Construction + Technology (strategic urban redirection initiative)

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

Project idea

Construction + Technology
The design position explores the terms of construction + technology as a strategy for filling the voids in urban regeneration technically and spatially to achieve the socio-sustainability contribution of architecture.

Project description

The built environment and its tectonics play a significant role in the sociocultural revolution. Yet the tectonic approach creates uniqueness in the architecture. Considering the contemporary built environment in Sri Lanka, especially in the towns, is mainly developed as an arterial commercial-oriented pattern. There is not much diversity, interaction, urban life, or aesthetics. And it can be generally identified as visually disorganized as well.

This thesis is based on the belief that urban intervention is not only about reorganizing regional characteristics and cultural attributes. The strategic redirecting of its (specifically construction) and technological conditions also concerns social and spatial attributes. Hence, building technology becomes a crucial aspect of forming urban development. As it also forecasts information on potential labor and material costs and time constraints, it also guides a community toward sustainability.

This design thesis explores how urban intervention can be organized architecturally by technology + construction as a tool to validate this hypothesis. It's not only for creating a significant architectural intervention in the town but also how it can facilitate to increase the technological advancement of the urban construction industry and the advancement of socio-sustainability. In doing this design project, I am selecting the multifunctional arena with the institution in Badalkubura, Sri Lanka.

Firstly, a qualitative study was conducted on contextual construction system analysis, and then studied similar projects were conducted in various parts of the world. And then condensed into a list of key terms that the program can address. Secondly, A master plan is proposed for the town. Furthermore, it provides a spatial and economic vision for the town's future. The design scheme is established using the design principles of architectural language and technical systems, making a path to redefine the urban construction industry and the established socio-economic sustainability.

Based on previous results, the urban approach will be used in developing towns to produce featuring architectural works and a construction system that can repeat and transfer itself to the urban building fabric.

Technical information

The main construction material will be concrete and brick. Those were the most familiar materials to the locals and here I am trying to re-express how it can be used, in different by providing and practicing technical advancement and knowledge gaining.

The followings are the main key points,
• Building system based on the 8m X 8m column grid.
• Skeleton to be constructed with in-situ reinforced concrete columns & beams
• Slabs, and roof to be assembled with precast concrete systems
• Using perforated facades as a window system.
- Using available materials
- Ability to material handling
- Usage of concrete precast systems for slabs & roof
- Layered structure
- Design detailing with an allowance of tolerances in training
- Affordable design elements
- Production carries on as a training exercise with multiple tasks

Feasibility:
Working with a Grid system directly affecting urban environment plots to get the floor space
Adapting to the precast systems:
-makes fast construction(assembling)
-minimize the defects rather than in-situ RCC works
-reduce the number of skilled persons to construct
Using perforated facades as window systems reduces the cost of the glazed/ alucobond facades
Construction training makes more skillful workmanship to the field.