ARAA : Research and Community Development Pavilion

SLIIT

Project idea

ARAA is an innovative research and community development pavilion proposed for the Madu Ganga wetlands in Sri Lanka. Its goal is to transform ecological threats into sustainable opportunities. Inspired by the symbolic power of ripples forming across water, ARAA embraces the concept that small, intentional actions, when harmonized with nature, can create significant and regenerative impacts. The project aims to establish a new model of architecture that not only minimizes harm but also actively contributes to ecological and social restoration.

What sets ARAA apart is its commitment to being constructed entirely from recycled and locally sourced materials. This approach significantly reduces the project's carbon footprint, promotes a circular economy, and demonstrates that architecture can emerge from the immediate environment without relying on high-energy industrial materials like concrete. The result is a low-cost, low-impact, and contextually rooted building that empowers the local community while serving as a replicable model for future regenerative design. ARAA is not only a center for innovation; it is a living example of innovation, built by the people, for the people, and in harmony with the natural environment.

Inside ARAA, the interior architecture reflects the cultural identity of the Maduwa people, encompassing their lifestyle, values, and traditions. The spaces are not filled with conventional furniture; instead, they are shaped by handcrafted, flexible elements such as woven mats, timber platforms, coir-wrapped seating areas, and shaded zones that illustrate how people traditionally gather, work, rest, and learn. The design promotes floor-based, posture-flexible use, fostering inclusivity and encouraging natural engagement.

These interiors are not only functional; they are also empowering. They serve as workshops, learning areas, and creative platforms where local individuals can develop skills in eco-craft, farming, weaving, and sustainable product design. By integrating cultural expression with economic opportunity, ARAA’s interiors become catalysts for livelihood development and self-reliance. In essence, this is not merely a space that people occupy; it is a space where they can transform their lives.

Project description

ARAA is an innovative research and community development pavilion proposed for the Madu Ganga wetlands in Sri Lanka. Its goal is to transform ecological threats into sustainable opportunities. Inspired by the symbolic power of ripples forming across water, ARAA embraces the concept that small, intentional actions, when harmonized with nature, can create significant and regenerative impacts. The project aims to establish a new model of architecture that not only minimizes harm but also actively contributes to ecological and social restoration.

What sets ARAA apart is its commitment to being constructed entirely from recycled and locally sourced materials. This approach significantly reduces the project's carbon footprint, promotes a circular economy, and demonstrates that architecture can emerge from the immediate environment without relying on high-energy, industrial materials like concrete. The result is a low-cost, low-impact, and contextually rooted building that empowers the local community while serving as a replicable model for future regenerative design. ARAA is not only a center for innovation; it is a living example of innovation, built by the people, for the people, and in harmony with the natural environment.

Inside ARAA, the interior architecture is a reflection of the cultural identity of the Maduwa people their lifestyle, values, and traditions. The spaces are not filled with conventional furniture, but instead shaped by handcrafted, flexible elements: woven mats, timber platforms, coir-wrapped seating zones, and shaded areas that reflect how people traditionally gather, work, rest, and learn. The design encourages floor-based, posture-flexible use, fostering inclusivity and natural engagement.

These interiors are not just functional—they are empowering. They serve as workshops, learning areas, and creative platforms where local people can develop skills in eco-craft, farming, weaving, and sustainable product design. By integrating cultural expression with economic opportunity, ARAA’s interiors become a catalyst for livelihood development and self-reliance. In essence, this is not just a space people occupy it’s a space where they can transform their lives.

Technical information

Vertical Alignment and Structural Integration

The ARAA pavilion features a vertical design that is profoundly inspired by the natural rhythms of tree formations found in the Madu Ganga wetlands. Vertical bamboo or timber columns are positioned at regular intervals, mimicking the spacing and proportions of mangrove roots and trunks. These columns support lightweight, modular roof and floor frameworks, facilitating elevated platforms and layered spatial experiences. The verticality of the structure symbolizes growth and regeneration while also serving a functional purpose: it enhances natural airflow, promotes upward heat release through stack ventilation, and creates a sense of visual lightness. This design approach reduces the structural footprint and minimizes the impact on the soft, ecologically sensitive wetland soil.

Interior Spatial Zoning and Utilization

The interior is organized not by rigid walls, but through subtle zoning along both vertical and horizontal axes. Ground-level areas support communal activities such as group learning, workshops, and cultural gatherings. Intermediate platforms are designated for focused work, such as eco-crafting or display areas, while raised decks provide quiet zones for meditation, observation, or solitary research. These spatial zones are defined by variations in material texture, quality of daylight, and partial enclosures created from bamboo screens or woven partitions. This zoning system promotes fluid movement and adaptable space usage, reflecting the characteristics of traditional village spaces, which are open, layered, and socially inclusive.

Material Strategy for Interior Components

All interior elements are constructed from entirely recycled or locally sourced materials, emphasizing material honesty and ecological harmony. The flooring consists of woven coir mats or compressed bamboo slats, while the partitions and ceilings are made from palm leaf panels, dried reeds, and woven palm strips. Binding and joint systems utilize natural jute or coir rope, replacing industrial glues and nails with traditional joinery and lashing techniques. Surfaces are intentionally left raw and breathable to promote natural ventilation and enhance tactile richness. The modularity of the components facilitates easy repair or replacement by the community, fostering a sustainable, maintainable, and culturally embedded interior language.

Passive Environmental Control in Interior Spaces

The interior design incorporates passive climate control strategies directly into its vertical structure. The vertical form enhances stack ventilation, enabling warm air to rise and escape, while openings at the lower and mid-levels promote cross-ventilation. Deep overhangs and shaded voids minimize solar gain while permitting indirect natural light to enter. Bamboo screens and layered ceiling panels filter daylight and reduce glare, creating a cool, shaded interior environment. Elevated floor structures improve airflow beneath seating and resting areas. These strategies ensure that the interior remains thermally comfortable year-round without relying on mechanical systems, making the building energy-efficient and naturally adaptive.

Interior Furniture and Cultural Interaction

The furniture within ARAA is designed not as standalone objects but as extensions of the architecture itself. The seating is low and flexible, featuring timber bases topped with woven mats or cushions. Many furniture pieces serve dual purposes; platforms for sitting also become storage areas or display surfaces, while mobile trays crafted from coconut wood function as workspaces for writing, crafting, or eating. The seating arrangements encourage traditional floor-based postures such as cross-legged sitting, squatting, or reclining, mirroring the everyday customs of local communities. These furniture elements are produced using community-based craft skills, empowering local artisans and reinforcing the role of interior spaces as platforms for cultural continuity and personal growth.

Documentation

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