AN EXAMINATION OF DEVELOPER BUILT HOUSING 
AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS ON CREATING 
RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS 
A d i s s e r t a t i o n p r e s e n t e d to 
t h e d e p a r t m e n t o f A r c h i t e c t u r e , 
u n i v e r s i t y o f M o r a t u w a fo r 
t h e f ina l e x a m i n a t i o n 
in M.sc. ( a r c h i t e c t u r e ) 
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M a h e s h a D. L iyanage , 
M.sc . (arch) 
May 20Q0 
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Contents 
Page NO 
Acknowledgement iii 
Abstract iv 
List of Figures v 
Introduction 
a. Problem area 01 
b. Need of the study 02 
c. Aims and objectives 03 
d. Method of study 04 
Chapter one 
Developer built housing in Sri Lanka 06 
1.1 Interventions of developers in housing 08 
1.1.1 Rules and regulations 09 
1.1.2 Limitations 10 
1.1.3 Privileges 11 
1.2 Developers and their house making process 11 
1.2.1 Subdivision of land 12 
1.2.1 Designing and construction 15 
1.3. Strategies on providing houses 15 
1.3.1 Selling the complete house 15 
1.3.2 Selling the house under construction 16 
1.3.3 Selling the land with the house plan 16 
Chapter two 
The neighborhood as a communal environment 17 
2.1 Definitions of neighborhood 17 
2.2 Characteristics of neighborhood 20 
2.3 Neighborhood characters in traditional rural settlement 28 
2.3.1 Tank fed village 29 
2.3.2 Rain fed village 
2.3.3 Hill country valley vil lage 
2.3.4 Viharagam or Devalagam 
2.4 Design considerations in neighborhood 
2.4.1 Layout pattern 
2.4.2 Dynamics of f r iendship 
2.4.3 Character 
Chapter three 
Se lec ted d e v e l o p e r b u i l t h o u s i n g s c h e m e s 
a n d the i r r e s p o n s e s o n n e i g h b o r h o o d c h a r a c t e r s . 
3.1 Communi ty 
3.2 Housing clusters 
3.2.1 Layout 
3.2.2 Roads, paths and turning Circles 
3.2.3 Individual house blocks 
3.2.4 Behavior pattern of the community 
3.3 Housing neighborhoods 
3.3.1 Layout pattern 
3.3.2 Circulation zone 
3.3.3 Residential zone 
3.3.4 Public or recreational zone 
3.3.5 Behavior pattern of the community 
C o n c l u s i o n 
B i b l i o g r a p h y 
iii 
Acknowledgement 
I am indebted to Archt. Dr. L.S.R. Perera, senior lecturer, University of 
Moratuwa, who has always been a constant source of inspiration to me, offering 
me valuable guidance and devoting his precious time on this dissertation. 
I am also wish to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Ranjith Dayarathne, 
senior lecturer, University of Moratuwa who encouraged and made insight of the 
study from the inception of the study and also Dr. Samitha Manawadu who 
offered valuable guidance specially at the initial stages. 
Equally helpful where, Archt. Jayantha Bogahawatta in Design Consortium 
Ltd., Archt. Renuka in Keels housing, and Engineer Priyantha Piyasena in 
Ceylinco Housing, offering valuable guidance and details about the study. 
Finally I offer my whole hartiest gratitude to Mr. Alahakoon who helped me 
in photographic studies, and my colleagues, my parents and all others helping 
me to complete this study. 
iv 
Abstract 
This study mainly focus on studding various kinds of developers and 
their implications on creating residential neighborhoods. At present, so many 
developer built housing schemes are mushrooming here and there and with 
the increasing of the quantity, quality of the housing is rare to see. The 
neighborhood characters, which are essential to communal environment, 
have been lost with the scarcity of the land. So the study finds out ways to 
achieve the successful community living within developer built housing 
projects and that will guide the developers, relative organizations and 
authorities to do better housing for people. 
The first chapter explains the various kinds of developers spread over 
the country and the second chapter identifies the various types of 
neighborhoods and their characteristics. Third chapter examines the selected 
developer built housing projects and the good and bad features relating 
community living of the particular projects. Finally the study attempt to finds 
out ways to achieve the successful community living within economical 
framework fulfilling both developers and user's requirements 
V 
List of figures 
Fig. No Page N< 
01 "Jayawadanagama" one of the housing scheme 
done under out right housing 06 
02 The one million housing project 07 
03 Highly decorative houses done by developers 08 
04 Scarcity of open public spaces to gather 12 
05 Available small lands divided in to maximum possible 
numbers of small blocks 13 
06 A land with large extent divided in to maximum possible 
blocks 14 
07 component of subdivision housing clustered along 
a street 18 
08 Neighborhood formed by subdivisions clustered around 
Common facilities 18 
09 Will lit and generously landscaped courtyards 19 
10 A courtyard provide out door space for residents 20 
11 Neighborhood boundaries 21 
12 The lane, paved with concrete cobblestone 22 
13 Each planned neighborhood faces upon the communal 
park and... 23 
14 Respecting to the neighborhood 25 
15 Buildings are not built to the highest permissible 
elevation 25 
16 Residential balconies over look the interior plaza 26 
17 Landscaping and a formation create a welcoming 
environment 26 
18 Landscaped wood trellises and planters provide privacy 26 
19 Rhythmic building facade offers identity 27 
vi 
Fig. No. Page No 
20 Territory is demarcated by wooden fence 27 
21 Layout of the tank fed village 29 
22 The wealth of the village 30 
23 Layout of the rain fed village 30 
24 Layout of the hill country valley village 31 
25 Terraced paddy fields 32 
26 Processional path acts as public space 33 
27 Smaller neighborhood groupings promote closer 
interfamily ties. 36 
28 Avoidance of potential problems 36 
29 Enjoyment of shared courtyard 37 
30 Togetherness 37 
31 A sense of neighborhood 38 
32 Parking compounds are kept to the perimeter 38 
33 Shared paths and walkways 39 
34 Shared events 39 
35 Shared institutions 39 
36 Shared meeting places 39 
37 Shared activities 39 
38 Shared living spaces 39 
39 Signs for place identification and guidance 40 
40 "Crest wood terrace" stage - 1 43 
41 "Crest wood terrace" stage - 2 43 
42 "Winston Park" at Wattala 44 
43 No shades to encourage people to walk 44 
44 Roads without shades discourage people 45 
45 Roads only for circulation 45 
46 The roads without any maintenance 46 
47 Individual housing blocks locate around 
shaded turning circle 46 
vii 
Fig. No. Page No. 
t 
9 
48 Common parking for visitors 47 
49 Arrangement of the house blocks within the plots 47 
50 Limited open areas within the scheme 48 
51 Front gardens interact the people 48 
52 "Crest Wood Terrace" at Thalawathugoda 49 
53 Windows with louvers provide privacy 50 
54 Balconies facing to the roads make visual contacts 50 
55 Boundary walls do not encourage visual contacts 51 
56 Entrance doors locate very close to the roads 51 
57 Character is tried to be continue by having common 
elements 52 
58 Entrance to "Lotus Grove" at Attidiya 53 
59 Layout - "Lotus Grove" at Attidiya 55 
60 Trees are planted either sides to provide shades 56 
61 shady roads encourage people to walk 56 
62 Built - in seats which are unable to interact people 56 
63 Roads not only for circulation 57 
64 The arrangement of an individual plot 57 
65 Steel railings of boundary walls make visual connection 58 
66 Boundary walls attract the people 58 
67 Living area link private area and public area 59 
68 More privacy than encouraging community living 59 
69 Provide more privacy rather than community living 59 
70 Encourage community 60 
71 Houses with simple hipped roof - loss of identity 60 
72 visual contacts with neighbors 61 
73 Most of balconies are facing to the roads 61 
74 Houses get the maximum view 61 
75 Balconies to get maximum view of the lake 62 
76 Swimming pool - not only for recreation 63 
s 
v i i i 
Fig. No. Page No. 
77 Tennis court and gymnasium - make inhabitant healthy 63 
78 Children's play area - not only for children 64