28th Architectural Student Workshop
MATRA 2016
Architect, Urban Designer based in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Principal of Team Architrave.
Studied architecture and worked in Moratuwa and Helsinki, FInland.
His work has been published internationally, including in the Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary Architecture, Beyond Bawa, Architectural Review, Architectural Design, A+U, and Asian Design Destinations.
Architecture Talk
Madhura Prematilleke
Recently, Madhura has been in Penang to host a talk for the 28th Architectural Student Workshop (MATRA 2016) themed Re-dimensioning Architecture. The talk is mainly to deliberate the current issues in the industry as well as to provide a platform for the interaction between practicing architects and students as an exposure to them about the industry. Throughout the talk, he had shown us a few projects that as the reference to his philosophy of design. In his work, Madhura seek to reduce the amount of space used and always use cylindrical form to enhance the ventilation.
“ Usable and Friendly”
“Ordinary is the new special”
JAFFNA Cultural Centre at the North of Sri Lanka is designed to restore the social harmony of Jaffna. The Project will provide suitable social infrastructure for the people of Northern Province, especially for the people of Jaffna, to help them to reconnect to themselves as well as to the rest of the country and to rejuvenate, promote and nurture the ancient cultural heritage of Jaffna. It has won the National Design Competition and has started to construct just one week ago. This building is exactly beside a public library where the locals will take off their shoes before entering as they treat the place sacredly and the façade of the building was designed similarly to the façade of Public Library in order to blend with it.
Jaffna Cultural Centre
An office building located in the new town of the ancient capital of Anuradhapura (500 BC – 400 AD). A red brick ‘Vahalkada’ or entrance gateway makes reference to the historical context of the place, and contrasts with the glass façade of the simple block behind it. The ‘Vahalkada’ forms a gateway to the building itself and to future stages of construction that would follow. Despite the glass façade, the building is completely naturally-ventilated. Windows open on both longer sides to allow the breeze in, and a central skylight running the length of the structure acts as a hot air extractor. The glass is continually shaded by the large trees in the forecourt, which were saved as part of principal design strategy. It is inspired by ANURDHAPURA PORTAL by using the idea of single box. Even though we are being brain washed that the glass is not good. But the all the glass has never had the chance to exposed to the sun because it was all shades by the trees.
Central Finance, Anuradhapura
When the Indian Ocean tsunami hit Sri Lanka, it destroyed the 190-person village of Kalametiya. Eleven people were killed and every building was ruined. The refugee is 6 km away from their home. Architect Madhura decided to build a permanent house for the community. The three-week project will be carried out in along with villagers to build a memorial park as well as their own house. Madhura divided Kalametiya into grid form and there will be 6 houses build in a grid.
New Shape of Kalametiya Village
A Tsunami-damaged existing bungalow was renovated into a Sri Lanka style beachside villa, while two gardens were created around it. Madhura reinterpreted the verandah with the pool. He used poly carbonate, timber and double screening to increase the shades.
Villa Maggona (South East Coast)
Re-dimensioning Architecture = Rethinking Architecture
Question yourself
Do we have the same stimulation?
Are we trying to satisfy the developer?
Do you satisfy the people who use this place?
Do we know what they want?
Do they think they know what they want?
ARCHITECTURE X TSUNAMI
Evacuation Plan and Routes
Mobile phone alert
Warning and sign post along the street to show where to move
Min floor height
Min 2 Hours of warning period
Public Building and Police Station are raised up to allow water to pass through in order to lower the force impact
Frame and concrete structure
Do not use load bearing wall
"Save Life but not Things"
To be honest, I did not plan to pay attention to this talk especially to the speaker that I do not even know. I am a stereotype person towards the point that I think the talk is going to be very boring sp I would rather to catch an hour of nap but miraculously I was LISTENING! I always think that Architecture is more than design, not about space or form forming but it is a thing that we created to respond to the human and nature. What about sustainability? When you can see high-rise building being built in desolated place and do you still call it sustainable? I doubt that. To me sustainability can only be achieved through communication as we are serving the community not the market. I wanted to create something simple that will age gracefully by the use of materials, something that can merge with the greenery around it. For instance, wood turns grey when it aged and cement will change its colour with time. In another word, aging process is part of architecture. Also, use natural lighting.
Cabin Interior for Sri Lankan Airlines
Greenhouse
"A room is not a room without NATURAL LIGHTING” Louise Kahn.