoke an intention in their mind to examine
this beauty for themselves.



There are 3 key building elements in this design. The first element represents
a historical perspective of the environment of Hortains plains. A person
moving through the first element can see the second element that illustrates
the present perspective of Hortain plains environment, in front. Once the person
reaches the second key element, he can feel the present situation of Hortain plains.
Third key element which is not visible at the first element can be observed,
once the person is near the exit of the second element. Third element
displayed the anticipated future of Hortain plains. This journey through these elements
comes to an end at a watching deck that gives a fantastic view of greenery that extends
belong horizon. The idea behind this journey that I try to give-out to the people is
“Technological improvement without greenery is never an improvement”.


12.1 Retreat center in Horton plains

Horton plains contextual importance
Horton planes is a world heritage. Therefore when thinking of an environmentally friendly design that can cater to protect the place, the most suitable function is a research center or a heritage center. Deviating from that nature, this design is focused on a retreat center that is more focused on rehabilitating mental health and generating comfort and leisure using a natural context while also create the importance of the place which is not fully recognized.

Purpose of a Retreat

When someone goes to research or an awareness center, they might get informed and educated about the particular place and be conscious of the importance of it. Yet the process of making people aware of an important natural context last for a very little time, not allowing someone to experience the environment to the fullest and be self-realized about the message.
The need for a place where someone can spend a certain amount of time and get to know the actual importance of a natural context
should be identified as imperative. These kinds of places are rare when it comes to the functional aspect of it where the design itself orients someone’s mind towards loving nature. This should be the ultimate purpose of a natural retreat.

Why?

There is an extensive number of tourists both local and foreign arrives at Horton plains every year. These people tend to roam around the place and leave after a few hours of travel, not so much identifying the importance of the Horton Plains. Many tourists stay at resorts and other accommodations away from the place while only giving a short amount of time for the place from there timetable of the trip. Going Horton plains has become one of the goals of people’s bucket list and just a fun part of seeing a
beautiful landscape critical display of the natural setting and the biodiversity of Horton plains should be felt by experiencing it for a certain amount of time which cannot becover in one day. That is where the critical need of a retreat center emerges.
Design initialization

What?

The retreat center should cater to the facilities in such a way that people would wait and willing to get more exposed to the surrounding environment. It should be convincing enough for someone to stay and experience the natural setting of the place seeking
to understand it more. The importance of Horton plain is manifesting a low canopy level biodiversity. Plants and animals are ac
-accordingly adapted to a certain way of life in Horton plains. These attributes of a unique environment should be revealed in the retreat where someone will start acknowledging the true essence of the place.

How?

The natural world is in a way a collection of small, beautiful stories. Animals and plants are a part of one natural harmony. The
Horton plains is a song that is enriched with many soothing melodies. The design is focused on grasping these melodies or the beautiful natural moments with architecture and project it to the human scale experience. In a way the architecture of the
retreat center is acting as a filter to affect the human mindset with the strength of natural phenomena.

ABSTRACT

CONCEPT

Enchanting oblivious minds by melodies of natural harmony

Project description

This design is both an information center and a retreat. What I expect is to take people
coming to Hortain plains who are too oblivious to notice the extraordinary beauty of the
domain of Hortain plains, in a journey to provoke an intention in their mind to examine
this beauty for themselves.



There are 3 key building elements in this design. The first element represents
a historical perspective of the environment of Hortains plains. A person
moving through the first element can see the second element that illustrates
the present perspective of Hortain plains environment, in front. Once the person
reaches the second key element, he can feel the present situation of Hortain plains.
Third key element which is not visible at the first element can be observed,
once the person is near the exit of the second element. Third element
displayed the anticipated future of Hortain plains. This journey through these elements
comes to an end at a watching deck that gives a fantastic view of greenery that extends
belong horizon. The idea behind this journey that I try to give-out to the people is
“Technological improvement without greenery is never an improvement”.



1 INTRODUCTION

Horton Plains is saved by the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka. Not only that it has surrounded by mountains, grasslands and cloud forests. The environment of Horton Plains is sensitive. Three major rivers are started from Horton Plains such as Mahaweli, Kalani and Walawe rivers. Horton Plains can be known as Maha Eliya Thanna. Stone tools that belong to Balangoda culture, have found in Horton Plains. Archeologists have proved that Horton plains have a long history, there were civilizations around this area and those ancestors had engaged in agriculture. Not only this area has volatile climates and nature but also unique animals, bird species and fish species. In addition to that Horton Plains has recognized as a world heritage with a higher number of plants and creatures.

The height of Horton plains is about 2000m and the area of this land is about 32 km2. Horton plains consist of small mountains and small valleys. There are mostly marshes at the inside of small valleys. Those marshes are the catchment areas of the upper hill. The water in the above marshes is moving through the valleys of Horton Plains as small waterfalls. Those small waterfalls became as tributaries and started the major three rivers. As well as, fungus and algae species have grown well within this area and there are unique trees and creatures at the lower canopy level of Horton Plains. They are not
visible in other normal places.

Accordingly, fresh air is helpful to grow fungus and algae species well. Therefore, Horton plains is a favorable area for humans.
This area has various canopy levels. Heights of those are different from each other. But this canopy level is not too high. There’s a ground canopy level which is located in the under stayed layer and forest floor. (Anon., 02.03.2020)

2. Project

3.1 What is the project?

Our assigned project is Horton Plains Sri Lanka. This given project is a highly sensitive environment/context based project. Mainly, we have to work in our project under three specific topics such as awareness center, retreat center and research center. But I have assigned to create a retreat center below my project. Through this project, I expect to provide knowledge about the significance of
Horton plains for its visitors while responding to the sensitive environment.


3.2 What is the retreat?

The retreat is the place where provides mental and physical cure while touching the five senses of a human through environmental factors by using some method. Usually, the retreat is a hidden place from a large population and mostly it has mixed with nature. There is a world popular football player who is A.D. Williams said “Take a quiet walk with Mother Nature, it will nurture your mind, body, and soul.
It means staying with nature can heal and empower the whole soul of a human. There are different types of retreats but its type has determined by the most important requirement which should provide to the visitors.

Technical information

plan
master plan
roof plan
elevation
section
details drawings