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Local Design Principles for Global Construction

U.S. Department of State Overseas Building Office University of Virginia School of ArchitectureSystems, Sites and Building, Fall 2014

Akram Sharaf Mingwei ShenMalik VaughanB

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Colombo, Sri Lanka

CLIMATEColombo, Sri Lanka is typical of tropical monsoon climate, with distinctive wet and dry seasons. The seasons were slight-ly complicated by two monsoons. From May to August (wet season) the Yala monsoon brings abundant rainfall, while the dry season lasts from December to March (LP). Other than that, in general the climate in Colombo is hot and humid all year around. Most design principles below are applicable all year around, though principles 1-3 are more concerned with dry season, and principles 4-6 are more concerned with wet season. *Principles 7-9 are based on cultural and other research.

SITE LOCATION

Address: 210 Galle Rd Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka

Our plan is to keep the current embassy site. This site has several advantages that will be discussed later in the presentation.

Temperature Range and PrecipitationLocation



Colombo, Sri Lanka Colombo Sun Diagram

Akram Sharaf Malik VaughanMingwei Shen

SUMMER SUN WINTER SUNAs a result of Colombo’s proximity to equator (Latitude 7N), the sun angle in Colombo is relatively high. Therefore, it is important to cool the building by protecting it from the sun, especially during dry seasons. Since Colombo is located between equator and the tropic of cancer, direct sunlight can come from either north or south depending on different time of the year.

Southwest wind is a predominat wind in Colombo thoroughout the year



North

South

EastWest

Colombo, Sri Lanka Galle Face Green Wind Diagram


Galle Face Green, a popular rendezvous spot in Colombo, is a narrow green space along the coast. This layout maximizes the area of the park that receives the breeze.



Prevailing WindLanding

Taking o�

North

South

EastWest

Colombo, Sri Lanka Bandaranaike International Airport Wind Diagram


The runways of Bandaranaike International Airport adopts this orientation so that aircrafts can take ad-vantage of the southwest breeze during take off and landing.

Southwest wind is a predominat wind in Colombo thoroughout the year.


U.S. Department of State Overseas Building Office University of Virginia School of Architecture

Systems, Sites and Building, Fall 2014

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Akram Sharaf Mingwei ShenMalik Vaughan

Site Plan

CCAP

MCAP

UTI

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CHAN

CERY

Laccadive Sea

GALL

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The site plan shows a possible layout for the embassy in Sri Lanka. It is derived from the example plan of an embassy and from our nine design princples.




Colombo, Sri Lanka


Elevation and Section

Gathering Space SectionFloor Section





Since Colombo is located between equator and the trop-ic of cancer, direct sunlight can come from either north or south depending on different time of the year. By ro-tating the building from the north-south axis, this plan will orient the building away from the direct sunlight.

Natural ventilation is an important way to improve hu-man comfort in tropical climate. The building should maximize the use of predominant southwest breeze. The floor plan should be long and narrow along its orienta-tion, which means the main facades (longest parts of the building) will face SW/NE. Long, narrow floor plan can help maximize cross ventilation in hot and humid cli-mates (CC). This combination of orientation and floor plan can maximize the area of the building that receives southwest breeze blowing from the ocean.

Colombo, Sri Lanka

PRINCIPLE ONE: ORIENT AWAY FROM THE SUN, BUT IN FAVOR OF BREEZES

Plan View

Sun Chart





“Breezeway” is an additional feature to take ad-vantage of the prevailing southwest breeze. “Breezeway” is not an uncommon approach used to bolster cross ventilation in tropical vernacular architecture. Dogtrot House in American South is a good example. Sri Lankan architecture also uses this feature to deal with the hot and humid tropical climate. The courtyard in Tintagel Hotel, Colombo features a breezeway developed upon a Koi (carp) pond.

The embassy is to be divided into two sections with a passageway in between. Multiple openings are designed on both sides of this “breezeway” so that the building can be well ventilated. This “breeze-way” can be used as a gathering place for people waiting to enter the embassy since it’s well shaded and ventilated.

Colombo, Sri Lanka

PRINCIPLE TWO: DESIGN A BREEZEWAY

Example of a Breezeway: Koi Pond, Tintagel Hotel

Colombo, Sri Lanka

United States Embassy Breezeway Plan





Window overhangs (designed for this latitude) or op-erable sunshades (awnings that extend in summer) can be used to provide shading, thus protecting the build-ing from the tropical high sun. Window overhangs should be installed, especially on the southwest side, to minimize the solar heat gain. The southwest side re-ceives more solar heat since it faces the coast without any other barrier that blocks the sunlight. Light shelves could also be added to use the sunlight coming from the south or the north and reflect it into the building, preventing it from being blinding. In addition to these overhang designs, indented windows, as seen in the current US embassy, can also be used for shading.

PRINCIPLE THREE: INSTALL WINDOW OVERHANG AND LIGHT

SHELF

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Window Overhang Designs

Indented Windows, Current Embassy





In damp climates, buildings are often raised in order to reduce dampness in a building. In some places, the building will be very high above the ground, but in Sri Lanka, buildings are often raised on a small plinth. Buildings in the city are generally lower than build-ings in the forest. Raising the building high above the ground can draw off of precedent and can also sym-bolize the importance of the embassy. It also allow for a covered outdoor space that could possibly be used for an outdoor gathering space.

PRINCIPLE FOUR: RAISE THE BUILDING ABOVE THE GROUND TO REDUCE DAMPNESS

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Pavillion Project

Shiva DevalePolonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

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Sri Lankans used rainwater for many things before the implementation of modern systems. Due the high amounts of rainfall during the wet season, rainwater was an easily accessible source of water for many. In 1996, the Lankan Rainwater Harvesting Forum was established in attempt to make rainwater collection a more common practice. A study showed that an av-erage household could collect up to 50 gallons a day during the wet season. For a large build-ing such as an embassy, this number would be much larger. The collected water could be used in toilets or in sprinklers if they are needed. If the collection area was outdoors, it could also possibly serve as a reflecting pool, which is a common feature in Sri Lanka.

Colombo, Sri Lanka

PRINCIPLE FIVE: UTILIZE RAINWATER HAR-VESTING AS A SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY

Sigiriya, Sri Lanka Reservoir

Collection Tank in Sri Lanka





Traditional Sri Lankan architecture, especial-ly in Colombo, use pitched roofs. The south western region of the country, where Colom-bo is located, experiences a more intense wet season compared to other areas. During the wet seasons, which are fall and spring, rain fall ranges typically from 200-350mm. It is then reasonable for a pitched roof to be used

at the embassy.

University of Colombo Colombo, Sri Lanka

Colombo, Sri Lanka

PRINCIPLE SIX: PITCHED ROOF





Sri Lankan architecture uses a lot of materials found within the country. The early stupas/dago-bas were built of bricks held together by clay and covered with a plaster. Wood is also commonly used in many of Sri Lanka’s temples. Stone can be seen as a material for monuments as well. Uti-lizing similar materials as Sri Lanka’s important sites would show an understanding of the coun-try’s historical context and imply that we em-brace it and would like to share it.

Colombo, Sri Lanka

PRINCIPLE SEVEN: MATERIALS

Independence Commemoration Hall-Colombo, Sri Lanka

Buddhist Temple Colombo, Sri Lanka





Galle Fort is a historic fort in Sri Lanka origi-nally built by the Portuguese and later added refortified by the Dutch. Its location along the water provides it with some of its fortification, along with a series of terraces and walls. If the site of the embassy could be raised, it would add a similar level of protection. It could also make the embassy appear to be a type of beacon. The addition of a lighthouse could also be a symbolic connection to the fort as well as to the United States. Trees on the terraces could possibly add shade at certain times. Landscaping could also help deal with rain water during the wet season, directing the flow of water into collection spots.

Galle Fort Landscape Galle, Sri Lanka

Colombo, Sri Lanka

PRINCIPLE EIGHT: LANDSCAPE AS A BUFFER





Sri Lankans gather on many occasions including birthdays, holidays, religious events, and signifi-cant stages of life. It is safe to believe that a family would want to gather when a loved one goes to get a passport or other documentation from the embassy. Including a gathering space that could accommodate Sri Lankan traditions, especial-ly religion, would be recommended. Galle Face Green is a park in Sri Lanka that is a common place for citizens to meet. Stupas are a part of the Buddhist religion and having a small one could be beneficial. Maybe this part of the embassy is a courtyard with an indoor space for meditation.

Colombo, Sri Lanka

PRINCIPLE NINE: GATHERING PLACE

Independence Commemoration Hall-Colombo, Sri Lanka

Ruwanwelisaya Stupa Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka



Colombo, Sri Lanka


An embassy is seen as an important link between countries and a sign of collaboration. The design of these buildings needs to represent this collaboration by acting as a symbol of a bond between two countries, instead of acting as a show-piece of “American” architecture. These designs have to fit within the cities they are built for. When we build an embassy in a foreign country, we are accepting an invitation to share in that country’s culture. This invitation cannot be taken lightly. The design should make visitors feel welcome at the embassy. It should also teach visitors about American cultures. The design should show that we understand the country’s culture and that we are trying to learn it and share it instead of try-ing to change it.

By studying the vernacular architecture and climate of a country, we can develop a sense of what its citizens feel is a com-fortable space. We can then use the design elements seen in the vernacular precedents in our own designs, adding an American spin to it. A country’s citizens should feel comfortable visiting an American embassy. To guarantee comfortabil-ity, an embassy should design spaces, especially the gathering space, in a way that suits the country’s culture. In regards to Sri Lanka, the embassy could have a meditation space within the gathering space. This would serve as a multiuse space that could be comfortable for both Americans and Sri Lankans.

It is important that the US Embassy is comfortable to the host countries citizens, but it also has to act as a safe haven to Americans. Because of this, certain aspects of Sri Lankan culture cannot be included. Sri Lankan culture is very centered around religion. In contrast, religion in the United States is not connected to government and culture as a whole. It may be appropriate to showcase a religious idol in a Sri Lankan government building, but it may be inappropriate in an American embassy.

Placing an embassy in a foreign country can be seen as a sign of power and prosperity. It can also be seen as a symbol of a relationship between two nations. While it is important to please the host nation with the design of an embassy, it is also important to make a statement with it, as the embassy is a representative of our country. Embassies can also teach lessons about American culture and serve as examples of the best American architecture. The designs should not clash with the existing architecture because that could be viewed as an act of competition. Instead, the designs should fit the site and the context to show that the two countries are partners and are working together to promote peace.

Contextually Appropriate Designs



Colombo, Sri Lanka


Images

Background“Climate: Colombo.” - Climate Graph, Temperature Graph, Climate Table. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://en.climate-data.org/location/944/>.“Colombo, Sri Lanka” Map. Google Maps. Google, 2014. Web. 2 December 2014.Breezeway“Memories, Old & New.” Slim Paley. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://slimpaley.com/art/memories-old-new/>.“U.S. Embassy Colombo, Sri Lanka and Maldives.” U.S. Embassy Colombo, Sri Lanka and Maldives. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://diplomacy.state.gov/discoverdiplomacy/explorer/plac-es/195660.htm>.Gathering Place“WillGoTo : Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura Ruwanwelisaya Dagoba.” WillGoTo : Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura Ruwanwelisaya Dagoba. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://www.willgoto.com/1/146007/liens.aspx>.“Galle Face Green.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Nov. 2014. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galle_Face_Green>.Materials“Independence Memorial Hall.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Oct. 2014. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Memorial_Hall>.“Layover In Sri Lanka.” Layover Guide RSS. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://www.layoverguide.com/2014/02/layover-in-sri-lanka.html>.Wikipedia contributors. “Architecture of Sri Lanka.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 23 Sep. 2013. Web. 2 Dec. 2014.Landscape“Galle Fort.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Feb. 2014. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galle_Fort>.Raised Elevation“180Spatial Agency.” Spatial Agency: Collections of Alternative Approaches. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://www.spatialagency.net/database/collections.of.alternative.approaches>.“Travel Sri Lanka.” Travel Sri Lanka. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://timeshareholidayssrilanka.blogspot.com/2010/06/architecture-in-sri-lanka-architecture.html>.Rainwater Collection“How to Harvest Rainwater.” Howtopedia English RSS. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://en.howtopedia.org/wiki/How_to_Harvest_Rainwater>.Http://www.womenforwater.org/. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://www.womenforwater.org/afb/364-1.jpg>.“The Rainwater Harvesting System at Mira Model School.” The Rainwater Harvesting System at Mira Model School. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/internation-al/srilanka.htm>.Pitched Roof“College House - University of Colombo.” Panoramio. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://www.panoramio.com/photo/37905126>.

Other Reference:Climate Consultant (CC)Berkmoes, Ryan. Lonely Planet Sri Lanka. Lonely Planet Publications, 2015. Print.

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