THE SRI LANKAN RURAL VERNACULAR: 
An Examination of the changing pattern of houses 
with special reference to Matale District 
Dissertation presented to the 
Faculty of Architecture 
University o f Moratuwa 
For the M.Sc (Arch.) Final Examination 
K. M. S. FERNANDO 
Faculty of Architecture 
University of Moratuwa 
Sri Lanka 
up 
73 
723.1 
July 1998 
AC KNOW I>EDOKM ENT 
I kneel d o w n with gratitude be fore many , w h o crit ic ised, argued, adv i sed , gu ided and 
iged m e throughout in m a k i n g this a s u c c e s s . 
Prof. Nimal de Silva. Head . Dept . o f Architecture, for m a n y e y e o p e n i n g d i s c u s s i o n s I had with 
h im and for va luable a d v i s e g i v e n to at the initial s tages . 
Dr. Ranjith Dayaratne. Senior Lecturer. Dept . o f Architecture, for g i v i n g m e va luable a d v i c e 
and hints during the draft s tages to m a k e this a s u c c e s s and for correct ing the draft. 
Mr. Vidura Sri Nammuni and Mr. V. Basnayake, Senior Lecturers, Dept . o f Architecture, 
for lengthy d i s c u s s i o n s and inspiration g i v e n to m e w h e n I n e e d e d it m o s t . 
Dr. S. Manawadu. Senior Lecturer, Dept o f Architecture, for g i v i n g m e necessary 
nour ishment , adv ice , g u i d a n c e and va luable c o m m e n t s . 
Mr. R. Alahakoon. (Year Master) Sen ior Lecturer, Dept o f Architecture for his ass i s tance . 
Mrs. Basnayake, Mr & Mrs. Kumaras inghe , Orama Niladari and all the villagers of 
Dullewa Village, Mrs. Kobbekaduwa, Mrs. Aluvihare and Mrs. Wegodapola for p r o v i d i n g 
m e with neces sary data, d i s c u s s i o n s and granting permiss ion to photograph their h o u s e s 
Mr & Mrs R. Tillakasekera and Family for prov id ing all the faci l i t ies during m y stay at 
Matale . 
M y dear friends Chamil , Chaminda , Mayura, Indralal and Prcethika and all others, w h o m 
h a v e b e c o m e a source o f he lp , ass i s tance and encouragenmcnt at m y n e e d y m o m e n t s . 
Last but not least , my dearest parents, w h o w e r e l ike m y s h a d o w , ready to help m e at a 
m o m e n t o f n o t i c e b e it night or day . for their c o n t i n u o u s gu idance , e n c o u r a g e m e n t and b l e s s i n g s 
g i v e n at all t imes . 
C O N T E N T S 
Acknowledgement 
Contents 
List o f illustrations 
Introduction 
Observation 
Impact 
Cause 
Intention of study 
Methodology 
Limitation 
CHAPTER d N E : THE VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE AND HOUSE FORM 
1.1 The vernacular tradition 
1.1.1 Characteristics of vernacular tradition 
1.2 Architecture as an evolutionary process 
1.2.1 Formation of rural vernacular architecture (from primitive to vernacular) 
1.3 The house form and its importance 
1.3.1 Forces which irifluenced the house form 
1.3.1.1 Socio cultural factors 
i Society 
a) Man and family 
b) House and society 
ii Caste and family 
iii Culture 
1.3.1.2 Climate 
1.3.1.3 Materials/ construction and technology 
1.3.1.4 Economy 
"THE PAST LIVES IN THE PRESENT 
PRESENT IN THE FUTURE, 
LINKING THE DEAD PAST, 
WITH UNBORN FUTURE" 
(Srinivasan, K.) 
ILLUSTRATIONS 
Title 
Dwellings of Marsh Arabs 
The ceremonial space of Anazazi Indians 
Primitive house 
Different primitive forms of different cultures 
Relationship between family and society 
Igloo and Tepee houses 
Change of the house form of different castes (monogamous and 
polygamous situation) 
Different house forms in different cultures 
House forms differ with climate - Foreign 
Different house forms varying with climatic conditions in Sri Lanka 
Different house forms using same materials 
Economic influence in housing 
Section - a traditional dwelling 
Plinth of a traditional rural house 
Typical traditional thatched roof 
Small openings provide better quality light 
Rural vernacular house 
Basic unit of a vernacular housefp/o/j and section) 
Two roomed, two verandah house (plan and section) 
Simple courtyard house (Yeomans house) 
Plan of a Yeomans house 
Plan of a Feudals house 
Dutch influenced vernacular house 
British influenced vernacular house 
British influenced vernacular house - imposed western forms without 
Responding to the building traditions of Sri Lanka 
Location of the house 
Plan of old house (Muthubanda) 
Section - of the old house 
Elevation of the old house 
Plan of the new house (Basnayake) 
Section - of the new house (Basnayake) 
Front elevation of the new house (Basnayake) 
Entrance porch 
Old part of the house is out of traditional materials 
Raised plinth of the old house 
Low plinth and large windows of the new house 
Existing portion of the old house, with straw thatched roof and small 
openings 
Windows at about 4'0" above the ground 
Ventilation pattern of the old and new house 
Plan of house (Dullewa Walauwwa) 
Section - of the house (Dullewa Walauwwa) 
Elevation of the house (Dullewa Walauwwa) 
G.I. sheet roof of the new construction 
Wee polanage (winnowing house) 
Carved wooden column supports the roof 
The half wall facing meda midula 
Decorative small windows 
Heavy timber roof structure 
Ornamental doors with brass locks 
Hinge of the door 
Ventilation pattern of the house 
Plan of the house (Aluvihre Walauwnva) 
Section - of the house (Aluvihare Walauwwa) 
Elevation - of the house (Aluvihare Walauwwa) 
Stone steps lead from compound to the entrance 
Round column in stone and clay motar (facing the courtyard) 
Ventilation pattern of the house 
Plan of the old house (S. Kumarasinghe) 
Section - of the old housefS. Kumarasinghe) 
Elevation of the old house (S, Kumarasinghe) 
Plan of the new house (P. Kumarasinghe) 
Section - of the new house (P. Kumarasinghe) 
Elevation of the new house 
Courtyard still remaining (left side part of the old house) 
Extention to the old house can be used as an annex 
Part of the old house (with raised plinth, timber doors & windows and 
Roof is replaced by G. I. sheets) 
Grills are fitted onto windows for extra security 
Ventilation pattern of houses 
Plan - of the house (Wegodapola) 
Section - of the house (Wegodapola) 
Elevation - of the house (Wegodapola) 
Round columns facing the courtyard 
New addition of carport does not destroy the old form 
Ventilation pattern 
Plan - of the house (Weligala Walauwwa) 
Section - of the house (Weligala Walauwwa) 
Front elevation - of the house (Weligala Walauwwa) 
Side elevation - of the house (Weligala Walauwwa) 
Kitchen area (notice the roof covered with G.I. roofing sheets) 
Ventilation pattern 
Change of house forms depending on extended family units 
Old atuwa converted to a lounge (note the low head clearence) 
The earliest form of vernacular houses used environment friendly 
Materials for construction 
Dullewa Walauwwa (environment friendly materials were used here 
for construction) 
Courtyards once kept opened are obstructed by wooden trellis work 
How sunlight passes through windows 
Orientation of a building 
Pada bedima 
Inspiration drawn from temples is seen here