E x a m i n a t i o n o f a n a r c h i t e c t u r a l 
F a b r i c o f s e l e c t e d hi l l t o w n s in S r i L a n k a 
A n d i t ' s d e t e r m i n a t e f a c t o r s 
A dissertation submitted to the University of Moratuwa 
As a partial full f i lament of the requirement for the degree of 
Master of science in architecture 
74086 
University of Moratuwa 
74086 
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This Dissertation is about 
the look of, Architectural fabric of hill 
towns and its determinant factors. In 
the course of examining the fabric, 
the dissertation looks at four 
selected will towns in Sri Lanka. 
Such as Haputhale , Bandarawel la, 
Rathnapura, Kegalle, further 
examine of those towns, e lements of 
the streets facades, scale of the 
building landscape, composi t ion of 
layout identified what are the exit ing 
patterns. 
Factors effected to the 
development of the Secondly f ind the 
relevant determinate town. What 
kind of influence get envelopment 
with determinates and the 
architectural fabric of those towns. 
The aims of this 
dissertation found the exiting fabric 
and what happened in the modern 
haphazard development and 
possible solution for these problems. 
I l l 
A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t 
Let me record have my heartfelt gratitude to each and 
every one ment ioned bellow for their help to make this dissertation success. 
Above all my greatest thanks are especially extended to 
Pro . Nimal De Silva,Dr. Ranjith Dayarathna,senior lecture, faculty of 
architecture,and Dr. Samitha Manawadu. Senior lecture , faculty of 
architecture , in terms of having faith in the particular dissertation topic 
proposals, advice extended on structure of the study, criticism on text and 
offering editorial suggestion , which immensely to built up conf idence and 
above all constant remarks on t ime limit. 
It is wonderful to feel the concern of all the friends in encouragement . 
Therefor in association with the feel of humanity ,1 
dedicated this dissertation to you. 
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IV 
C o n t e n t s 
Page. No 
Abstract ii 
Acknowledgment iii 
List of f iggurs vii 
Introduction 1 
Chapter 1 
dentif ication of element of architectural fabric 
and it's determinant factors 
1. Characteristics of fabric 4 
1.2. Component of the fabric 5 
1.2.1. C i m p o s i t i o n 5 
(a) Organization of forms 5 
(1). Centralize organization 5 
(2). Liner organization 6 
(3). Grid organization 7 
(4). Satellite organization 8 
1.2.2. Architectural fabric of the fagade 8 
1.2.3. Vertical arrangement of the town 9 
1.3. Determinants of the architectural fabric 9 
1.3.1. Cultural and historical aspects 10 
associate with the town 
1.3.2 Function of the town 12 
(1) as a transitional center for transport 12 
(2) Industrial town 13 
(3) As a market place 13 
1.3.3 Geographical location of the city 14 
(a) Land form and topography 14 
(1) Level site 15 
(2) Hill site 15 
(b) Presence of water 16 
(c ) Vegetat ion 17 
(d) Cl imate 17 
Chapter 2 
Interrelationship of determinants with an architectural fabric of the towns and 
the relative influence 
2.1 Cultural and social aspects 18 
2.2 Functional aspects 21 
2.3 Geographical aspects 21 
Chapter 3 
Case study- Examination of the built environment of the 
selected hill towns 
3.1 Towns for case study 25 
3.2 Introduction of selected towns 
3.3 Function of the town 
3.4 Built fabric of the tow 
(1) Layout plan of the town 
(2) Relation ship between different layers 
(3) Sectors of the town 
(4) Characteristics of the fagade 
3.5 Vertical arrangement 
3.6 Construction methods 
3.7 Landscape 
Case study 
1- Rathnapura 25 
2 Kegalle 46 
3- Bandarawella 60 
4 - Haputhale 77 
Chapter 4 
Comparat ive analysis of the interrelationship of determinants 
and the fabric of the town 
4.1 Built fabric 89 
4.2 Function of the town 106 
4.3 Texture of facade 107 
4.4 Vertical arrangement 
4.5 Construct ion methods 
Chapter 5 
Recommendat ion based on the research 
5.1 Lessons from past 
5.2 Current situation 
5.3 Gride line for design and planing control 
Conclut ion 
Bibl iography 
vii 
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L i s t o f i l l u s t r a t i o n 
Fig. No page no. 
1 Movement of the people 6 
2. Space arrangement 7 
3. Grid arrangement 7 
4 . Satellite communit ies 8 
5. View of market place 13 
6. V iew of San Bartolomco to the villa grazoni and It's garden 16 
7. v iew of leberian vil lages in Spain 16 
8. The "inward c i t y " 19 
9. Hindu planing system 20 
10. building located along the contours 22 
1 1 . Piazza of St' Marco 24 
12 Location map of Rathnapura 26 
13 Gathering spaces for gem trading people 27 
14 gathering spaces within the town 27 
15 Tradit ional methods of gem mining 28 
16 Layout plan o f t h e town (A), (B), (C) hill site. 29 
17 arrangement of hills 30 
18 Section trough the (x-x) typical arrangement of (A), (B), (C) 30 
19 Space arrangement 31 
20 Connect ion between different layers 31 
21 Edge of the river b a n k " Kaluganga " 32 
22 Steps f rom busy street to the St' Allosious college 33 
23 Steps to the upper level of the town 33 
24 Plot arrangement of the shopping streets (main street) 34 
25 Building line for shop 34 
26 Building line for old building Arrangement 34 
27 Fagade of new buildings 35 
28 .Gem trade center - Brutish arches 36 
29 Details of doors - St' luk's church 
30 Decorated gable ends 
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31 Details of facades 37 
32 Class room of St' Allosious college 38 
33 Police head office building areas, 38 
35 commercial areas 39 
36 Other buildings 39 
36 Conceptual section for sky line. 39 
38 Roof pattern of the street 40 
38 A view of main street 41 
39 Associated with the hill site with narrow plots 42 
40 Associate with the lower level ground wither narrow plots. 42 
41 shop houses of main street 43 
42 Urban pa rk . 43 
43 man made arch 44 
44 view from park 45 
45 Individual large trees provide certain character to the area 45 
46 arrangement of main road 46 
47 cross section through the main road 47 
48 space arrangement of the town 48 
49 section across the town 49 
50 view of the town 49 
51 arrangement of different activities 50 
52 relation ship between town center and surroundings 50 
53 Steps created to the church 51 
54 connect ion with the main road with large steps 51 
55 plot arraignment along the main road 52 
56 compacted plot arrangement for shops 52 
57 individual plot arrangement for other buildings 53 
58 individual plot arrangement for other buildings 53 
59 details o f t h e buildings 54 
60 details of the facade 55 
61 exposed rubble wall - o f St' Josop girls school 56 
62 Varity along the street 57 
t 
63 sky line along the road near the town center 57 
64 view of town center 57 
65 roof pattern along the road-away from the town center 58 
66 significant Kandyan r o o f - o f laksala building 59 
67 .Front of the market building 59 
68 view along the main road 60 
69 arrangement of main road 61 
70 front fagade of railway station 62 
71 arrangement of main road and space 63 
72 cross section x-x 63 
73 relation ship of the town center with other areas 64 
74 plot arrangement of shopping street 65 
75. v iew of shopping street 65 
76 plot arrangement of shopping street 66 
77 view of catholic church- f rom the street 66 
78 plot arrangement of institutional building 67 
79 individual large plot with landscape 68 
80 different gable ends within the town 68 
81 view of shopping street 69 
82 set back opening o f t h e church building 69 
83 exposed rubble work of church 70 
84 side view of church building 70 
85 roof pattern of Commercial area 71 
86 sky line created by the modern buildings 72 
87 sky line created by the old buildings 72 
88 roof pattern of historical buildings 73 
89 construction methods of some shops 73 
90 constriction methods of some buildings 74 
91 shops located at two different levels 74 
92 view of the play ground 75 
93 view of the play ground 75 
94 vegetat ion cover 76 
95 view of the vegetation cover 76 
96 man made structures 77 
97 layout plan of the town 79 
98 relation ship between different layer 80 
99 visual connection of different layers 81 
100 plot arrangement of commercial buildings 81 
f 101 Location of some institutional buildings 82 
102 building fagade 82 
103 view of hospital building with exposed rubble wall 83 
104 v iew of hospital building with exposed rubble wall 84 
105 Rubble block wall - entrance of the railway station 84 
106 view of main shopping street 85 
107 conceptual cross section of the town 85 
108 plat sky line 86 
109 plat sky line created by small shops 86 
* 110 Constrict ion methods of shops 87 
111 Typical arrangement of the city center -Hill valley 89 
112 Typical arrangement of the city center -hill top 90 
113. Max imum development of the city center 90 
114. View of Iberian vil lages 91 
115. View of the mountain setting and related building 91 
116. View o f t h e mountain setting o f t h e neighbouring 
Halian region Ligura 92 
117. View of Pitiglono 92 
1 1 8 . Maximum development at the hill top 93 
g 119. Town center location 94 
120. Clock tower Rathnapura 94 
121 . Roof pattern of Bandarawela 96 
122. Types of trees 96 
123. types of trees 96 
124 Fly over bridge Rathnapura 97 
125. The Spanish steps ion Rome 100 
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126. The Spanish steps in Rome 101 
127. Visual connection of different towns 102 
128. Indian town river bank 103 
129. Activit ies related to the river bank 104 
130. Water related activities 105 
131 . East river at the United nation 106 
• 132. Different between narrow plots and large plots 109 
133. Open corridor - Rathapura gem museum 111 
134. Decorated fagade of church building 112 
135. Set back windows of church building 112 
136. Solid and void effect of the buildings 114 
137. View of the hill towns 115 
138. Correct location of the hill towns 115 
139 View of St 'Mice l les France 116 
140. Roof patterns 116 
* 141 . roofscape -Florence 117 
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