Model Village

• Name: Shehan Pathmakumara
• Year: 2017
• Studio: Level V
• University: University of Moratuwa

This design study will be a case study of how to provide an architectural solutions for reconstruction of war effected deep rural villages, while responding to the existing socio-cultural and economic context as well as the physical context in Sri Lanka. This will endeavor to realize an architectural solutions that could be inspired, adapted and applied to the very similar conditions in local context and especially in the rural settlement areas that were developed under the Mahaveli Development Plan in Sri Lanka. According to the MDB (Mahaweli Development Board) standards, the smallest unit of the settlement model is called as “a block” that consist of 100-125 families. Couple of blocks makes a “hamlet” that consists of 250-300 households’ lots. 3-5 hamlet centers formed a “village center” and it will be directly connects with the rural town center.

Diagram of spatial organization of settlement in a region

Functional form of the village could be change according to the immediate circumstance. Because the capabilities of the communities and availability of natural resources are varying from region to region. Major concern of the design process was to bridge the heterogeneous communities within each other, since they were not demarcated by the physical barriers but mind barriers are there due to the unexpired civil war. The model of the village encourages partnerships with local organizations to share knowledge and measure the benefits to farmers, families and communities.