Oceanographic Observatory

• Name: Dananjith Nadeeeshan
• Year: 2018
• Studio: Level V
• University: University of Moratuwa

Project location: Closenburg, Galle

The heritage city of Galle is envisioned to be a walkable tourism hub, focused on tourism based urban development. In realizing this vision, the initial step is inevitably the exploration and conservation of underwater heritage located in immediate surroundings of Galle bay. The natural setting of Galle, the presence of identified ship wrecks within the context of one harbour offers the potential for a broad interdisciplinary study of the ships, the harbour, the city, and the organization of the VOC. The bay is also rich and diverse in its biology; the Bona Vista coral reef near Rumassala contains an extensively bio-diverse marine environment including many endemic species. Its unseen wealth of an eco-system is yet unexplored.

The proposed development aims on facilitating research and recreation as two ends of Oceanic Celebration through exploration while sharing the awareness to the external community. Simply this facility centre would provide facility to observe and explore hidden and un-discovered oceanographic resources within the Galle bay and in immediate region.

Creating a dialogue between the formal and the informal celebration of the ocean’ was an initial approach for this CDP project, resulting the impression of human nature. Therefore, this building includes adequate spaces for the formal research procedures as well as for the informal celebration targeting the public community. The users may feel the ‘spatial journey’ of the ‘OCEANIC CELEBRATION’ and expose themselves in awareness programs and related information through recreated exploration facilities provided.

The proposed building sits adjacent to the existing harbour, on edge of the peninsula jutting out into the Galle Bay. The northern part of the promontory is occupied by the existing Galle harbour while the eastern part is occupied by an impressive mansion built during the British period. Today Closenberg is a quaint land that offers a breathtaking view of entire Galle bay and its natural settlement.

Text description provided by the project author.