Innovative architectural approach

By Ranga CHANDRARATHNE

Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themselves.-Julia Morgan
A building has integrity just like a man. And just as seldom.-Ayn Rand

K-zone

Astriking feature of built environment is the manifestation of the philosophy of architecture which has been translated into an edifice of visual art. Apart from meeting the utilitarian needs of a building, the architecture should truly depict the milieu, the quality of life and deep philosophy and the ingenuity on the part of the architect who designed the building.

K-zone in Moratuwa is one such building which epitomises the vision of the architect who designed it. Significant features of the modern shopping mall are the overwhelming sense of space and the liberating aspect it has rendered to the architecture. The soothing and relaxed environment it has created make a sea change in the very concept of shopping traditionally in highly congested built environment with dimly-lit claustrophobic shopping malls.

The attractive exterior of K-Zone is complement by its innovative landscaping, aesthetically pleasing interior and a functional –oriented spacing. Material such as glass has been predominantly used in displaying areas for the purpose of showcasing mannequins and goods. However, heat effect is minimal given the spacing of the interior.

It is obvious that Architect Sheran of Sheran Henry Associates has combined diverse architectural traditions for the conversion of the dilapidated warehouse complex into a modern shopping mall.

It is a large building of about 55,000 square feet and the client, J K Marketing, wanted to convert it into a state of the art shopping mall. The challenge for Project Architects Nishadi Kulathilake and Gihan Liyanage was to transform a run-down, industrial building into a customer friendly, high end, chic shopping complex.

New grid

The architects have introduced a new grid within the footprint of the building and they opted for a diagonal pattern. It is this diagonal pattern that adds creative element to the facade of the building. As opposed to giving a flat glass effect, the unusual pattern gives a bit of depth to the facade and increases the amount of glass frontage that each shop has. This has created very pleasing as well as attractive spaces on the inside.

A striking feature of the design process is that the architects had undertaken a study of a traditional ‘pola’ or Sunday fair to analyse the dynamics of how space had been utilised. Although the arrangement of a ‘pola’ is rather haphazard, it holds interest in terms of space. There are tiny spaces that unexpectedly burst out into large spaces bustling with life, and the interior of K-Zone mimics this feature.

The idea behind the study is to render the building a light structure. In a way, it is a modern day interpretation of ‘Pola’.

Expanding on the theme of unexpected spaces, the architects divided the corridor space into two sectors; one for shoppers who are hurrying to their individual destinations and the other for those moving at a more leisurely pace.

This was created by introducing curves and twists in the corridor space that formed nooks and corners, where people find space to wait for friends, window shop or even have a quiet cup of coffee or a meal.

This has generated a whole new experience for shoppers at K-Zone. They are able to incorporate entertainment into their day out shopping.

Quality

Another aspect that adds character to the building is that the architects have stayed true to the industrial quality of the original building.

The steel and exposed services on the inside of the building achieve a tasteful contrast against the modern interior fittings.

The architects have opted not to introduce a ceiling, so that the roof and trusses are left exposed. Several elements of the building were left as they were. For example, the original pillars still exist alongside the new steel elements that support the glass and other structures. The mezzanine floor at the end of the building looks down into the central corridor and the food court on the side.

Mindful that shop owners would use different colours to decorate their own individual spaces, the architects decided to stick to a subdued colour scheme: they used only black and white for the building.

Leaving a sense of flexibility within the store spaces ensured that there would be no disharmony between the design of the building itself and the individual shops.

In addition, great attention has been paid to the landscape design of K-Zone. The front includes a large forecourt that is sometimes used for promotional activities. It also allows ample access for shoppers to enter the mall directly from Galle Road. The landscaping has ensured that there are areas for people to lounge and enjoy some leisurely time outdoors.