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| Wednesday, 24 March 2004 |
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Living in harmony with nature Personalities
Built in 1961 at a cost of two and a half lakhs (Rs. 250,000) Architect Panini Tennakoon's residence perhaps best explains the concept of designing to live in harmony with nature in a densely populated city. The spacious living room with full height glass doors at both ends, extends the visual field into the green landscape, which form the enclosing boundaries of the space. One can almost forget that we are in the heart of the city. Panini explains that the use of colour in his creations is minimal. Whatever colour derives out of the materials used in most instances, red brick walls, fair faced rubble, timber and terra cotta. The structure of the residence is unique. He explains that the upper floor beamless slab is rested on a series of solid high strength steel circular columns. Wide cantilevers, extensive use of glass louvre panels providing ample air flow and views, minimal use of internal partitions contribute to create a feeling of openness. The upper floor partitions are light weight as the slab cannot take any major loads. Panini Tennakoon celebrated his 80th birthday last year and recollects his aptitude for creating various carvings and other works of art from his young days. He describes the unique events that led to his taking up a career in architecture. The late Mr. Shirley De Alwis observed his creative abilities and advised him to become an architect deviating from his ambition to do medicine. Panini joined the training course in architecture established by the university Architect, Shirley De Alwis in his office at the Peradeniya Camps in 1945. In 1955 he was awarded the Colombo Plan scholarship to pursue his studies at the School of Architecture at the University of Melbourne in Australia. There his outstanding scholastic performance won him several prizes and he became the first Asian student to be awarded the Wunderlich Annual prize. Returning to the island in 1958 he joined the Public Works Department as an Assistant Architect. In the year 1977 he was appointed Chief Architect, Additional Director in the Department of Buildings being the first Sri Lankan architect to receive this appointment.
Looking back on his long career he mentions the design of the monument for the Bandaranaike Samadhi at Horagolla. He explains that the scheme was selected due to the simplicity and the serenity it possessed. The design was based on the ancient architecture of the Anuradhapura period. All elements used, as he explains, have a deep symbolic meaning. Panini is a keen wildlife enthusiast and a nature photographer. Beauty of nature captured with his 'camera eye' hang in his study. When the department was commissioned to design several structures in national parks throughout the island, he took all necessary precautions to minimize damage to the surroundings. He used timber and rubble maintaining harmony and merging with the environment. He made his bungalows 'eco-friendly'. For the Kotmotte park bungalow he utilized available fallen, tree trunks to make 'A- frames'. The bungalows had open wide checks to enable visitors to watch the surrounding jungles. He designed the entrance feature and office complex at the Willpattu National Park, the Gonawiddagala Bungalow; the Thimirigasmankada bungalow at the Udawalawe National Park and the park bungalow at Giritale National Park. The Zoological Gardens at Dehiwala is a favourite with children and foreign visitors. The buildings he did for the Zoological Gardens in Dehiwala include the entrance feature which uses an abstract mural decoration on the facade; the aquarium (minmedura) which attempts to give the visitor a feeling of walking underwater; the 'reptiliniam' was provided with a natural environment for the non poisonous reptiles, to be viewed by the spectators from a narrow bridge, and the poisonous varieties of reptiles to be displayed in large enclosures with natural foliage and sunlight; the public restaurant was designed to resemble a large tree in appearance and the office complex for management was also decorated with a mural in relief depicted birds and animals found in the zoo. Some of the notable public buildings to his credit include the medical students hostel for the Colombo medical faculty, with a novel system for the roof of the four storey complex with asbestos roof sheets sloping to a centre corridor with a concrete slab which acts as a gutter, several police station buildings, educational and health related buildings, the extension to the United Nations development program complex, Colombo 07 and most notably the Department of National Archives. Department of National Archives The earlier site selected by the client for the National Archives building was in Gangodawila. However, once the committee chaired by late President J.R. Jayawardene the then Minister of State approved the design, the site was relocated on a 4 acre plot of land on Reid avenue, Colombo 07. The building is located at the far corner of the site with a curved facade reflecting the curve of the Independence Avenue roundabout. The large extent of green parkland was to be unenclosed to enable the public to enjoy green space in the city but was enclosed subsequently. Various devices have been incorporated to prevent direct sunlight entering the air conditioned and moisture controlled document stacking areas. Vertical pre-cast concrete fins at close intervals are used in the exterior facades on the three elevations of this triangular building with ordinary clear glass windows provided behind them. As Panini says, this system of concrete fins and standard size windows have proven itself in protecting the archives during a terrorist bomb attack, where large areas of expensive glass panes would have shattered, and would have required to be replaced at immense cost. It is interesting to note how various elements and detailing are incorporated in the design to make the building appropriate for a tropical climate. The original design for the Central Supermarket - Pettah (fish market) is another interesting building to Panini's credit. This multi-storey complex was designed with wholesale and retail fish stalls and other ancillary facilities on the ground and mezzanine floors with the upper floors holding shopping arcades and banks segregated from the fish sales area. A novel system has been incorporated into the design to prevent the odour of fish entering the upper floors. This has been done with the use of extensive open courtyards in the centre of the shopping arcade levels and the installation of tall tapering funnels punching through the slabs of the courtyards to provide light and ventilation to the lower areas. The external facade of the upper floor areas were provided with fixed glazing to provide only light requirements and prevent odour coming in from the fish market. The Supreme Courts Complex at Hulftsdorp designed in 1978 was subsequently built with the assistance of the Chinese Government. As Panini explained the octagonal from of the Supreme Courts complex was derived from the Paththiripuwa (octagonal library) of the temple of the Tooth in Kandy, and the roof was inspired by the traditional Sri Lankan greeting of 'Ayubowan' with the joining of two palms. Panini continued to be active professional after retirement from the Department of Buildings in 1979. He accepted the post of Chief Architect of the Greater Colombo Development Authority presently known as the UDA. As the Consultant Architect of the Architectural Unit of the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau. (CECB) in 1991 until his retirement in 1993, Panini was responsible for preliminary development scheme and master plan for the Lady Ridgeway Childrens' Hospital in Borella, which was funded by the Chinese government, (and built by the CECB?) and also the proposal for the development of the premises of the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau itself at Colombo 07. The Teaching Hospital Complex at Colombo South General Hospital, Kalubowila and The Botany and Zoology Faculty Complex at Colombo Campus designed incorporates central courtyards to compensate for the somewhat blank external facades designed to avoid dust and noise from the surroundings. After his retirement in 1993 he concentrated on the design of low cost housing and religious buildings with the minimal utilisation of timber elements to save our fast dwindling forest cover and to assist in reducing the effect of global warming. As he explains his greatest desire in his architectural career has been to design a low cost house for the under privileged, that will enable them to live in the traditional manner, which they cherish. His design utilises hollow blocks which could be manufactured in the village itself and the construction could be carried out by the family members themselves. "The design eliminates the use of timber members for the roof by having short roof spans between load bearing walls spanned directly by a single asbestos roofing sheet. If all the furniture is built in further cost reduction could be possible" he stated. Panini has strived in his career as an architect to solve many design problems relating to climate and construction cost in an innovative manner. Some of his buildings stand testament to his successes in achieving this end. His love of nature and his belief that man should live in harmony with her has also greatly influenced his designs. His concern for all mankind can be seen in the designs of low cost housing and in trying to retain the flavours of the cultures and customs to which the users belong. Panini has designed many private residences but by far the majority of his contribution as an architect has been in the public realm where he attempts to solve basics human and functional needs within the difficult parameters of building using local materials and technology and for the traditional user within their own cultural context. Archt. Sadev Wittachchi |
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Produced by Lake House |
Entering the property down Maitland Crescent demarcated by low
see-through fence one feels the almost" time less" structure
merging with the fully grown garden in which it is set.
