AN EXAMINATION OF THE LIVABILITY IN HIGH-DENSITY 
MULTI- STORY HOUSING, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO 
LUXURY APARTMENTS COMPLEXES. 
A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Architecture 
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 
As a Part of the Final Examination in 
M.Sc. (Architecture) and to the 
Royal Institute of British Architects, for the 
RIBA Part-11 Examination. 
PWAH Wickramarathna 
Faculty of Architecture 
University of Moratuwa 
Sri Lanka. 
March 2002. 
University of Moratuwa 
78192 
78192 
ABSTRACT 
With the technological advancement of mankind the world over, the severe constraints 
on the ever-depleting resources have contributed to man changing his lifestyle. His 
adaptation to this changing pattern of the environment requires an insight to reveal to 
what extent he can endure these constraints. In this context it is necessary to explore the 
most vulnerable group of the society, the upper income group, who has the means to 
obtain anything at any cost, compromise on this issue of luxurious living style. 
Density is defined as mass over volume. Applying this formula to make life livable can 
lead to innumerable theories, which in actual terms can be extremely complicated. 
Deriving a conclusion is almost impossible. What are the parameters that can be 
formulated to comprehend a yardstick and finally say it as the ultimate? In order to 
come to a compromising conclusion we require to analyse some of the attributing 
factors such as the orientation, identity, individuality, privacy, territoriality, and 
sociability for an acceptable livability. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 
I am extremely grateful to Dr. Samitha Manawadu, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of 
Architecture, University of Moratuwa, for instructions, guiding and encouragement 
given to me through out the course of study. 
I owe a deep debt of gratitude to Lecturer Raween Gunaw^ardana^and Lecturer Waruna 
De Silva, for their resourceful discussion, advice and comments that aided both in the 
organizing and the structure of this study. 
I am gratefully indebted to Architect Jayantha Domingo, Deputy General Manager, 
Special Projects, National Housing Development Authority, for continuous guidance 
and incisive comments directed many aspects of this study. 
I am grateful to Mr. Cassierer and Architect Damayanthi Jagoda, Special Projects, 
National Housing Development Authority, for their valuable help in various ways and 
guided me from the very beginning and criticisms and observations. 
Especially with heart felt gratitude to my Amma and Aiya, for their valuable guidance 
and encouragements in this effort. 
Finally my thanks to Chandana (Kalu), for always there to carry the burden of my 
troubles and irritations in most of times and encouragements. 
Hemamali Wickramarathna. 
March 2002. 
in 
ft 
CONTENTS 
ABSTRACT ii 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iii 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS iv 
INTRODUCTIONS 1 
Background. 1 
Aims and Objectives. 2 
Limitations. 2 
Method of study. 3 
• 
CHAPTER ONE 
MAN, ENVIRONMENT AND LIVABILITY 
1.1 The idea of livability. 4 
1.2 Living in the environment. 5 
1.3 Parameters of livability. 7 
1.3.1 Space or location. 7 
1.3.2 Culture and society. 8 
1.3.3 Time. 8 
1.4 Components of livability. 9 
1.4.1 Quantitative attributes. 10 
1.4.2 Qualitative attributes. 10 
1.5 Livability and space. 11 
iv 
• 
CHAPTER TWO 
DENSITY AS A PROBLEM 13 
2.1 Density. 13 
2.2 Density as a problem of livability. 13 
2.3 Problems of high-rise and high-density living. 14 
2.4 Factors leading to density. 15 
2.4.1 Problem of land. 16 
2.4.2 Increase of population. 16 
2.4.3 Density and socio cultural background. 18 
2.4.4 Political & economic background. 19 
2.4.5 Technology and density 20 
2.5 Types of density. 21 
2.6 Density and crowding 22 
2.7 Consequences of density 23 
2.7.1 Psychological consequence. 24 
2.7.2 Physiological consequence. 24 
2.7.3 Sociological consequence. 25 
CHAPTER THREE 
HIGH DENSITY MULTI STOREY LIVING 26 
3.1 Emergence of the multi storey living. 26 
3.2. The apartment concept in global context. 26 
3.3 Emergence of the apartment concept in Sri Lanka with 
reference to the city of Colombo 27 
3.4 manifestation of the livability of home in multi- storey 
housing. 29 
3.4.1 Orientation. 30 
3.4.2 Identity. 33 
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3.4.3 Privacy. 
3.4.4 Territoriality. 
3.4.5 Sociability. 
CHAPTER FOUR 
CASE STUDIES 
Case study one. Royal Park Condominium, Lake drive, 
Rajagiriya. 
Case study two: Queens Court Apartment, Queens road, 
Colombo 03. 
Case study three: Kanchajunga Apartment, Bombay 
CONCLUSION 
BIBLIOGRAPHY. 
vi 
LIST OF ILLUSTATIONS 
1. Housing as a landmark. 
2. Difference in height contributes to identity. 
3. A view from within gives orientation. 
4. Directional views give sense of orientation. 
5. Composition of the layout gives orientation to the complex 
6. Housing block similar to an office block. 
7. Identifiable housing block. 
8. Individuality expressed through the built form. 
9. Lack of individuality. 
10. Each projection proportioned as a golden rectangle. 
11. Lack of privacy. 
12. Lack of privacy. 
13. Lack of privacy due to party walls. 
14. Lack of privacy due to poor organization of spaces. 
15. Privacy achieved through organization of adjacent spaces. 
16. Territory defined by a building -within gap. 
17. Territory defined by an entrance arch. 
18. Territory defined by the composition of buildings. 
19. Territory defined by a change in level; recessing the 
doorway, change in direction. 
20. Roof terraces overlooking each other. 
21. Balconies facing the common street encourages interaction 
22. Private balcony overlooking each other - reduces privacy. 
23. A layout of housing blocks creating a no man's land. 
24. Habitat in Montreal by moshe safdie. 
25. MBF luxury housing tower Malaysia. 
26. Basic principles of the design of the MBF tower. 
27. Location map of royal park condominium. 
28. Royal park apartment complex. 
29. Layout plan - Royal Park. 
vii 
30. Identifiable roof from of a traditional villa. 49 
31. Proportion of a single unit 49 
32. Part plan of a cluster of units. 50 
33. Entrance gate to Royal Park. 50 
34. View of entrance to the building. 51 
35. Recreational spaces at ground level. 52 
36. Part plan. 53 
37. Recessed bay of corridor. 54 
38. Recessed entrance of two units. 54 
39. Floor plans. 55 
40. Floor plans of penthouse suite. 55 
41. Location map. 56 
42. Layout of queens court complex. 57 
43. Part plan of access corridor. 57 
44. View of stairs with opening at the end. 58 
45. View from the entrance hallway. 58 
46. queens court residential complex. 59 
47. View of the bedroom window of the unit beyond. 60 
48. Plan of individual unit. 60 
49. Entrance to the complex. 61 
50. Entrance territory of a unit. 62 
51. Entrance of a unit. 62 
52. View from the living area. 63 
53. Kanchanjunga apartments. 64 
54. Verandah to protect living areas. 65 
55. Roof terrace with a magnificent view. 66 
56. Enclosure suggests individual units. 66 
57. Plan of the single floor. 67 
58. Part plan of typical floor. 68 
59. Typical section of an apartment. 68 
60. An outdoor space. 69 
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