CORE OF HOME 
A N E L E M E N T A R Y A N A L Y S I S W I T H S P E C I A L 
R E F E R E N C E S T O T H E I N T E R A C T A B L E S P A C E S I N 
S P O N T A N E O U S U R B A N H O U S I N G S E T T L E M E N T S . 
» © 3 0 ^ £ ) Besses. § <8»»ai 
Dissertation presented to the 
Department of Architecture 
University of Moratuwa,Sri Lanka, 
For the M sc (architecture) final examination 1998 and 
to the Royal Institute of British Architects 
for the R.I B A (part II) examination. 
162 
c a l l * 
72 96 
708.1 
M. LILANTHA R. WIJAYAPALA 
6 9 3 6 2 
C O N T E N T S page# 
A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T 001 
INTRODUCTION 002 
A B S T R A C T 008 
C H A P T E R O N E - T H E INTIMATE HOME 
CHARACTERIST ICS O F S P O N T A N E O U S U R B A N 
HOUSING S E T T L E M E N T S AND THEIR 
INTERACTABLE SPACE. 011 
(35200 words) 
1 1 HOUSING SETTLEMENTS AS A GREATER 
NEED FOR HUMAN SERVIVAL. 011 
1.1.1 Basic human needs and shelter 011 
1.1.2 Housing as the developed shelter; a greater 
need of home making 012 
1.1.3 Home as the dwellers'intimate perception 014 
1.1.4 Housing as a need of variable characteristics 016 
1.2 SPONTANEOUS URBAN HOUSING SETTLEMENTS. 018 
1.2.1 The Origin. 018 
1.2.2 The general structure in settlements. 020 
a) Ecological 020 
b) Sociological 021 
1.2.3 Spatial elements of a settlement 023 
a) House as a basic spatial enwrap 024 
b) Community space as a manifestation of 
social interaction 025 
1 2 3 Characteristical variations in spontaneous 
housing settlements 026 
1.3 INTERACTABLE SPACE 028 
1 3.1 Interaction as a significant exertion in a community 
settlement. / 028 
1.3.2 Utilization levels of interaction 030 
1.3.3 Interactable space as an architectural manifestation 032 
1.4 SPONTANEOUS URBAN HOUSING SETTLEMENT AS A 
SYMBOL O F A HUMAN EXISTENCE 036 
C H A P T E R T W O - T H E LOST HOME 
HOMELESSNESS A S A N ISSUE IN R E G E N A R T E D 
HOUSING FOR T H E POOR 039 
(2425 words) 
2.1 CAUSATIVE FACTORS OF SETTLEMENT 
DEGRADATION AND THE NEED FOR BETTERMENT 039 
2.1.1 Causative factors of degradation 039 
a) Overcrowding 039 
b) Land renovation 041 
c) Urban renewal 042 
2.1.2 The need for settlement betterment as a 
variable issue 043 
2.2 ADAPTATIONS IN SETTLEMENT BETTERMENT 
AS A CONCEPT O F REGENERATION 045 
2.2.1 Adaptations for betterment 045 
a) On site housing 045 
b) Relocation 046 
c) Land invasion 047 
2.2.2 The adaptations as a concept of regeneration 047 
2.3 HOMELESSNESS IN REGENERATED HOUSING 050 
2.3.1 The impact of regenerated housing on the 
preceptors of home 050 
a) The centre 050 
b) The enclosure 051 
c) The continuation 052 
2.3.2 Homelessness as an impact on mans existential 
Foothold 053 
2.3.3 The enigma in adaptations as a directive of 
home making 056 
C H A P T E R T H R E E - IN S E A R C H OF H O M E 
INTERACTAB L E S P A C E S IN SELECTED S P O N T A N E O U S 
U R B A N HOUSING SETTLEMENTS 0 5 8 
(3575 words) 
3.1 PREAMBLE 0 5 8 
3 2 CASE STUDIES 060 
3.2.1 Navagampura 19 t h Lane 060 
[a] Ecological schemata 060 
[b] Sociological schemata 062 
[c] Schematic adaptations 064 
i) Family realm 065 
ii) Visitors realm 069 
iii) Public realm 070 
3.2.2 Wanathamulla 072 
[a] Ecological schemata 072 
[b] Sociological schemata 074 
[c] Schematic adaptations 077 
i) Family realm 077 
ii) Visitors realm 079 
iii) Public realm 081 
3.2.3 Panchikawatte 082 
[a] Ecological schemata 082 
[b] Sociological schemata 084 
[c] Schematic adaptations 087 
i) Family realm 087 
ii) Visitors realm 090 
iii) Public realm 093 
C H A P T E R FOUR- THE CO RE O F H O M E 
INTERACTABLE S P A C E AS AN E L E M E N T O F HOME 
IN U R B A N POOR HOUSING 096 
(3930words ) 
4.2 CHARACTERISTICAL ANALYSIS OF INTERACTABLE 
SPACES 096 
4.1.1 Family realm 096 
4.1.2 Visitor Realm 101 
4.1.3 Public realm 103 
4.2 INTERACTABLE SPACE AS AN ELEMENT OF HOME 105 
4.2.1 Interactable space as a Centre 105 
4.2.2 Interactable space as a Continuation 112 
4.2.3 Interactable space as an Enclosure 118 
4.3 INTERACTABLE SPACE AS A UNIQUE ELEMENT 
IN T H E C O R E OF HOME 125 
C O N C L U S I O N 130 
BIBL IOGRAPHY 132 
LIST O F ILLUSTRATIONS page# 
0 0 1 . Man and shelter 013 
002. Human body and architecture 015 
003. Centre, enclosure, continuation of a space 016 
004. Ancient Sri Lankan Settlements 018 
005. Pollution and meager education 021 
006. Elements off a community settlement 023 
007. Activities under a tree 026 
008. Interaction; a communal exertion 028 
009. People share primary resources 029 
010. Co-Centric zones interaction 031 
0 1 1 . Levels of interaction in a settlement 031 
012. Textures of light and shade 034 
013. Sense of scale 035 
014. Scale 035 
015. Proportion 035 
016. House as a symbolic interpretation 036 
017. A symbolical settlement 038 
018. Overcrowded settlement 0 3 9 
019. psychological stimulation of overcrowding 0 4 0 
020. Incompatible context 041 
0 2 1 . Negative response to nature 042 
022. Urban Renewal 0 4 3 
023. A blunder solution for housing 048 
024. Lack of reference as a centre 050 
025. A different atmosphere 051 
026. The directional planes 052 
027. Lack of continuation 053 
028. Under- utilized spaces 053 
029. Homes; a future requirement 057 
030. Spontaneous settlements 0 5 8 
0 3 1 . Navagampura 060 
032. Regenerated scheme at Navagampura 062 
033. Extension of family realm 065 
034. Continuation of family realm 065 
035. Interaction with neighbours on alleyways 066 
036. In-between space as a continuation 066 
037. Plinths in alleyways 067 
038. Spaces within the neighbourhood 067 
039. Connections with the neighbouring communities 068 
040. A point of multiple interaction 0 6 9 
0 4 1 . The realm of the visitor 069 
042. Public realm 070 
043. Settlement of Wanathamulla 072 
044. A centre of worship 075 
045. The prominent cultural centre 076 
046. A centre for communication 077 
047. Shared family space 077 
048. Extended family spaces 078 
049. Strong territorial demarcations 078 
050. A space for visitor entertainment 0 7 9 
0 5 1 . The shared spaces in a settlement 0 7 9 
052. Demarcated visitor realm 080 
053. Interactable lanes 080 
054. The changing public realm 081 
055. The spontaneous settlement of panchikawatte 0 8 2 
056. Masjeed Mawatha economy 084 
057 . Extended community centres 085 
058. Negative responses towards the settlement 086 
059. Extended family territories 087 
060. enlarged family spaces 087 
0 6 1 . The dwellers foremost home 088 
062. Adaptable spaces 088 
063. Visitor entertainment in alleys 089 
064. Neighbour interaction in alleys 089 
065. Common elements for interaction 090 
066. A potential space for interaction 090 
067. A public thoroughfare 090 
068. Visitor entertainment on streets 091 
069. Dweller's positive contribution to the street 091 
070. Potential spaces for public interaction 092 
0 7 1 . Mobile outlets for the changing context 092 
072. Public intervention in the neighbourhood 093 
073. The community tap 093 
074. Connection at Maradana road 094 
075. Verge at Sangarajha Mawatha 094 
076. Overlapping realms 095 
077. Typical alleyways of Navagampura 096 
078. Extended family and neighbourhood interaction 096 
079. Lower and higher community interaction 097 
080. Dimensional changes of Wanathamulla Dump 098 
0 8 1 . Family, sub culture and visitor interaction in Wanathamula 098 
082. Textural variation in Navagampura 1 9 * Lane 099 
083. Alleyway type (I) at Panchikawatte 100 
084. Alleyway type (ii) at Panchikawatte 100 
085 Dimensional Variations in the Dump 100 
086. Under-utilized spaces in Navagampura 101 
087. Transitional space in a settlement 102 
088. Changes in Saranapala Mawatha, Wanathamulla 102 
089. Change of dimension through the settlement 104 
090. The child's experience of centre 107 
0 9 1 . Natural centre 108 
092. Inter-community space in Wanathamulla 109 
093. The chain of centres in Panchikawatta 110 
094. The dynamic centre 111 
095. An attitude change in the community 112 
096. The directiveness of spaces 113 
097. The changing dimensions 114 
098. Visual connections with the neighbours 115 
099. Futuristic motivations 115 
100. The changes of light and shade towards direction 116 
101 . The changing definitions 117 
102. A basic definition of a centre 119 
103. The natural impact on the settlement 120 
104. Natural demarcations for the settlement 121 
105. High walls as an addition to the settlement 122 
106. The definitions of semi-private spaces 122 
107. Eaves control light and shade 123 
108. Topographical demarcations to domains 124 
109. A play area and its domestic definitions 124 
110. Economy changes with training 125 
111 . Changing physical dimensions and economy 126 
A K N O W L E D G E M E N T S 
T h e g r a t i t u d e o f m i n e is g i v e n to Prof . La i B a l a s o o r i y a t h e 
D e a n F a c u l t y o f A r c h i t e c t u r e , Prof . N i m a l D e S i l v a t h e H e a d 
o f A r c h i t e c t u r e d e p a r t m e n t . F u r t h e r it is e x t e n d e d to t h e y e a r 
m a s t e r s o f y e a r 5 A r c h t . V i d u r a Sr i N a m m u n i a n d A r c h t . 
R a n j i t h A l a h a k o o n of y e a r 6. 
M y d e e p e s t g r a t e f u l n e s s is o f f e r e d to Dr. S a m i t h a 
M a n a w a d u for b e i n g m y tutor, g u i d i n g t h r o u g h t h e w h o l e 
e n d e a v o r . T o m y c o l l e a g u e R a v i n for al l t h e a d v i s e a n d 
i n v a l u a b l e b o o k s tha t h e lent m e I s a l u t e e x t r e m e l y . I t h a n k 
all t h e r e s i d e n t s in W a n a t h a m u l l a , n a v a g a m p u r a a n d 
P a n c h i k a w a t t e s e t t l e m e n t s for all t h e h e l p g i v e n m e t o w a r d s 
t h e c o n s o l a t i o n o f this s tudy . 
T o m y b r o t h e r La i a n d s i s - i n - l a w S u s i m a for l e n d i n g m e the i r 
c o m p u t e r a n d al l o t h e r s o l a c e s , I t h a n k hear t i l y to t h e m b o t h . 
T o T a m m y I p r a i s e e v e n l y for b e i n g w i t h m e in al l d e s p a i r 
e n c o u r a g i n g m e to t h e u t m o s t . T o t h e s u p p o r t o f h e r p a r e n t s 
I w o u l d e x t e n d m y d e e p e s t a c k n o w l e d g m e n t . 
L a s t but not l eas t m y g r e a t e s t g r a t i t u d e is g i v e n to m y 
m o t h e r w h o s u p p o r t s m e al l w a y s in e v e r y s t r u g g l e . I f u r t h e r 
a c k n o w l e d g e m y la te f a t h e r a n d h o n o u r th is s t u d y for h is 
p e r s o n a g e . 
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