Sandaru Seneviratne
student
University of Moratuwa (UoM), Faculty of Architecture, Department of Architecture, Moratuwa
Sri Lanka
Urban Design and Landscape
Project narrative Kotmale project is a comprehensive initiative designed to address the multifaceted challenges posed by large-scale infrastructural… 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, titled the Kotmale Project, presents a broad and ambitious landscape and urban design vision aimed at addressing the socio-ecological disruptions caused by large-scale infrastructure development in Sri Lanka’s Anthropocene context. The proposal is commendable for its extensive interdisciplinary research—gathering environmental, socio-economic, and cultural data through hydrological studies, ethnographic fieldwork, and demographic surveys. This analytical rigor grounds the project’s design strategy in empirical realities.
However, while the research dimension is strong, the architectural and spatial articulation of the proposal remains vague and underdeveloped. The project's central design ideas—such as “adaptive management,” “cultural entanglement,” and “ecological stewardship”—are articulated in abstract language without corresponding clarity in physical form, materiality, spatial hierarchy, or experiential design. The proposal would benefit from translating its commendable theoretical depth into tangible spatial interventions and clearer visual representation.
Overall, the project demonstrates academic rigor and a strong ethical foundation but lacks sufficient design resolution and formal clarity to deliver its full architectural and landscape potential. Further development of spatial strategies and design drawings would significantly enhance its impact.