Studio Dwelling

Located about 20 minutes away from central Colombo in Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka, this project is the office and residence of architect Palinda Kannangara. The studio dwelling is located close to the main road along the urban fringe, and situated beside a marsh, a riparian corridor and high-rises. Designed like a fortification, it is protected from heat—by specially designed double screens to limit western and southern exposure—and street noise. The building provides occupants with expansive views of the adjoining marsh and fringe woodlands. It plays with volumes to create many areas for living, work and leisure.

Built environment and landscape strategies were used to create a cooler microclimate inside, allowing for daylight, rainwater harvesting and regulation, as well as creation of gardens for biodiversity. The design also took into account its location by the water, creating garden spaces that act as detention basins during monsoons and thus preventing flooding. Recent studies conducted under a student project from the University of Moratuwa on the building indicated that the indoor temperature within the building is several degrees cooler than the outdoors.

PROJECT DATA

Project Name	Studio Dwelling, Rajagiriya
Location	Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka
Completion Date	December 2015
Site Area	2,720 square meters
Gross Floor Area	4,799 square metres
Buidling Height	43 feet
Client Owners	Palinda Kannangara
Architecture Firm	Palinda Kannangara Architects
Principal Architects	Palinda Kannangara
Landscape Architects	Vama Shasidhar
Civil & Structural Engineer	Ranjith Wijegunasekara
Quantity Surveyor	Sunanda Gnanasiri
Images/Photos	Sebastian Posingis; Mahaesh Mendis; Palinda Kannangara Architects