Wooden Toy Factory for Euronor (Pvt) Ltd, Wagawaththa, Poruadanda

A sickle shaped abandoned rubber plantation was selected by the client to build a Factory intended to manufacture wooden toys to be exported to Norway and Nordic countries in Europe. The crescent shaped rear section of the site sloped down to the Mawak Oya Stream, surrounded on either side by rubber plantations.

The Brief included worker facilities to be segregated from the Manufacturing arm of the complex and housed in a separate Facility Building. Architects responded by positioning the Worker Facility Building nearer to the Entrance to Site and the manufacturing Section –the Main Factory Building- closer to Mawak Oya estuary on the crescent shaped section of the site.

The clients’ requirements also included maximum protection from the elements in a hot tropical climate, and low reliance from artificial ventilation systems. In response, the section of the Factory Building was conceived to facilitate maximum cross ventilation by strategically positioning cement grills below window sill level, intended to suck in air, in turn escaping through the centrally located monitor roof ventilator of the roof. All natural aluminium glazed windows were protected by cantilevering overhanging masonry boxes giving a contemporary modern character to the Factory Building. Insulation pasted natural zinc aluminium sheets were used as cladding and roof cover, increasing the contemporary modern outlook of the buildings.

Continuing the theme of cantilevering masonry boxes protecting the windows, the saw tooth external staircase meant for access to workers was also cantilevered from the main body of the building, giving a light, airy, floating appearance. The immediate surroundings of the Factory were tastefully landscaped with turfing and root ball replanting of selected mature trees.

Architect: Chinthaka Wickramage AIA (SL)
Assisting Architect: Nileeka Senerath AIA (SL)
Architectural Assistants: Pavithra Bulathsinhala, Samantha Chandani, Krishantha Siriwardane
Consultants: Chinthaka Wickramage Associates