Performing Arts Center & Youth Hostel

University of Moratuwa (UoM), Faculty of Architecture, Department of Architecture, Moratuwa

Project idea

Haputale is a town of Badulla district in the Uva province in Sri Lanka. It is 1431m above the sea level. The context is rich in bio-diversity and has a cooler climate. Tamil nationality peoply and people belong to Hinduism are high in Haputale town.

SOCIAL STRUCTURE AT HAPUTALE:
• The social structure of Haputale is the South- Indian rural system.
• The KOVIL plays important place in their lifestyle.
• Key socio-cultural factors;
-Settlements were centered around Kovil.
-Sacred place
-People are mentally and physically connected to it.
-People have a strong connection to the Kovil on special occasions.
-Most of the traditional artforms are performed within the Kovil.
• Folk dances are common in the South- Indian rural structure.
• “NAATU KOOTHU” ( Street dramas/ Janakaraliya ) is one such folk art which is not in practice nowadays.
• It is one of the indigenous forms of folk art.
• Ancient Tamil literary work “Koothu Nool” mentions that dance originated from drama and drama originated from dance. Recently due to the arrival of numerous modern technical and electronic mass medias all the traditional art forms have gradually lost their importance in society. Today many of the Sri Lankan Tamil Koothu forms are only known by names.
• Therukoothu referred to mobile performances in a procession, overnight festivals, narrative performance at a fixed performance space.
• Traditionally performed in a stage which allowed audience to sit right around the performance and interact with the audience. The lack of knowledge, inaccessibility and no mobility are the main problems in the revival of this traditional art form.

PROJECT INTENTION:
• To create an opportunity for the students who take dance, music, and drama as one of the subjects in A/L’s to develop in their carrier.
• Reviving and developing the culture.



PROGRAMATIC PRINCIPLES:
• “MOBILE THEATER” to reach marginalized communities + “FIXED BUILDING” to create a permanent Performing Arts Center to the city.

The fixed building is inspired from "KOVIL" which is a very familiar space to the public. So that the people will not feel alienated with the building structure and the protytype structre will make it unique to the context.

Project description

DESIGN STRATEGIES:
• Scheme would contain both a fixed center in the city and a mobile structure to travel marginalized communities.
• Architectural program of the project would contain design in a way that the project program is socialized.
• New group of artists will engage in each program once in 5 months providing training for 50 new youth adults.
• Scheme would function differently in different time period.
• Scheme to be designed in a way to be familiar and legible to the users.


PROJECT PHASES:
PHASE 01
• Introduction of traditional theatre arts training facility with a large theater for performances.
• Introduction of the mobile theatre with support storage facilities.
PHASE 02
• Introduction of theatre training facility with accommodation.
PHASE 03
• Increase in number of mobile theatres to perform in different space at the same time.
• Introduction of internet application to assist in arranging and organizing performances in mobile theater.

The mobile strcture will be connected to the coach and travel to different communities. Thereby the program become socialized and also will help in the revival of the "KOOTHU" art form.

The fixed building will act as the space for practice of the art forms such as dance, music and koothu. The provided hostel will accommodate the students and will also a provide a healthy environment to learn.

Technical information

Fixed Building - Performing Arts Center:
• Dimensional tolerance in joinery.
• Essential technical requirements of a theatre.
• Easily constructible.
• Operable timber louver facades provide protection from frequent rain.
• The students and the public will have seperate access to the stage.
• The inspired structure will naturally eliminate the heat from the building through the aluminium louver panels.
• The I beam is made out of recycled and customised steel. It is painted in red to give aesthatic attraction to the building.
• The storm water collected from the gutter on top of the roof will be get down through down pipe hidden behind the I beam.

Mobile Structre:
• Lightweight portable structure.
• Adjustable fits in joinery.
• Easy installation on site.
• Storage Coach + Student's Coach
• Enough facilities are provided in the Student's coach required to travel.
• The stage can be easily fixed on site and the base will be conected to the train where the sound systems, lighting systems and dress changing areas are placed.


Youth Hostel
• Designed to provide a healthy environment to learn.
• Contains sepearate dormitories for males and females.
• Seperate recreational areas are provided.
• Customised bunk beds with foldable table tops and LED lights.
• The exterior of the building is exposed brick and the interior is painted with Cement mixture to retain heat and also to protect from fire accidents.

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