ARCHWATCH

Serving the under-served:

Housing Colombo’s poor - Part II

Chartered Architect Prof Harsha Munasinghe, Head, Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa

Some scholars note that we are in the process of creating slum-cities. With more than 50 percent of its population living in under-served living conditions, Colombo is feared to have drifted towards this direction too. The city that was built as the ruling centre and the city that has evolved to be our commercial capital becoming a

slum city cannot be tolerated. It is noticeable that some find the slums and shanties as a problem for the city- but they are a solution for those communities that find lodging in them.

On the other hand these people play an important role in the functioning of the city and hence shall be understood as a resource. They cannot be just evicted from the city in order to make the city beautiful or to make the land they occupy available for more commercially beneficial activities since their presence is essential for the city to function.

It appears that our authorities are in the process of relocating these communities with such motives what we call city marketing. Our intension here is to emphasize their presence as an asset of Colombo and to see how this asset can be used to develop the city as a forward-looking commercial capital. We do find the possibility of serving the under-served communities by considering them as an asset, and then addressing this asset with its components or clusters. Whether they are settled wherever they are with new housing or in new locations, this aspect of asset-based community development is noteworthy in order to develop the city.

The assets of a city are vivid. They can be classified into seven broad categories as human, social, cultural, intellectual, natural, environmental and urban. Since the city is built for man to lead a good life, development of all these assets will result in better living conditions.

Necessary aspects

The first cluster, human asset is one of the most significant. Thus investing in the development of this asset by authorities is essential. The necessary aspects of the development of human asset are housing with secure tenure, education of state-of-the-art, and accessibility and availability of health. Any development in the city shall focus on the improvement of these three aspects. Since these are basic human rights too, it is high time that we first investigate the current status of the issues at length in order to design improvements to the living conditions of the under-served within the city or elsewhere. Our preliminary survey informs that these communities do not have proper housing, but live in rather shabby conditions and they are vulnerable to health hazards.

Most of the living containers built by authorities do become slums in no-time as this community is not treated as an asset but as a liability. Also the facilities for education are very poor and the children do not regularly attend schools. There is hardly any investigation on different abilities of these children and then provide them with necessary vocational training. It is immaterial whether they live in a reservation or whether they have built illegal shelters in commercially valuable land.

What we need to discuss is development of this human asset. They do play an essential role in the functioning of the city and their presence within the city is necessary, and therefore we cannot send them off to grab the land they occupy for more commercially-returnable activities. It is the responsibility of the authorities to provide them with decent housing rather than just evicting them or providing more permanent slums. With better housing, their children will be less vulnerable to health hazards and will be able to attend schools regularly and could become tomorrow’s workforce. The authorities shall look into the condition of schools and their facilities if we are to develop this human asset. A healthy and an educated citizen will certainly be an asset that would help the city development.

Social orders

Social asset means the strength of the civil society. Again our preliminary survey shows that these communities do have myriad and intricate social organizations and social orders based on primary relationships such as kinships as well as secondary relationships. They clearly identify their Watta as a community and have assigned different social roles for the sub-communities to function as one unit. The social activities as well as their way of occupying the social space shall be taken into consideration in providing housing.

There are local temples, churches, mosques as well as self-developed community spaces that attest to the on-going social drama. In the case of designing new housing, their existing social fabric and these multipurpose self-organizing activities should be strengthened in more respectable spaces. Once the existence of sub-societies are noted, new housing could be clustered around these community spaces thus facilitating the formation of a strong civil society that will form its own grassroots contacts for the city to function as a vibrant urban space.

The livelihood of the communities and how these livelihoods are interconnected with the social structure and the expression of this particular cohabitation through built forms shall be understood if we are to develop this asset. It is rather essential to identify the sub-societies that compose the community as well as their standing in the social organization in order to promote the formation of the civil society.

We have seen examples in the post-tsunami housing where the common spaces are completely abandoned as the selection of households caused the formation of a fragile society. The authorities do have the responsibility to adopt a more society-friendly selection process to distribute housing in the case of building new shelters for the under-served communities. Civic strength, once established, will acknowledge full diversity of the city while promoting local citizenship thus fostering a local guardianship to city management.

Cultural heritage

Third cluster, culture composed of city’s heritage of its built environment and the distinctiveness and vibrancy of cultural life. Culture is the spirit of the society and intangible support for its continuity. Cultural heritage can be divided into two categories: physical heritage and intangible way of life. Many cities have identified and declared heritage zones or districts but in Colombo we have only declared major historic buildings.

Since this may cause the destruction of minor cultural heritage that has been resulted by day-to-day living, it is high time the authorities take measures to declare heritage zones in Colombo. For example, Colombo Fort, Pettah, Slave Island, Cinnamon Garden, etc can be declared heritage zones for their own distinctive identities. The current development zones declared by the Urban Development authority could find more such heritage zones integrated in city development attempts.

By appreciating the past and its landmarks we could value the future thus strengthening a cultural continuity in the city. One may wonder how we could bring the issue of housing for under-served communities in to this fold. We note that if one to comfortably inhibit the space, one shall be able to orientate within that space and to identify himself/herself with the space.

These communities also perceive their living spaces with the use of landmarks, physical or otherwise, thus comfortably pegging themselves to the locations where they live. The aforementioned local temples, churches, mosques, community spaces or the small tea rooms, coffee shops or newspaper stands could help them orientating in the space. Now, one may ask if we provide those facilities in the new locations they will move and settled down.

They may not yet comfortable as they may not find the same connection to the new location, and those who live around those locations will also be nervous. Also, recreating the vibrancy they used to experience- the other facet of cultural asset would be extremely difficult. The events, gatherings, etc that keep the community as one unit do have strong connections to the location.

As such, strengthening this asset, culture, would be the most difficult in the case of moving these people out of the city or even improving their living conditions on the same locations. The designers shall also pay careful attention to the both aspects of heritage to ensure the continuity of all those festivities and events that build bonds of solidarity among people thus giving the place an identity and versatility.

Fourth asset we wish to discuss is intellectual and creative asset. The focused communities lack the facilities to develop the ‘living human treasures’. They certainly do not have any contacts with universities or research institutes and they are not encouraged to engage in any research and development activity.

One can again argue that in a country where R and D is not considered as a priority why should one discuss this aspect here when the under-served communities are only expected to be blue-collar workers. Yet, if we are to bring these people in to the main stream and make them responsible citizens, it is necessary to absorb them into the intellectual and creative realms.

There are people capable of becoming tomorrow’s intellectuals, artists, artisans, scientists, or musicians etc living in these communities. In developing the living conditions of the under-served, it is essential to facilitate the blooming of their intellectual and creative strengths. One can also argue that if the city could always import such human treasures.

True! Yet having its own sons and daughters as such artisans or intellectuals would be an asset for the city. Our proposition is not to build universities or research institutions right next to their living abode but to encourage them to get involved in such activities. City of Colombo, on the other hand, shall have more of such facilities. In the case of the creative people, they will also need a market and awareness enlarged among the other citizens to value their creativity. It is true that most of the under-served communities do not have a proper way to spend their leisure. They are spending time in front of televisions or see cheap cinema or just hang around.

If there has been a facility to educate them through certain art forms, the strengthening of this cluster could have been easier. Thus nurturing creativity and providing easy access to intellectual development could be highly useful. It is also possible to provide space to perform or to display their work or accommodate the production of their creative work. It may be difficult to absorb cultural or intellectual elites to these areas or to build up something across the globe at the initial stages. However it is worthy of facilitating such exchanges to further diversify the city and strengthen its assets that would one day pay dividends.

Natural assets

The next cluster of asset, nature, is one thing Colombo could boast. Water bodies, marshy, beach, picturesque landscapes, fisheries, and such natural assets are not properly utilized though. We all should agree that Colombo could be one of the worst example cities with regards to exploiting its natural and cultural environments. Natural assets can be heavily used for production as well as for enjoyment. The strength of the natural assets in attracting cultural tourism to Colombo is not tested at all. The current trend in housing the under-served has been trading off new lands with the commercial lands and reservations that are occupied by them.

This may exert pressure on new lands and the result may be an imbalanced built-to-un built ratio thus challenging the morphology of the city. It is necessary to leave the unoccupied lands, especially the marshy un-developed so that the city will have space to breathe.

It is correctly noted in our surveys that the densities of lands occupied by the under-served communities do not match the needs of the city.

They may look tightly built but certainly the land use is not correctly designed at all. One could certainly rearrange the densities with low-rise high-density solutions while providing the facilities for the natural assets to grow. In the development of the natural assets it is also necessary to look at the symbiosis between city and region. Because city’s relentless growth into the region, in our case-building housing of the underserved communities in the periphery, will not threaten the natural endowment but also will come at a heavy economic cost.

We do have some bitter examples in making such shifting. Our proposition is to look for well-delineated land use patterns through which natural assets could be harnessed and used in city development.

Unhealthy environment

The sixth cluster, environment, is close to the nature, but also includes the physical environment that is essential to lead a good life.

This means air, water, land as well as the built environment.

It is a known fact that these communities do not live in a healthy environment. Since we all live in the same city and share the environment with them, our failure to maintain their environment or in other words, our failure to build up this asset will result in drowning ourselves in waste.

To be continued

Nuga Sevana - A Resource Centre and Open-Air Theatre

When one approaches the Nuga Sevana in the Cathedral premises from Sarana Road off Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, the Resource Centre stands amid a gathering of trees significantly the massive banyan tree in the foreground of the Anglican Diocese of Colombo Church of Ceylon.

The Resource Centre is both a library and archives building containing all church documentation from many years ago as well as a wide array of manuscripts; it also houses an office space for the Board of Social Responsibility, a reading area and an open air theatre for outdoor workshops, seminars, special services and leisurely reading. The prominent Banyan tree is made the sole focus of the building paying homage to the massive tree.

A circular timber stage rises from the base of the tree and the tiered podiums radiate around it like ripples finished in simple cement and random rubble. This also serves as modest seating of an ‘invisible’ auditorium space for open air performances. Beautiful once lit up in the evening, and the stars above, the cooling breeze and the leaves softly blowing in the wind combined with the lovely shadows cast by the tree adds a special flavour to any performance. The spirit of the theatre is one of calm and environmental splendour.

The Resource Centre does well to blend in with its immediate surroundings, all of which are encased in rubble walls. This building consists of two blocks finished in rubble linked by a glass facade which opens out onto the tree and the Open Air Theatre. Inside, the solidity of the blocks are delicately balanced with the double height spaces, creating voids. The transparent glass frontage of the building seamlessly invites the outdoors in, and consequently the functions of the building spill out to the garden areas.

Details of the building are very simple and minimalistic, coupled with a prudent but creative use of colours such as ‘rustic grey’, ‘bottle green’, ‘silver’ and ‘white’ creates an interesting spirit within the place. Framed glimpses of the marshes that lie beyond are further additions to the outdoor-indoor relationship. Certainly the rubblework and timber reflects a sense of traditional, while the use of glass and metal contributes a modern feel.

In terms of sustainability - the reduced consumption of artificial lighting and fans etc for ventilation is made possible through the utilization of natural light which generously streams in, the heat kept out by the filtration of the trees outside. The constant breeze blowing through the leafy canopies through to the building cuts down the need for mechanical ventilation. Energy use is controlled to a great extent by the encouragement of employing the outdoors as a reading area cum theatre.

The character of the tree adds structure to the almost non existing building yet its flexibility of shape and form makes it appropriate for all types of usage from drama and dance to a place of quiet contemplation and sheltered reading space.

The Architect M M G Samuel, Graduate of Moratuwa University is a Chartered Architect and a fellow member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects.

Obtaining Building Approvals

It is mandatory that all buildings conform to the regulations put in place by the Urban Development Authority (UDA). However it has been found that the building approval forms developed by various local Government bodies are not similar. This becomes a confusing problem for the public.

The Professional Affairs Board (PAB) of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) has come up with a proposal that a common form conforming to the UDA regulations be used by all local authorities.

Of course these forms would contain slight differences based on area specific regulations. The proposal and the draft form have been forwarded to the UDA who have accepted the proposal for consideration.

If accepted all local authorities would use a common approval form developed according to the UDA regulations. This would ease a preliminary nightmare for anyone embarking on a building a home or a multi-storey building complex.

SLIA branches out to the regions

The SLIA is making arrangements to open a regional office in Anuradhapura in the near future. This would make architectural professionals contactable to the people living in the area.

The SLIA plans eventually to open such regional offices in all provinces. In this day and age appreciation of well designed spaces has increased. Thus it is important that the professionals be contactable with ease by the public.

SLIA branches out to the regions

The SLIA is making arrangements to open a regional office in Anuradhapura in the near future. This would make architectural professionals contactable to the people living in the area.

The SLIA plans eventually to open such regional offices in all provinces. In this day and age appreciation of well designed spaces has increased. Thus it is important that the professionals be contactable with ease by the public.

The representatives from SLIA participated in seminars on Disaster Management this year. The latest was the first in a series of seminars organized by the National Science Foundation on the December 2, 2010 titled ‘Disaster Resilience’.

In February this year the Disaster Management Center conducted a seminar on ‘Introduction of Guidelines on the Construction of Buildings in Disaster Prone Areas’. At these seminars professionals discussed methodologies to be adopted to minimize disasters that occurred in the wake of the heavy rains which inconvenienced many urbanites.

Career guidance seminars

The Sri Lanka Institute of Architects held two career guidance seminars for student’s awaiting the results of the Advanced Level examination on Architectural study options available in Sri Lanka.

These seminars were held at Sujatha Vidyalaya, Nugegoda and the Divisional Secretariat, Maharagama under the patronage of Dinesh Gunawardene, the Minister of Water Supply and Drainage.

The next seminar is due to be conducted in Avissawella.