Mithara Perera - MSc Architecture - Year 01 - 2022

M. M. M. PERERA

PORTFOLIO 2022 MSc Architecture

ABOUT ME

REFERENCES I am a 22 year old aspiring architect currently completing my masters at SLIIT School of Architecture. I am hardworking, motivated and an enthusiastic person, I am also eager to learn and grow, and pride myself on my optimism. I also rise up to challenges and can produce quality work under small time frames. I am a team player, with great adaptability which I have learnt through sports and many other programs that I have participated during my school years. I am very passionate about my career and takes great importance in my work.

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Arch. Kosala Weerasekara 33/01, Nagahamulla Road, Pelawatta , Battaramulla, Sri Lanka +94 112 882088 info@kwcarchitects.com Prasanna Jayaweera Justice of Peace 7/3 A, Jayanthi Mawatha, Jayanthipura Battaramulla. +94770888595

CONTENT

Resume

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MSc Year 01 Semester 01

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Low income housing MSc Year 01 Semester 02

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Heritage and conservation design

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EDUCATION BACH. (HONS) ARCHITECTURE :

GRADUATED WITH A 2ND CLASS DIVISION TWO IN FROM SLIIT SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AFFILIATED WITH LJMU

GRADE 7 - COMPLETION

:

LYCEUM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, NUGEGODA

GRADE 4- 6

:

VIDURA COLLEGE, THALAWATHUGODA

PRIMARY TO GRADE 3

:

MYSTICAL ROSE, RAJAGIRIYA

WORK EXPERIENCE COMPLETED A TWO MONTH INTERNSHIP AT DESIGN ENVIROTECH, BATTARAMULLA, 2019 INTERNED AT KOSALA WEERASEKARA CHARTERED ARCHITECTS, 2020 – 2021 FREELANCE DIGITAL 3D MODELS FOR MULTIPLE PROJECTS AT M.D.P. CONSTRUCTIONS

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RESUME

SOFTWARE SKILLS

LANGUAGES PRIMARY: SINHALA FLUENT : ENGLISH 743/60, THALANGAMA NORTH, BATTARAMULLA + 94 71 163 6955 methmimithara@gmail.com

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LOW INCOME HOUSING HIGH RISE COMPLEX

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Project type

mixed use

Site Location

Colombo - Sri Lanka

Duration

Nov 2021 – May 2022

Software Used

Sketchup AutoCAD Lumion

PROJECT SUMMARY

The project thrives to create a low income housing high riser for the community of Wanathamulla. The design proposal focuses on prioritizing the needs of people, allowing space for evolvement and growth, deconstructing preconceived beliefs and creating an inner city neighborhood to allow better living conditions, social interactions, opportunities for financial stabilities and a brighter futures. The design integrates opportunities for the community to develop by creating opportunities to earn and learn, and to break from the vicious cycle of low income earning and poverty. The design builds for the future developments, expansions, a city epicenter for society to come together and develop, while having space for personal and family growth by introducing expandable units for each apartment. Furthermore, the high riser includes a large open double height space per every 4 floors for the users of all ages to easily experience the outdoor and garden feel which allowing a semi public space to socialize with the residents of their neighboring units. It further integrates greenery and while maintaining balance between privacy and social interactions, creating a balance between solid and void to create a vertical neighborhood for better light and ventilation, green neighborhood and interconnections, convenient amenities and space to grow.

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MACRO CONNECTIONS

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The site location in Wanathamulla and its closer proximity to Borella junction,

Maligawatte, Kolonnawa and Paliyagoda

already makes a great linkage between some of the crucial cities in Colombo area. The site location already establishes a closer linkage with railway, public and private transportation.

Currently two railway stations are located within 1km radius of site and baseline road running in front of the site provides easy access to public and private transportation.

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SITE CONNECTIONS

The site is zoned in regards to the macro context. The design caters to the users of the railway station, the Veluwana college, commercial areas and the residential areas.

It further integrates with the sun and wind path, built at an angle for the maximum use of natural light and ventilation. The above images show the pathways for pedestrian and vehicular crossing in created to maximize social interactions

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DESIGN PROGRESS

Post construction

2 years post construction

The housing units are created with space on either sides for expansion if the residents need, and in doing so, the users will be contributing to the creation of their own homes, giving the space the sense of belonging, ownership and value as opposed to a rented space. This design also thrives to be an eco friendly breathing city, with natural energy usage as much as possible, incorporating green roofs, ventilation pathways, water bodies, green buffer zones between 4 consecutive floor levels as well as grey water systems and solar systems. This design creates well open ventilated spaces for social gatherings and community spaces and activities to create connections, and the inter-site circulation creates easy access, creating a small urban city in the scheme itself.

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The voids between allow easy air flow and ventilation to pass through and the vertical voids create room for hot air to escape. the expandable empty spaces allow the units to be ventilated from multiple areas and the units are not leaned on one another. The angle gives optimum sun angle, and the balconies, greenery, vines, and buffer zones filter out harsh light, noise, dust and pollution naturally. The walkable roofs and green roofs on the bottom floor creates a lush green view for the residents in the units and allows the urban space to grow into a miniature living breathing city

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THE DESIGN BUILDS AS A BALANCE BETWEEN SOLID AND VOID TO CREATE A VERTICAL NEIGHBORHOOD FOR BETTER LIGHT AND VENTILATION, GREEN NEIGHBORHOOD AND INTERCONNECTIONS This design also thrives to be an eco friendly breathing city, with natural energy usage as much as possible, incorporating green roofs, ventilation pathways, water bodies, green buffer zones between 4 consecutive floor levels as well as grey water systems and solar systems.

This design creates well open ventilated spaces for social gatherings and community spaces and activities to create connections, and the inter-site circulation creates easy access, creating a small urban city in the scheme itself

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HOUSING COMPLEX

Most residents prefer to stay in their family homes and not move out, making the given space congested which leads to illegal extensions of the house, problems with neighbors and, often with difficulties to provide. The Family houses provided will be given a basic housing unit to which can be expanded with time. This will provide the residents with the ability to build their own home and also cater to their needs accordingly.

HOUSING UNITS expandable units, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living, balcony

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Lack of identity is a major issue in this neighborhood, which is currently only known for its high crime rate. Without any opportunities for growth, the residents are stuck in the same cycle of low education, low income, and with it, much potential of the residents are ignored. The ability to make a “home” out of the situation is closely connected to the ability to express their ideas and identity, and the residents should be given an opportunity to do that.

The current dwellers of Wanathamulla often run their small businesses in temporary shops connected to their houses. In the area, there is almost no space given for residents for them to own small businesses, even if the area is marked as “mixed use”. With the lack of opportunities, the residents are forced to work low income jobs to barely sustain for their families.

NEIGHBORHOOD open car park, social spaces (gym, play court etc.), library, buffer landscape, walkable roofs and greenery, outer connections

STABILITY shop houses, cafes and restaurants, space for personal businesses

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

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FIRST FLOOR PLAN

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SECOND FLOOR PLAN

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THIRD FLOOR PLAN

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FOURTH FLOOR PLAN

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CONSERVATION OF RANMASU UYANA CONSERVATION AND HERITAGE

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Project type

Conservation

Site Location

Anuradhapura

Duration

Nov 2020 – Jan 2021

Software Used

Sketchup AutoCAD Lumion

PROJECT SUMMARY The Ranmasu Uyana Project Proposal focuses on the conservation of the Garden and the remaining ruins of what is said to be a creation of King Kashyapa. The architectural design for this heritage site focuses on the preservation and value addition to this cultural monument. Ranmasu Uyana is a heritage location with noted ruins and archeological findings that has the potential to be developed into an exhibit of the Sri Lankan heritage.

Ranmasu Uyana is a little known garden, with quite a lot of potential. Built by the same king who created the monumental Sigiriya, Ranmasu Uyana too holds the potential to be a major landmark in the area. However, due to the current condition, it is an overlooked location, without proper maintenance, no proper pathway, and no conservation techniques used on the ruins, this garden continues to deteriorate expotentially. This site is also an archeological gold mine, being home to ruins, ponds and irrigation systems complex beyond its years. Up to date, no proper archeological studies are being greatly directed towards Ranmasu Uyana, nor any conservation efforts are being established. What the site holds archeologically will be a great addition to the Sri Lankan heritage archives.

Furthermore, once the area is exhibited for the heritage value it holds, it can bring in an influx of tourists eager to learn and enjoy the once historic cultural footprint it bears.

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The site of Ranmasu Uyana has natural greenery, maintenance, wind, cooling effects and views. the natural greenery provides shading and cooling. The Tissa lake is situated in the western end and paddy fields in the eastern end creates a soothing macro context

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Ranmasu uyana is located in one of the most significant historic and sacred cities in Sri Lanka. It’s world famous for its ancient ruins Buddhist civilisation. The city lies 205 km north of Colombo. Ranmasu uyana is an ancient Royal Park situated close to Isurumuni Vihara and Tissa Wewa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is a well-known example of Sri Lankan Landscape architecture of the pre-Christian era.

Ranmansu Uyana syncs into the traffic circulations along the other sacred locations that Anuradhapura is famous for, therefore it can be easily visited either in the beginning on the atamasthaana worship or the end of it. furthermore, due to the current condition of ranmasu uyana, it is not visited as often as the attractions in Anuradhapura, even with it being located adjacent to Isuruminiya temple.

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SITE BACKGROUND

Ranmasu uyana is a pleasure park situated in the edge of Tissa wewa banks. Isurumuniya and Vessagiriya are also well-preserved two valuable archaeological sites. The site is confined by creating a linear strip of ponds called 'Digu vil'. Currently, the garden is little known to tourists and foreigners, not maintained, and is conservation strategies are not being applied. This site has the potential to be a major landmark in Anuradhapura, consisting of the star gate and irrigation systems that still function. The Ranmasu Uyana Project Proposal focuses on the conservation of the Garden and the remaining ruins of what is said to be a creation of King Kashyapa. The architectural design for this heritage site focuses on the preservation and value addition to this cultural monument. Ranmasu Uyana is a heritage location with noted ruins and archeological findings that has the potential to be developed into an exhibit of the Sri Lankan heritage.

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ARCHEOLOGICAL VALUES

According to Sinhalese literature, gardens and bathing complexes were one of the important aspects, which provided sensual enjoyment for Royalty in early Sri Lanka. The pleasure gardens were also known as ‘Magul Uyana’ and served as an ancient recreation park once enjoyed by a succession of monarchs of ancient over the centuries. Scattered around the park are three bathing ponds in different sizes. In front of the larger pool, there is a small rectangular pool and right next to that there is another larger one which were adorned with water lilies as well as goldfish, derivation of the name.

In the past, Ranmasu Uyana may have been a garden of beautifully carved relaxing buildings and platforms for water sports. Also the garden may have been enriched with flora, flowers, water pools, fishes, birds.

According to legend it is believed that Prince Saliya met Asokamala in this garden Water to the park was supplied through underground tunnels from Tissa wewa (according to an inscription in Wessagiriya) then it is released to the paddy fields around Isurumuni viharaya. Royal garden 1st construction - around 3rd century BC (time of King Tissa) - when reservoir was built Pleasure pavilions and other fixtures - around 8 - 9th centuries AD

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DESIGN KEY POINTS

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ENTRANCE

Pathways

Exhibition pod

The entrance is a tunnel created by reused bricks and mesh wrapped in greenery. The circular dark tunnel gives the temporarily diverts the attention from the visitor and allows the user to experience the site to as an aspect separate from the outside world, bringing their attention to what is at hand.

The pathway leads through the key point of the site, including the star gate, the ponds and the rest of the ruins, as well as resting spots, view points and exhibition pod throughout the site

The exhibition pods are temporary light structures created in close vicinity to a ruin or a key point to give the user a sense of understanding. these pods can also be used as resting spaces. they are created with gabion and mesh in order to be light weight and translucent, having a minimum visual impact on the site

View points

Garden and ruins

The view points are small sheltered mesh pavilions throughout the site located in spaces that has a view of multiple important ruins and key points simultaneously. they also function as resting pods, and are created with mesh for translucency and light weight. furthermore, vines are greenery grown from them will contribute to the living nature of the site, blending with the surrounding and changing with seasons

The garden is a landscape overgrown with trees and greenery. it also contains multiple ruins buried under in known locations. as a nod towards the known purpose of the site and an abstract structural concept of the sigiri wall paintings, this area acts as a mesh sculpture garden, while simultaneously protecting the ruin locations.

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DESIGN PROPOSAL

ARCHEOLOGICAL RESEARCH FOR FUTURE PRESERVATION AND INFORMATION These initiatives will be taken through LIDAR and no trench technology in order to reduce damage to the site. furthermore, an archeological and exhibition centre will be proposed in the bare land for research purposes and for visitors to gain knowledge on ranmasu uyana while learning archeological works on the garden REVITALIZATION THROUGH SOCIAL ACTIVITY a tourism approach to the site, where pathways will be created through the site, weaving through structures, rocks and key points, creating a proper trail for visitors to enjoy the garden.

STRUCTURES TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE The revitalization shall be done through the use of wire mesh structures and light weight gabions to restructure the garden to emphasize key points, through the architecture from the Anuradhapura period. these structures shall protect the existing ruins of ranmasu uyana 01 proposed archeology museum, cafe, ticketing counter, car park 02 entrance tunnel 03 digu wil: restored and conserved ponds 04 restored and preserved ruins 05 meditation point: stargate 06 exhibition pod: stargate 07 exhibition pod: ponds 08 view point 1 09 restored and preserved ruins 10 view point 2 11 view point 3 12 sculpture garden 13 restored and preserved stupa ruins

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SITE CIRCULATION

Anuradhapura sacred city is usually filled with visitors, school children, elderly and foreigners, even off season. However, due to the pandemic situation of the country, there is only a handful of visitors collectively present in the area. the design proposes the influx of people to have a convinient ramped pathway, which functions for wheelchair access as well, leading them through the site, including the viewing areas, the exhibition pods, and the ruins, while ensuring that the present ruins are not damaged through people interations, and the buried ruin sites are not walked on. The user activity fluctuates between 6am to 7pm, coninciding with activities in major sacred spaces, therefore the early mornings and the late noons presumed to be quite, ideal for medication purposes

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ramped pathways along the uneven landscape of the site, providing safe and easy access that also stop the visitors from stepping on potential and known ruin locations around the site. provides for circulation through the key points and gives a sense of direction. visitors can find resting spaces along the pathway at key points with views in the site. acts as key exhibition points of the site.

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CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION TECHNIQUES

PRESERVATION: the maintenance against deterioration will be done through the mesh and light weight gabions surrounding the remaining ruins. Pathways are established to ensure people don’t walk on ruins and archeological facts. Light weight structures allow the design to exist with minimum harm to the site.

RECONSTRUCTION: The reconstruction is done with a new mesh material to show the difference between old and new ruins, and also potential structures RESTORATION: The Irrigation system will be cleaned and restored as much as possible REVITALIZATION: The influx of people in and out of the site will ensure its maintenance, spread knowledge and information, revitalizing the site socially REHABILITATION: The archeological aspect introduced will ensure in rehabilitation of the site, economical viability, upgrading the structures, finding out archeological facts and introducing new technologies

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FLORENCE CHARTER ARTICLE 01 : states to consider every historic garden and site as a monument WASHINGTON CHARTER 5.0 : states that the area of conservation must harmonise with the urban areas as a whole and the existing conditions must be thoroughly documented DESIGN APPROACH: the use of mesh as a material is for its translucency and light weight. it contrasts to the current material in the ruins. the composition of the restorations have been studied from anuradhapura architecture in simillar eras DESIGN APPROACH: the ruins are explored for archeological purposes through no trench technology and lidar technolofy where there is no excavation and damage to the site and ruins

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RECONSTRUCTION AND RESTORATION TECHNIQUES

FLORENCE CHARTER ARTICLE 18: DESIGN APPROACH: natural or artificial pathways created to ensure no human tampering to ruins. ruins are also protected with gabion structures and mesh VENICE CHARTER ARTICLE 09: DESIGN APPROACH: archeological research carried out and analyzed in the proposed center can in time provide conclusive results as to what stood in ranmasu uyana.

BURRA CHARTER 15.2, 18.0, 20.1, 20.2 DESIGN APPROACH: reconstruction is done in occasions where research done about anuradhapura architecture provides sufficient reconstruction shall be done with a light weight mesh, which can be altered or removed.

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FLORENCE CHARTER article 02: gardens are primarily vegetation therefore the appearance is the balance of the seasons article 09: the authenticity of the garden depends on the design, scale annd the choice of organic material article 12: species of trees should be selected with regards for the establishment and botanical region article 14: any alterations which endanger the ecological equilibrium must be prohibited DESIGN APPROACH: THE MESH AND GABIONS WILL CATER TO GREENERY AND VINES WHICH WILL GROW AND CHANGE DURING THE SEASONS TO CREATE LIFE IN ORGANIC FORM

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STRUCTURAL DETAILS

The gabion structures are eco-friendly, light weight and also acts against deterioration of the land. it acts as a natural barrier for the any possible landslides and environmental deterioration. Furthermore, it creates a barrier against winds and water that will contribute to the change in landscape and decay in ruin.

Gabions and mesh structures are also used to create a protective layer in decaying ruins. this ensures that the original ruins are protected against environmental decay and human and animal tampering. furthermore, the small rock gabions can easily be removed and altered with no damage to the original structure.

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STRUCTURAL DETAILS

The wire mesh walkway will be structured according to the landscape and height necessary. however, it will be assembled with mesh, H iron and box bars, with sufficent space for a wheel chair to move comfortably. furthermore, it will be lined with solar panels in order to provide power for the pathway lights. benches and seating areas will be created with natural stones and pavings to create minimum damage to the landscape as well as to blend with the look at feel of the garden.

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STRUCTURAL DETAILS

all structures constructed on the site are light weight structures that doesn't go deeper than 3’ into the site. furthermore, these structures are easily removable and movable. the structures also assists in ensuring that the current threats to the ruins i.e. natural threats and human and animal interactions are minimized. furthermore, the gabion structures help against environmental deterioration and washing away of the site landscape onto the ruins as well as the reduce the damage done to the landscape during wind and rainy reasons. the construction further decreases the on site labor necessary as well as the use of eco friendly low cost materials

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MATERIALS

The design uses sustainable low cost and light weight materials for on site construction. the most used material is wire mesh. this light weight structure is fixed with metal structures, h iron, box bar and metal rings. this wire mesh is used for its transcluceny as well, where it blends into the surrounding, and also allows greenery and vines to grow in it. wire mesh structures are partially filled with small rubble for stability and strength. this also allows greenery to grow, contributing to the natural livelyness of the structure recycled brick and stone is used in gabion structures and the entrance tunnel. they are further integregrated into the landscape in order to blend in with the current structures. these materials bear no strucutural weight, and the worn out appearance contributes to the overall aesthetic of the space, and halves the cost

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SUSTAINABILITY

The proposed design thrives for sustainability with the use of solar panels and reused materials. the site only functions from 6am to 7pm, and user facilities are located outside, therefore the design doesn't need a major power and water supply. the lighting along pathways and pods and from ground mounted and walkway solar panels. gabions and entrance brick structures are constructed from reusable materials to reduce the cost as well as create a sustainable design

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LIGHTING

the lighting will emphasize the pathways and the ruins as well as key points along the site. the lighting will be powered by solar panels, ground mounted and walkway panels. since the garden only functions from 6am to 7pm, major lighting is not needed, therefore only spotlights and pathway lights will be used

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