- Toyota Woven City
Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Toyota Motor Corporation joined hands in 2020 to create a carbon-neutral smart city with an innovative multi-modal mobility system in Susono, Japan.
Menu
Menu
The Post-War Collective project, a community library in Ambepussa (Sri Lanka), aims to reintegrate former soldiers into the civilian workforce after 25 years of conflict, teaching them construction skills on-site.
The design by local studio Robust Architecture Workshop is as much about process as it is about outcome. It targets soldiers on a military base near Colombo who hail from underprivileged backgrounds who retired from service after the war.
The structure, a 1,400 m² community library, makes use of low-impact materials and passive design strategies, advocating a way of building that is suited to the Sri Lankan context and climate.
The ups killing programme that was developed focused on simple techniques, able to sustain manufacturing and assembly inaccuracies. It ensures that the scheme can be tailored to gradually turn soldiers into apprentices.
The architects segmented construction into several easy-to-learn steps. Tasks were organised into grades of difficulty, allowing workers to progress as they learn.
Workers who have been coached on this project have been subsequently tapped to train others, thereby creating an organic system of knowledge transfer and skill upgradation.
The structure consists of several narrow blocks, built with rammed-earth walls and recycled materials, and sitting lightly on a sloping terrain.
The blocks’ depth favours abundant cross-ventilation and daylight throughout all amenities, thereby eliminating the need for electro-mechanical systems for cooling and lighting.
The use of recycled and local materials also reduces the building’s ecological footprint.
The blocks are strategically placed on site, creating pockets of open space, minimising excavation work and eliminating the need to remove existing trees.
Despite being situated on a military base, the library is open to the public. It brings a valuable resource to the community, particularly school kids in the area since children from disadvantaged families often lack access to books in Sri Lanka.
Even though the building is modest, the initiative speaks to a wider ambition. The construction sector in Sri Lanka, for instance, consists of a low-skill workforce who stand to benefit from the learn-as-you-build approach.
Here, the emphasis on human and social capital is noteworthy. The library and its training programme transform a community from within, offering amenity, livelihood and a symbol of hope.
Robust Architecture Workshop received Bronze award in the 2014 Holcim Awards for the Asia Pacific region for the project. It was also exhibited in the international section of the 15th International Architecture Exhibition at the 2016 Venice Biennale.
Read more about the project on Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction website.
Post sponsored by the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction
A Pioneer project was ground-breaking in its day when it advanced the understanding of environmental design.
Under the Köppen climate classification, these are ‘A’ climate types. Tropical climates have warm, moist conditions year-round, with high precipitation and narrow diurnal temperature swings. These climates occur typically between 15° N to 15° S latitude. Here, the available net solar radiation is large and relatively constant from month to month resulting in both high temperatures (generally in excess of 18° C / 64° F) and a virtual absence of thermal seasons. In many locations, annual rhythm is provided by the occurrence of wet and dry seasons.
There is no performance matrix for this project.
Developer
Sinha Regiment, Sri Lanka Army
Architect firm
Robust Architecture Workshop
Architects
Milinda Pathiraja
Ganga Ratnayake
Mechanical and electrical engineer
Sri Lanka Army Engineering Services Regiment
Civil and structural engineer
A. Wickramasinghe
Contractor
Sinha Regiment, Sri Lanka Army
Operator
Sinha Regiment, Sri Lanka Army
Subscribe to our newsletter and be the first to know
Sign up to find out who’s next on the show, which ideas and solutions are moving sustainability forward. Get our newsletter in your inbox once every two weeks.
Post categories
Recent blog posts
Recent podcast episodes
Before posting, please review our comment policy here.
Ecogradia is a new platform on sustainable architecture and urbanism. Here and on our podcast, you’ll find stories, ideas and solutions from thinkers and makers who are shaping a regenerative future, one blueprint at a time.
© 2022–2024 Ecogradia Private Limited. All rights reserved.
Naturally, I like your website, but you ought to edit a couple of your writings. Since many of them have grave spelling errors, it is hard for me to be honest about them. Still, I will most certainly be back.
I discovered this phenomenal website a few days ago, they give helpful information to their audience. The site owner has a knack for engaging readers. I’m thrilled and hope they keep providing useful material.