Infill project (urban catalyst )

Project idea

The existing building that designed the infill is a design I previously designed for a car parking building project.The Initial idea of the infill project is to design a community installation of street sellers in the 2nd floor of the parking building. And it also address the people who using public transport. By linking the 2nd floor with the bus stand and the railway station reduce the congestion of the people in the ground floor. A space for street seller is install to the second floor, by that unknowingly their social dignity, social status, social acceptance will be develop through the design. The building is located in the center of kaluthara town, Sri Lanka and consists of six floors and a basement. Basically the site locates in between the railway station and the bus stand. The unique character of Kaluthara, Kaluthara bodhiya also in this surrounding. Commercial buildings, Court complex, post office, residential buildings are in the surrounding.

The main concept is to develop the social value and the economic value of street sellers, and design a space to develop their social demand. As designers we should create opportunities in the building. Thus through the spatial infill they have job opportunities and more sales opportunities.

Project description

Second floor intermediate level is the Infill layer of the car parking building and it shows how to link Railway Station & Band Stand. As an architect, a parking project is not only for parking vehicles in the building. It should be more than an urban Community catalyst space, for people. Because it is function to every social layers and an efficient space for the city people. Therefore, This design is a good opportunity for them.

Architecturally designing a space requires a good understanding of the size of the space and scale of the people. Accordingly, the height has been increased for this space as well. Although it is a small passage, increasing the spatial scale dose not make people feel crowded. Rhythmic movement is designed not only
for the plan form but also for the vertical space. Even the ceiling is made of colour fabric design, to show the movement. Rhythmic patterns are created as the wind moves through it.

People using public transportation pass through this space. People who go through this do not spend much time in it but they are designing to give their mind as well as physically a different experience even as they go through this space. Basically the spatial scale as well as different colors as an installation of street sellers of pickles and ice cream that are unique to this space. Therefore this space is named as a Community installation Space. They can even stay in this space until the train and bus arrive. So they are unkowingly tempted to taste the pickles. Accordingly, this space the appetite increases. There are also signs indicating the arrival times of trains and buses during their stay here.

Technical information

The other important thing in the design is electricity generating system. Unknowingly city people who comes to the building are involved to this electricity generating system. The specific floor panels which attached on the floors are push up while people are walking through the design. On the pannl Details are showing Generating process system. Aim is to provide electricity for the light system in the building and excess electricity transfer to the city street lights. Nowadays power cuts are major problem in the country. So, Government has decided to switch off the street lamps in the night times and scheduled for power cuts. As a solution for that the electricity generating system provides a major service for city people.

Architecturally designed spaces should design for people, and that spaces and the buildings should speak to people. Also, Human social value , economic value, attitudes should develop through the building. That is my point of view. And That's how a well-developed city building is appear. Therefore, the spatial infill in the car parking building, it also develop the human social value , economic value, attitudes through the space.