Holcim to encourage Lankans to compete for construction awards
 

BY RAMANI kangaraarachchi in china

Holcim Lanka will encourage Sri Lankan University students, professors, engineers and architects to participate at the next Asia Pacific Award Ceremony for sustainable construction projects said, Managing Director, Holcim Lanka Peter Spirig.

Referring to the suitability of Air Suit Housing Renovation project which won the bronze award in Beijing recently. He said that all three projects which won Gold, Silver and Bronze awards suits Sri Lanka and there were many learning points for Sri Lanka.

The whole world should focus on sustainable constructions much more as so many natural disasters taking place globally due to non concern of sustainable construction; he said.

The winner of the bronze award Kazuhide Doi of Japan said that he had four objectives. Firstly reinforcement of structure, secondly environmental control, thirdly disposal strategy and finally design of local community.

The advantages of this project are possibility of changing old buildings to comfort and convenient residential space with less materials and costs, reducing waste as compared to new building construction, renovation cost 60 per cent of new building construction, weight reduction of buildings and protection of structure from water and heat make building lifetime longer.

Air buffer spaces improve energy efficiency in residential units without heat insulation materials and reduce construction material.

According to the jury, this project offers a persuasive and inventive solution for the revitalisation of the existing urban fabric with minimal logistical concerns.