Wooden Toy Factory, Poruwadanda Building, Colombo Architecture, Architect
Euronor Timber Toy Factory, Poruwadanda, Sri Lanka
West Sri Lanka Architectural Development design by Chinthaka Wickramage Associates
15 May 2011
Timber Toy Factory in Poruwadanda
Architects: Chinthaka Wickramage Associates
Location: Horana, near Colombo, western Sri Lanka
Poruwadanda Wooden Toy Factory
The project was to build a Wooden Toy Factory on an abandoned Rubber estate, by a joint venture between a Norwegian investor and a Sri Lankan partner, with the toy products expected to be exported to the Nordic and Scandinavian Countries.
The Norwegian client was to close down his wooden toy manufacturing facility in Czechoslovakia due to high labor cost in Europe and relocate the machinery and equipment to Sri Lanka, taking advantage of the tax concessions and investment incentives provided by the Sri Lankan Board of Investment, and Sri Lankan competitive labor market.
photographs : Waruna Gomis
A sloping site was acquired for the purpose on the edge of a rubber plantation. Clients also required relying on natural lighting and ventilation systems to cut down long-term energy costs.Main Factory Building was designed as a bridge, spanning between two small hillocks on the site, using exposed Random Rubble retaining walls, to retain a single level toy manufacturing facility in the gradually sloping site.
The Central monitor roofed steel portal frame structure on top, was pre fabricated and brought to site for erection after completion of foundation civil works. Grey masonry cubes protrudes from vibrant yellow walls to contrast with the adjoining rubber estate, giving it the appearance of a ‘bright little toy’ similar to the ones manufactured in the factory.
Cement louver grills were placed under every window sill intended to suck in air in turn to escape through the centrally located monitor roof, creating a stack effect inside the factory building, minimizing the need to use artificial ventilating systems.The cantilevering ‘Saw tooth’ service staircase further enhances the ‘modern outlook’ of the factory façade.
The double height parallel party walls up to window top level was constructed out of brickwork while rest were cladded with natural coloured Zinc Aluminum sheets with insulation, increasing the contemporary touch of the building.
To maximize cross ventilation, stack effect is created within the building by the monitor roof and strategically positioned cement louver grills under the window sill. The textured façade come to life with the sun shadows and activity and go to sleep as lights being put off by workers one by one at night, giving quite a theatrical experience.
The internal finishes are inexpensive and hardwearing – power trowelled concrete floors on the ground and insulated Zinc Alum sheets on the roof. This gives the building an interesting complexity unlike of a flat faced building and connects workers in all directions within the site.
The long facades either face the rubber estate or the nearby Mawak oya stream.The result is an abstract composition of walls, cubes, ramps and staircases that compliment the sloping terrain, landscape of the stream, the wild vegetation on it’s banks and the surrounding rubber trees.
The Factory building is designed as a ‘Bright little Toy. Windows positioned on either side of the ‘long’ elevation give ample views of the adjoining rubber estate on one side and the Mawak Oya stream on the other side, giving the workers the luxury of a ‘Resort’ surroundings. The cantilevering masonry boxes around the glazed aluminum windows give protection from elements from all directions, in the ‘eve less’ building. Ways of maximizing the use of natural ventilation and light were used whenever possible to minimize the use of energy.
The goal was to create a contemporary Sri Lankan architecture, where luxury is defined by quality of spaces rather than by expensive materials. By keeping the surrounding trees intact, nature takes precedence over the architecture, which is integrated seamlessly in to the landscape. Materials, structural solutions, and installations were selected with the aim of achieving maximum efficiency.
The external form has a distinct sculptural quality befitting a factory which creates toys for children. Elements such as cantilevering ‘Saw tooth’ staircase and vehicular access ramp increase the contemporary nature of the Architecture of the building. Interior spaces have been developed, keeping the philosophy of colour and energy and providing possibilities for different uses of spaces.
Cantilevering Masonry boxes were used as protection for glazed aluminum windows giving a certain contemporary character to the exterior of the building.Outer walls are painted in vibrant yellow. The aim was to relate the Architecture to ‘Toy Designs’, which is demonstrated by the colour of the façade, an explosion of light and energy within the rural context of Poruwadanda. The strong linear form of the factory contrasts with the natural environment.
Toy Factory Poruwadanda – Building Information
Project Architect: Chinthaka Wickramge
Chinthaka Wickramage Associates – based in Nugegoda, Sri Lanka – are led by Chinthaka Wickramage, B. Sc. (BE) Hons, M. Sc. (BE) London, AIA(SL) Chartered Architect/Designer
Euronor Timber Toy Factory Poruwadanda images / information from Chinthaka Wickramage Associates
Chinthaka Wickramage Associates, Sri Lankan architects : contact details
Location: Poruwadanda, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Architecture
Sri Lanka Architecture Designs – chronological list
Canteen Recreaton and Rest Room Building, RPL Factory, Horana, Sri Lanka
Chinthaka Wickramage Associates
RPL Factory Horana
Belihuloya Mountains House
Chinthaka Wickramage Associates
Sri Lanka House
British High Commission in Colombo
Design: Richard Murphy Architects
British High Commission Sri Lanka
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