Rehabilitation for Drug Abuse in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

SLIIT

Project idea

Located in the Western Province along the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, Moratuwa is a culturally significant city, known for its vibrant population, diverse religious and ethnic communities, and traditional industries such as woodworking, furniture manufacturing, and fisheries. However, beneath its cultural richness lies a growing social crisis—substance abuse, driven by poverty, urbanisation, and a lack of education and meaningful engagement.

In response, this project proposes “Unconscious Rehabilitation”—an alternative spatial strategy that addresses drug addiction through a community-integrated, non-institutional approach. Existing rehabilitation centres in Sri Lanka are often described as prison-like, reinforcing feelings of guilt, shame, and social isolation. Many individuals avoid these spaces altogether, despite a desire to recover.

Drawing from the belief that “people are not their disease” (Jaki Hillios, The Phoenix), the project aims to create an environment where individuals are not labelled or segregated, but gently guided towards recovery. By embedding rehabilitative potential within a supportive and engaging community environment, the goal is to help users reconnect with themselves and others—without overtly recognising their journey as treatment.

The objective is to reduce stigma, offer dignity, and foster a quiet transformation—ultimately redefining rehabilitation as a shared human experience rooted in care, belonging, and subtle change.

Project description

The scope of the project is to design a community-focused rehabilitation space in Moratuwa that replaces clinical or punitive environments with accessible, adaptable, and socially vibrant architecture. The concept of Subtle Metamorphosis underpins the design, referring to gradual, often imperceptible spatial shifts that influence behavior, mood, and emotional well-being over time.

The architectural response introduces passive, non-obtrusive healing spaces, including areas for shared activities, vocational training, creative expression, and quiet reflection. These spaces are designed to offer structure without control, and support without surveillance, encouraging a slow, internal process of recovery.

This solution not only addresses the immediate problem of drug dependency but also promotes long-term resilience and reintegration by creating opportunities for purpose, connection, and empowerment within the everyday built environment.

Technical information

The project employs a modular architectural system using precast concrete construction, enabling efficient, sustainable, and flexible assembly. Each module is prefabricated off-site and assembled on location, ensuring precision and reduced construction time.

~A single module consists of four distinct panels:
~Translucent glass panel – introduces natural light while maintaining privacy.
~Precast concrete wall panel – provides structural integrity and thermal mass.
~Prefabricated block wall with ventilation – enhances airflow and environmental comfort.
~Steel and glass panel – adds transparency and openness to the space.

Modules are classified into three functional categories:

~L-shaped modules: Serve core programmatic functions, such as communal spaces, workshops, and informal therapeutic zones.
~T-shaped modules: Facilitate transitional spaces and pathways, emphasizing flow and movement.
~Landscape-integrated modules: Blur the boundary between built and natural environments, reinforcing the theme of freedom and personal agency.

This modular system supports adaptability, disassembly, and future reconfiguration—aligning with the project’s evolving and user-centric design ethos.