Oculus Staff Quarters | Sri Lanka Architecture | Sri Lanka Climate | Palinda Kannangara | Architecture | Energy Efficiency

1. OCULUS STAFF QUARTERS
AT JAFFNA WIND POWER PARK
PALINDA KANNANGARA

2. ABOUT THE ARCHITECT
The Soft-spoken Sri Lankan Architect Palinda
Kannangara, who believes in the relationship between
nature and the building, the one who is unassuming
and inspiring with his own individual building philosophy
and connects with simple style. He mentions Geoffrey
Bawa as an influence. Indeed, he is one of the new
guardians in the Architecture of Sri Lanka.
He keeps changing and evolving his material palette
with each project. By using less, he adds value to the
design scheme. He always works with locally available
materials, resources, and people, and he works mostly
on-site.
His practice accepts the realities of the scenery without
hesitating to challenge it, respects tradition without
being restricted by it, and exploits technology without
letting it incarcerate feelings

3. Jaffna
Lagoon
Site
SITE LOCATION
The site is located in
Ramboda, Sri Lanka.
Located close to a
lagoon and mudflat landscape.
It’s a part of an axis/spine of wind
power turbines 16 (Plant Capacity
20MW), in number that begins with
the staff / guest quarters at the
entrance and culminates in the
office building at the end.

4. CLIMATE
The climate is
tropical, and the
weather is hot and
humid throughout the
year.
The Average
Temperature Is 25-27
degrees, Maximum
Going Up to 32
Degree Celsius
Maximum wind
speed is from the
south-west direction
(Predominant)

5. Located on open fields
in the Wind Power
Park. There are no
path abstructors for the
wind.
This feature
exaggerates the wind
flow and the ventilation
systems that are
incorporated in the
building.
Although the form is
simple yet functional,
the building makes use
of Natural ventilation
systems which makes it
a successfully energy
efficient building.

6. Interplay of simple, pure forms creating vivid, subtle, spatial qualities, appreciating inherent beauty in minimalism.

7. The guest quarters
are for the visiting
engineers and staff
members. It has
been built with a
close connection to
its context, with an
open ground floor
living area and
finishes that reflect
the colors of its
surroundings.
The ground floor
has a height of 16’
which adds to the
spatial experience
of a wild open
landscape coming
into the building.
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
It is a simple
plan with a low
budget designed
without harming
the surrounding
vegetation.

8. The upper floor
consists of a living
area, two rooms
for staff and two
rooms for guests.
Each bedroom
located has a view
of the surrounding
landscape and
lagoon with plenty
of light and
ventilation
providing a light,
airy space.
FIRST FLOOR PLAN

9. PLAN ANALYSIS

10. FIRST FLOOR PLAN
ELEVATION
Slightly Gabled Roof
Strip/ Clerestory Windows
Huge Fenestrations
Balcony space - Insulator
Ribbon Fenestrations
Open Planning
Earthy Palette

11. FIRST FLOOR PLAN
SECTION
Hot air rises up
Stack effect
Ventilation in
Bathrooms Ventilation in
Bathrooms
Fenestrations on
Partition walls
allow more
natural air flow
within space
Entrance /
Continuous air
movement

12. Stack Effect
Curved staircase - Enhancer
Pond - Notion of Axis
The shallow pond at the
core of the building with
varying water depths that
catches the reflection of
the windmill acts as the
eye of the oculus.
It is a constant presence
against a backdrop of lush
vegetation mixed with clear
skies.
It also catches the
reflection of the windmills
along with the landscape of
lagoons and mudflats and
windswept grasslands.
The four corners are sliced
through with the pond in
the center offering the
notion of an axis that
opens out.

13. Each room comes with
an attached bathroom
which has an open to
sky courtyard for
natural ventilation
The entire building
operates on clean
energy.
Though there is an
option for mechanically
ventilating the place in
future, this building can
sustain itself with
natural ventilation
alone.

14. GALLERY

15. Dhivyatharshini and Y.Yukta
Energy Efficiency, 4A-2017-2022, MSAJAA