Nomad Storeys

Collaborative Living for Digital Nomads

• Name: Manu Wickramasinghe
• Year: 2018
• Studio: Level V
• University: University of Moratuwa

Text description provided by the project author.

Globalization and technological evolution are changing how we do and what we do globally, with the increased connectivity, gig economy’s growth has been remarkably rapid over the last decade, changing the nature of living and working. “gig economy is a free market system in which temporary positions are common and organizations contract with independent workers for short term engagements”.

Sri Lanka is identified as one of the most favorable location for this business process out sourcing. So, it is important to explore the dynamics of the Sri Lankan working in global digital labor platforms.

Freelancers and independent contractors are becoming part of this expanding gig economy diminishing the traditional 9 to 5 office system. This is difficult for “traditionalists” to understand, and they often criticize freelancers as unfocused, immature, and unable to “find” themselves. These societal perceptions and attitudes conflicts with the younger generations’ aspirations creating a social conflict, both in juxtaposition to its business model and its sync with the socio-economic culture.

Architectural influence

How architecture can address this social conflict is challenging, as foremost issues that they face in this social context are lack of self-identity, lack of sense of belonging. As an architectural approach to find a solution to this conflict, creating desirable platforms for living and working for these digital nomads is how the project Nomad Storeys formulated, considering the concepts of co working and co living.

Co working and co living go together like two peas in a pod because they are born from the similar schools of thought. This movement is deeply in grained in value systems based on Collaboration, Transparency and Community. This project is a place where young generations tries to find their self-identity, dynamic urban dwellers on the lookout for a place where living, working and social interaction come together.

Project Description

Nomad Stories is located in Colombo 2, on a site intersecting the corporate concentrated development district and the primary residential neighborhood. Programmatically and architecturally nomad stories contrast as well as complements both contexts. The urban dynamic of the site is captured in the design of the bold, flexible and sustainable building, which is aimed at a young and ambitious audience.

Due to the three-dimensional gridwork nomad storeys is recognizable from all sides, and the framed construction offers flexibility for programming spaces in an innovative way while retaining the building’s character and coherence.

The grid facilitates diverse functions, both after completion and in the future.
The framework can be filled in by adding floors and walls. However, their absence has a more powerful effect: openings, outdoor spaces and voids add liveliness for high quality living, working and leisure in the complex. Continuous terracing of communal space from street level to the rooftop results in a powerful urban and architectural gesture that offers multilayered connection both within the building and towards surrounding community.