Tetris: A Hub for Collaborative Carpentry and Community Revitalization in Moratuwa

SLIIT

Project idea

We exist in a storm of uncertainty, where the world around us seems to change faster than we can adapt to it. So how does architecture, a static tangible moment in time, respond to the changes that come with it?

This conundrum spearheaded the conceptual idea for the project. Although we learn various theories related to architecture, the space itself is hard to define, as it relies upon one’s personal interpretation of the space and is therefore highly subjective to the user. As the great Architect Geoffrey Bawa said, “Architecture cannot be defined, it must be experienced”. Thus, the project relies upon the experience of the space over its definition, to create its architecture.

The well-being of a society is determined by the collaborative nature of the people and their willingness to learn from one another.
How can architecture adapt to the changes of a context and provide a platform for collaboration? For this, Moratuwa, an urban hub south of Colombo in Sri Lanka, with a rich history intertwined with the carpentry industry, was chosen as the area of study. Passed from father to son, the trade transcends being a mere occupation but is the pulse that keeps the city thriving. Currently, this industry faces a dwindling youth participation alongside the aftermath of the country’s economic crisis and the subsequent brain drain, causing this heritage to face an extinction crisis.

This unique context presented the challenge of preserving the city’s wellbeing and culture by bringing an element of collaboration to uplift this dire situation

To investigate further, a research was conducted analyzing the likelihood of the youth to engage in an activity-based learning method as opposed to traditional classroom learning in vocational institutions. The methodology included a distributed questionnaire, a thorough Likert scale-based assessment of the results and interviews conducted with professional academics in the fields of psychology, engineering and IT to understand from an educator’s viewpoint. The results concluded that; an activity-based learning method was preferred by the youth and could effectively retain engagement over longer periods.

This provided direction towards conceptualizing the proposed project; “Tetris”, a collaborative platform which acts as an informal learning environment where any passersby may experience carpentry through their involvement with the space, and as a result, revitalize the society through collaboration.

Project description

In order to provide an informal learning environment, modular design was taken as a solution medium, modularizing carpentry learning into 4 components – Community, Entertainment, Active learning and Technology, which enables easy engagement and collaborative learning. The space was envisioned to behave as a "Blurred interplay" which can be understood according to the following scenario:

Imagine a person, awaiting an upcoming train, finds a small wooden box to sit on. The train gets delayed, so naturally this person due to boredom starts tapping on this box. With each tap they feel the material of the wood, the grains, the sound it makes and thinks “I could make this into a fine instrument”. With the help of a few friends and using modern modelling technology, they create a design for the new instrument and through a public workstation finally complete their creation, resulting in an evening of songs and laughter. In this scenario, we see the 4 elements of technology, community, active learning and entertainment, playing a key role, where the user unknowingly learns carpentry through collaboration and can share it with their community.

To achieve this experience architecturally, the design was conceptualized to have movable units, to create various configurations that are constantly responding to the needs of the people, allowing them to define their own spaces. 10’x10’ movable modules are housed within 2 movable zones, and with the help of low friction light rails embedded within the overall ‘I-beam grid’ these lightweight modular units are shifted to create configurations for activities such as a public forum, community gallery, an outdoor cinema, a music grove and so on. This concept provides an innovative platform to connect the community of Moratuwa through collaboration and proudly partake in their city’s heritage

Sustainability of the design is addressed on 3 levels: environmental, economic and social. Reusing wood scrap from local wood shops to create stunning facade walls, passive ventilation strategies assisted by a kinetic roof for adequate thermal comfort and the modularity of the design reduce the overall construction cost and time, contributing to a low carbon footprint. The protruded I-beams act as structural support for the future developments of the design to scale vertically. As a social collaboration effort, the design becomes a platform for local craftsmen, to conduct public forums and empower the identity of the carpenter.

In conclusion, ‘Tetris’ is capable of actively responding to societal needs while concurrently being a platform for collaboration, uplifting the city’s heritage and introducing fresh elements of informal learning, with the hopes of redefining placemaking as a collaborative endeavor in today’s world.

Technical information

The overall use of modularity in the design is a key feature which results in a quick construction period and a multi purpose space, where units can be plugged and utilized according to the needs of the community. Prefabricated cement boards and repurposed I - Beams form a single module with variations with wood scrap panels and glass.

Material specifications and details are as follows:

Kinetic Roof:
A retractable fabric roof controlled by a light intensity senor changes the amount of sunlight entering the main space based on the time of day, which allows to maintain good thermal comfort and create varying shadows.

Photovoltaic Glass:
Photovoltaic glass used in the kinetic roof allows to reduce thermal heat gain and reduce the carbon footprint of the design.

Concrete slab:
In-situ concrete poured over corrugated steel sheet with steel reinforcement reduces the weight on the structures and results in a cost-effective method that required less workforce.

Internal Walls:
Timber scraps from surrounding site are used to form wall panels of varying shades and strains, resulting in effective sustainable building stratergy. In addition board form concrete panels which are lightweight are used as well.

Steel I-Frame:
Recycled 200 x 200mm steel I-beams form the primary structure of the design and are powder coated with a weatherproof paint.

Movable modules:
Low friction light rail mechanism embedded in the i beam structure allows to move the modular unit and create varied configurations. C channel running below the moving units hosts a steel rail. On this, a low friction linear guide can be moved easily.