Architecture, this has been defined by many people over centuries.
Mother of all science, Architecture the frozen music etc. ,Out of all my favorite
thing is Frank Loyd Wright’s saying “a doctor can bury his mistakes, but an
architect can only advise his clients to plant vine”.In Sri Lanka of course we
don’t get vine but we have so many
different verities of flower creepers.
Frankly it does not matter
which professional: but we all do mistakes, After all we are all human
and “ to error is human to forgive is divine. ”But continuous mistakes are
not accepted by everyone.It is important
that we don’t do same mistake repeatedly. Well good luck on that.
As architects our mistakes could be a functional mistake,
which in a simple way we have design a building for particular purpose but that
purpose is not serving. Much easier way if we design a nice looking toilet but
when we are using the water closet if it’s not working it is not acceptable at all.
We can blame to manufacture but it’s architect‘s fault.
But there are some extreme scenarios such as clients
spending billions of money over one house. But end of the day there is an
astrologer coming to the scene and saying the house is not appropriate for
successful for business.
Architects are not liable for such intangible reasons
that may be the reason that Mukesh Ambani did not sue Architect of his house
Alitalia, Mr. Ambani is not living in that Alitalia tower somehow. We
architects are not responsible for such situations at all.
The other mistakes that we do are structural mistakes. This
could be join effort with the structural engineer as well but as architects we
have greater responsibility than anybody else. This includes selecting
compatible materials, analyzing the weather; site climatic conditions all this
architect’s work. This is not an easy job at all.
Then the maintenance of the building. It is totally
irrelevant how much building look good in photographs, but the building
maintenance is costs a fortune. We have to make sure the building still looking
good with the time by minimum maintenance.
Most of architects today facing huge
difficulty at this stage. We have clients who have extremely high hopes with
the appearance of the building, but with large glass faced s,very expensive imported fixture we can’t archive the same
appearance without higher maintaining .These all 21st century
problems that all architects facing around the globe.
But there was a time people did build for themselves, their
requirements were little,
Architecture without Architects this is a book which I
referred in my first year of architecture education by Bernard Rudofsky. It has Short Introduction
to Non-pedigreed Architecture and also provides a demonstration of the
artistic, functional, and cultural richness of vernacular architecture.
In that book I remember mobile roofs that people carrying
when they are traveling to protect weather. Commonly used in some parts of the
Africa and eastern Asia.
In Sri Lanka this is a tiny little island, the pearl of the
Indian Ocean, we also had the similar thing which Bernard Rudofsky have missed
in his book. A very long time ago that Sri Lankans even heard about
Lamborghini and Aston Martin. We Sri Lankans
walked from place to place. May be rich people had their horse carriages but
majority of Sri Lankans walked. This is a small Island length and breadth
approximately 450 KM and 250 KM but really beautiful. Exciting landscape with
an amazing topography.
But we had is not a mobile structure. There is no owner but
everyone looked after it, well maintained it.That is known as “Ambalama”.Basically
Ambalama is a place constructed for people, traders and
travelers to rest, to stay overnight. Most importantly this was absolutely
free.
If Jesus Christ was born in Sri Lanka definitely he will be
born in “Ambalama”.This was commonly used in even early 20th.But
during the Colonial period of Sri Lanka things started changing. They
introduced rest houses and hotels but those are not free. But In Sri Lanka we
don’t have Motels like in USA.But in Sri Lanka we have rooms which we can rent
on hourly basis. But none of these places are not free.
Ambalama is a basic structure; of course we can’t compare it
with high facilitated hotel rooms. But still that’s how we lived. Even with the
Ambalama user had some codes of ethics. The occupant has to clean after he used
the place. Cooking and preparation of meals only done in the outside of the
Ambalama. People don‘t disturb each other. Even there was a custom the people
shared their food among other passengers those who did not have. It was a
common place there is no any particular owner or care taker. This system worked
long time ago, but not I don’t have such subtle experience. Even In Sinharaja
forest I have found owners.
Gal Ambalama Kotte
There are still few Ambalama preserved considering its
archaeological value. Still in Colombo Pita Kotte Gal Ambalama which belongs to
the Kotte period of Sri Lanka can be seen. Some people still using it as a
shelter.
But my most favorite Ambalama is located in Kurunagala district. Which known as “Karagaha Gadara
Ambalama”.It s really beautiful wooden structure. Apart from that within that
area there are few other preserved wooden structure,Even though it small structure but it has answered most of thepracticle issues we are facing today.
Karagaha gedara Ambalama details
The wooden structure sits on the Rock face as well supported by rocks.
Over looking the paddy fields,
Even the Panavitiya
Ambalama is wooden structure,
But Karagaha Gadara Ambalama is located on a more
people friendly environment. Basically its sits on a rock with adjoining paddy fields. The
farmers those who comes to the paddy fields still using it as a shelter.
Panavitiya Ambalama,more elaborated timber column details.
Sri Lanka during the past years the road system was
upgraded. The.The newly constructed road passing through Karagaha Gadara Ambalama.
It
looks like a nice contrast of modern and old. Even I have has my breakfast here
when I was on my way to Anuradhapura. I was alone, people are very friendly, I
feel much secured even it was with heavy rain.
Very relaxing time I had alone there, but again I have
visited with some friends, In my experience it s nice place with or without friends,
