Home away from home: A humanitarian project

RESEARCH QUESTION How can architecture improve living standards, and the quality of life, for children in Sri Lankan orphanages? ABSTRACT Orphans, because of their families tragic losses, lack of education and resources, and their consequent need for physical care, are in desperate need of help. Architecture has the capacity to address the challenges confronted by orphans and families with a variety of design methods and approaches. Unfortunately, there are no model orphanages or childcare homes in Sri Lanka that can offer a safe, perennial environment for abandoned children. An innovative and thoughtful design that appeals to children, while serving as a refuge for their families is possible, but to begin with, a safe space for these vulnerable children to call home is essential. Because of the rising rate of homelessness, it is imperative to establish an up-to-date childcare facility in Sri Lanka. The causes of neglected children, children without families and the deficiencies which exist in current facilities in Sri Lanka were investigated as a means of grasping this orphan crisis. Through the lens of a village typology, it is possible to see how this proposed childcare facility would improve their lives and the economy through community means and thus decrease levels of poverty. This has been accomplished by analysing existing orphanage building projects as case studies, both locally and internationally. The outcome of this investigation is a progressive, alternate model for an orphanage typology for Sri Lanka, which has been conceived via both a qualitative and quantitative research approach. Testing methods included analysing precedent studies through drawings and diagrams and utilising ideas developed by Geoffrey Bawa and Balkrishna Doshi as a starting point for further research. The project aimed to define a design that complements the traditional Sri Lankan architectural context via vernacular design strategies and the implementation of a sustainable design approach