Kanishka Udayanga
student
University of Moratuwa (UoM), Faculty of Architecture, Department of Architecture, Moratuwa
Sri Lanka
Urban Design and Landscape
Construction + Technology The design position explores the terms of construction + technology as a strategy for filling the voids in urban regeneration… more
Tamer ElSerafi
advisor
Effat University
Saudi Arabia
Dr. Tamer ElSerafi is the Head of the Architecture Department and Director of the Master of Science… more
This project offers an ambitious and technically grounded vision for urban regeneration in the developing town of Badalkubura, Sri Lanka. Framed around the hypothesis that construction and technology can serve as tools for socio-sustainability, the project proposes a multifunctional urban arena that acts as both a civic landmark and a skills incubator. The masterplan is strategically developed through architectural language and modular systems that can be replicated across similar urban fabrics, enabling long-term, context-sensitive development.
One of the most commendable aspects of the proposal is the intelligent use of an 8×8 meter grid system, which organizes the construction process and urban footprint while facilitating the adoption of precast concrete systems. This not only accelerates the building process but also empowers the local workforce through on-site training in prefabrication, labor specialization, and material handling. The layered building structure and perforated façades offer a cost-effective yet climatically appropriate response.
The project’s strength lies in its ability to simultaneously address spatial logic, material pragmatism, economic feasibility, and social empowerment. Overall, it is a sophisticated and deeply contextual architectural proposal that repositions the act of building as a transformative civic process.