G R E E N A R C H I T E C T U R E : 
A S T U D Y O F T H E C O N C E P T 
A N D 
ITS A P P L I C A B I L I T Y F O R S R I L A N K A 
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE 
UNIVERSITY OF MORATUWA SRI LANKA 
FOR THE 
FINAL EXAMINATION IN 
M.Sc. (ARCHITECTURE) 
JUNE, 1997 
UNIVERSITY OF MORATUWA, SRI LANKA 
©@)COS 
S.A. SOMATHILAKA 
M.Sc. II (1997) 
DEPT. OF ARCHITECTURE 
71601 
ABSTRACT 
Man's activities on the earth has existed affecting on environmental balance 
since hundreds of years. It is increasing with the time and architecture also act as 
a major contributor on environmental degradation in terms of buildings. For the 
purpose of finding solutions for such environmental problems, the green concept 
of architecture has emerged. Actually it is not a new concept, what is new is its re 
emergence. This architectural concept cannot be defined in isolation. Always it is 
related to sustainable, eco-sensitive and ecologic conceptions. This study aimed 
to examine the green concept and its applicability for Sri Lankan architectural 
practices. Initially the concept is identified by fragmenting it into few principles 
which it is based on. These principles are called green architectural principles in 
the literature. For the convenience of its applicability for Sri Lankan architectural 
practices the study arranged the into a theoretical framework. The application of 
this framework into Sri Lankan traditional and contemporary architectural 
practices reveals that Sri Lankan traditional architecture was an eco-sensitive 
architectural practice and contemporary practice is abandoning what the 
traditional architecture had followed in the past. To avoid architectural trends 
which create environmentally unfriendly architecture and to build the good 
responsive architectural practice for future. The application of green ideas in the 
building process are identified. A work plan has formulated for the use as a guide 
for designers and requirements that should be fulfilled during the design to 
completion stage has also prepared. 
CONTENTS 
Page 
ACKNOWLEDGMENT 1 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 1 1 
INTRODUCTION O 1 
CHAPTER 1 
1. THE CONCEPT OF GREEN ARCHITECTURE 0 2 
1.1. GREEN ARCHITECTURE 
A DEFINITION 0 3 
1.1.1 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 0 5 
1.1.2. SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN 0 6 
1.1.3. ECO-SENSITIVE ARCHITECTURE 0 7 
1.1.4. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR GREEN ARCHITECTURE 0 8 
1.2. GREEN MOVEMENT IN ARCHITECTURE AS A SUSTAINABLE 
SOLUTION FOR FUTURE 1 ° 
1.2.1. PRINCIPLE 1 
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY 1 ° 
(1) SITE PLANING 1 1 
(2) MATERIALS SELECTION 1 1 
(3) USE OF NATURAL LIGHT & VENTILATION 1 3 
(4) USE OF LOW ENERGY SYSTEMS 1 6 
(5) RE USE OF EXISTING/OLD BUILDINGS 1 ~! 
(6) DESIGN FOR FLEXIBILITY 1 7 
1.2.2. PRINCIPLE 2 
WORKING WITH CLIMATE 1 6 
1.2.3. PRINCIPLE 3 
MINIMIZATION OF NEW RESOURCES 2 1 
(1) MINIMIZATION OF MATERIALS FOR CONSTRUCTION 2 1 
THAT ARE PROCESSED FROM NON RENEWABLE RESOURCES 
(2) REUSES OF OLD/EXISTING BUILDINGS 2 2 
(3) USE OF WASTE AS A MATERIAL/RESOURCE 2 2 
(4) AVOID TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTAINING 2 3 
MATERIALS FOR CONSTRUCTION 
1.2.4. PRINCIPLE 4 
RESPECT FOR USERS 2 4 
1.2.5. PRINCIPLE 5 
RESPECT FOR SITE 2 5 
1.2.6. PRINCIPLE 6 
WASTE MANAGEMENT 2 6 
1.2.7. PRINCIPLE 7 
HOLISM 27 
CHAPTER 2 
SRI LANKAN VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE AND PRACTICES OF 
GREEN ARCHITECTURAL PRINCIPLES 29 
2.1. TRADITIONAL SRI LANKAN ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE 29 
2.1.1. TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE BEFORE ARRIVAL OF 
FOREIGN CULTURES 2 9 
2.1.2. TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE DURING COLONIAL OCCUPATION 3 0 
2.1.3. EARLY BUILDINGS IN SRI LANKA 3 0 
2.2. TRADITIONAL SRI LANKAN ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE AS 
AN ECO-SENSITIVE ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE 31 
2.2.1. ENERGY CONSERVATION IN TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE 
IN SRI LANKA 32 
(1) SITE PLANNING 32 
(2) MATERIALS SELECTION 32 
(3) USE OF NATURAL LIGHT & VENTILATION 33 
(4) DESIGN FOR FLEXIBILITY 3 4 
2.2.2. CLIMATIC RESPONSE IN TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE 3 4 
2.2.3. RESOURCES UTILIZATION IN TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE 35 
2.2.4. RESPECT FOR USERS IN TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE 36 
2.2.5. RESPECT FOR SITE IN TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE 36 
2.2.6. WASTE MANAGEMENT IN TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE 06 
2.2.7. HOLISTIC APPROACH 37 
2.3. CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE IN SRI LANKA AND THE PRACTICE 
OF GREEN ARCHITECTURAL PRINCIPLES 37 
2.3.1. ENERGY CONSERVATION 38 
2.3.2. RESOURCES UTILIZATION 39 
2.3.3. WORKING WITH CLIMATE 4 0 
2.3.4. RESPECT FOR USERS 4 2 
2.3.5. RESPECT FOR SITE 42 
2.3.6. WASTE MANAGEMENT 4 2 
2.3.7. HOLISTIC APPROACH 43 
2.3.8. COMPARISON AND SUMMARY OF TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE 
AND CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE IN SRI LANKA 4 3 
CHAPTER 3 
3. GREEN ARCHITECTURE AS A MAJOR ISSUE IN FUTURE 
SRI LANKAN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS AND PRACTICES 4 6 
3.1. A GREEN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PRACTICE FOR SRI LANKA 4 7 
3.1.1. PRACTICE OF GREEN PRINCIPLES IN FUTURE 
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS 4 8 
(1) CONSERVATION OF ENERGY 4 9 
(2) WORKING WITH CLIMATE 52 
(3) MINIMIZATION OF NEW RESOURCES 5 4 
(4) RESPECT FOR USERS 5 6 
(5) RESPECT FOR SITE 5 6 
(6) WASTE MANAGEMENT 57 
(7) HOLISM 58 
3.1.2. INCLUDING GREEN THINKING INTO BUILDING REGULATIONS 5 6 
3.2. A GREEN BUILDING PROCESS FOR SRI LANKAN ARCHITECTURAL 
PRACTICE 5 9 
CONCLUSION 61 
BIBLIOGRAPHY 63 
> 
4 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
Many people helped me to make this dissertation a reality. It is to them that I 
hmbly pay tribute.... 
Dr. L.S.R. Perera, Senior lecturer, Dept, of Architecture for the inspiring 
discussions, advices and comments, the constant encouragement from the onset 
till the end and above all for believing in its worth. 
Archt. N.M.P. Nawarathne for guidance and valuable adive, concerns and interest 
shown throughout this effort and correcting the draft. 
Dr. Ranjith Dayarathne, Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Architecture for valuable advice 
given me at preliminery stages. 
Prof. Nimal De Silva Head, Dept. of Architecture for valuable advice given me at 
preliminary stages. 
Archt. Nisha Fernando for valuable advice given me. 
Staff of the Library University of Moratuwa for the supports given me. 
Prasad, Viraj, Iresha, Thushara, Rajitha, Abhaya and all my friends who helped 
me in numerous ways. 
Priyani and her family for all the supports given me specially in the completion. 
4 
I 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS / PLATES 
Fig No: Page 
01. Conceptual framework for Green Architecture 9 
02. Glare due to daylighting from one side 13 
03. Improved lighting with windows on two walls 13 
04. Window positioning for good ventilation 14 
05. Building orientation 15 
06. Conventional solar air - conditioning system 15 
07. Solar air - conditioning with bio - mass fuel 16 
* 08. An energy efficient office 19 
09. Shading divices and wind catching terraces 20 
10. A house wall constructed by beer bottles 22 
11. A gallery - made out of paper tubes 22 
12. A house on stilts 25 
13. NMB Bank-Holand 28 
14. A traditional house 31 
15. Cleastorey lighting of a shrine room 33 
16. Court yard of a traditional house 35 
17. A wattle & daub house 36 
18. Climatic responsive multi storey buildings 41 
19. National library - Colombo 50 
A 20. New Parliament - Sri Jayawardanapura 51 
21. Audiance hall - Kandian Art association Kandy 51 
22. Union Assuarance building - collpetty 52 
23. Mahaweli Authority building - Colombo 53 
24. Transworks house - Fort - Colombo 54 
25. Dental institue building - Colombo 55 
26. A Hotel - Kandapola 55 
27. A house at Kandy 57 
28. Green building process 60 
> 
•4, 
II