https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/4475 2026-04-21T23:43:41Z 2026-04-21T23:43:41Z Kudasinghe, KSKNJ Lakmali, RGN Nawaratne, NMRAT Premarathna, MLNH https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/4870 2023-04-26T11:00:26Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Rethinking of the Adaptability in Mass Housing for Pandemic Situations Kudasinghe, KSKNJ; Lakmali, RGN; Nawaratne, NMRAT; Premarathna, MLNH Pandemics spread due to poor housing conditions. Diseases have resulted in inducing the concept of mass housing, evident from housing projects initiated after the Great Plaque in London. Current pandemic, i.e., the spreading of the COVID-19 virus affected physical health of humans at alarming rates. The relationship between the spread of pandemics and living environments is unexplored. The study intends to bridge the gap in literature, and explore methods that could be implemented to mitigate situations in future scenarios. The parameters by the WELL Building Standard®, of air, water and light have been considered. Results explicitly prove mechanical systems of residential housing units need a (MERV) of 8, as 70-85% of particles can be captured. Relative humidity between 40%-60% can limit spreading of COVID19 within housing interiors. Pressure difference between corridor spaces and rooms will prevent air circulating from source to another in hospitals, minimising spreading of pathogens. Similar strategy can be adopted into the housing context via mechanical ventilation systems. The most effective method to limit spreading of pathogens from room to room in hospitals is to design a buffer space. This can be adopted in the housing context, such as powder rooms in apartments. Airborne viruses that contain single-stranded RNA are reduced by 90% with a low dose of UV light and is eliminated through building glass layers. A set of adaptive guidelines have been derived, to be applied in designing mass housing and also in managing Built Environment in similar situations.

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z Abeywardhane, HMYM Gayantha, DWK https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/4869 2023-04-26T11:00:53Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Contribution of Architecture on Juvenile Rehabilitation Process in Sri Lanka Abeywardhane, HMYM; Gayantha, DWK The process of reintegrating juveniles to society from juvenile rehabilitation facilities is as important as the process of rehabilitation. If the rehabilitation process is not conducted properly it would rather be difficult to control the reconvicted/recidivism rates. Hence, the rehabilitation methods must adhere to certain attributes relating to the rehabilitation process, one key aspect being the built environment of the rehabilitation facilities. Humans by nature have an undeniable connection with their environment through physical, mental, emotional and spiritual means. This connection helps to keep a balance within ourselves. Most of the time, unlike adults, juveniles commit crimes or become victims without their own will. It is of paramount importance that this is understood and they are attended with the required special attention in the rehabilitation process. At the stage of admission to the rehabilitation facilities, these youngsters are more likely to be in a very weak state of mind, with the need of protection, self-value, freedom, and to obtain the sense of belongingness in the society as they are reintroduced. This requires improvement of interpersonal and intrapersonal skills before leaving the correctional facility to avoid reconviction/recidivism. The rehabilitation process influenced by architectural attributes was followed in this research would be to understand by location and site planning, spatial organization, provision amenities, supervision and security and visual character. In the Sri Lankan context, it shows that most of the juveniles from facilities that have considered these architectural attributes show comfort when reintegrating with the society as adults whereas others from contradicting facilities show difficulties when reintegrating with the society as adults.

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z Premaratne, PDJD Premarathna, MLNH https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/4868 2023-04-26T10:59:04Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Use of Urban Pockets to Enhance Walkability in Office Neighbourhoods in Colombo Urban Context with Special Reference to Fort, Colombo Premaratne, PDJD; Premarathna, MLNH Urban pockets have been recognized as resourceful collective spaces for urban functions in a modern-day city. Also, urban design and planning of major developed cities incorporate the walkability concept in order to minimize traffic, environmental, and health problems. Colombo is considered the commercial capital with a high density of office neighbourhoods that attract high density of vehicular movement. Fort is recognized as office neighbourhoods in the Colombo area where the traffic congestion is higher. Previous research considers the physical factors of the street in order to enhance walkability. They lacked consideration of the walking behaviour-flow, junctions, and small urban spaces in the process. The study aims to identify the undefined urban spaces that can be used as urban pockets by studying public behaviour patterns regarding walkability in office working hours in Colombo. In order to identify the possible urban spaces that can be developed as urban pockets, the research indemnify the current walking patterns and walkability of the area. The identified walking pedestrian flow laid over the identified leftover spaces which have the possibility to develop without changing the current urban context. Overall images for study area were developed with the existing and possible urban pockets based on walking patterns and the lack of walkable routes in order to enhance the walkability of office neighbourhoods.

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z Sanjunee, SMM Munasinghe, H https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/4866 2023-04-26T11:01:40Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Compact City as a Response to the New Normal Sanjunee, SMM; Munasinghe, H The Coronavirus is a pandemic that defined the greatest crisis of the modern world, and it is the most critical challenge that the world has faced since World War II. Considering the effect and the scale of the outbreak, WHO declared Covid-19 as a global pandemic and identified the epidemic as an unprecedented socio-economic crisis and not just a health challenge. From early 2020, most of the countries in the world have been in lockdowns to prevent the spread, and these lockdowns critically restricted mobility resulting in empty city-scapes. The critical problem of the present is the incompatibility of the city forms to cope with the pandemic triggered by the inability to locate the ‘New Normal’ concept in the field of Urban Design. Non-resilience of cities is not a unique case to this pandemic but was common in the pre-pandemic world too. Modern cities being dependent on auto-mobiles had created an urban crisis, and the desire of the designers to initiate sustainable alternatives was always defeated by automobile transportation. The pandemic has however created a temporary momentum towards active transportation restricting car-travel, and the study identifies the necessity of concreting these temporary trends for the long run. Analysing the initiatives that the cities of the globe have taken, three main concepts could be identified as cycling, Avoid-Shift-Improve paradigm and 15-Minute city. The latter part of the study brings these concepts to the city fabric of Colombo and concludes by stressing the compatibilities of adapting these concepts to Colombo city.

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z