Sheran Henry Associates wins award at ARCASIA 2014
Sheran Henry Associates recently won an award in the ‘Sustainability’ category, at the ARCASIA 2014, all member institutes of architects in Asia. The event was held in Malaysia.
“We, at Sheran Henry Associates, believe that our space is a ‘Work in Progress’. Having established ourselves at our studio for the past three years, we stringently focus on the importance of preserving our natural resources as well as trying to bring this trait of nature into our existence,” Archt. Sheran Henry of Sheran Henry Associates said.
The studio premises used to previously exist as a two storey house which was revamped into a three storey structure, specifically with the idea of acquiring more space for future utility. The original structure came along with wood where most of it had existed for more than 150 years. “The entire project took us four months to accomplish, combining the concept of a community feel into the project,” Sheran acknowledged.
With the focal point of renovating the space using this salvaged wood; both from the original building as well as discarded wood, the studio embarked on the mission to recycle these entities and thus breathing life into them. Sheran proudly added that this concept of age comes with respect and that he and his team had devotionally turned this wood into an art of its own by blending in the simple joys of our existence and also believing in its vitality.
With the restoration ensuing, Sheran and his team wanted to accomplish an airy atmosphere in their surroundings and cross-ventilate the entire premises. The wood found in their studio comprises of the now extinct Coromandel Wood or Kalumediriya as it is known, here in Sri Lanka with Jack, Tamarind and Burma Teak blended in as well. The simple purpose of this utility was to highlight the use of something that had been produced naturally and that can still be exploited to its full potential.
“We have also made sure that no barriers have been built within the studio in order to ensure the passage of air as well as natural light throughout the entire place, mainly to ensure an integrated character,” Sheran added.
When it comes to the usage of electricity, this is wholly reliant on solar energy through installed solar panels and the water consumption is attained through a motorised apparatus via a tube well. The studio is surrounded with trees and various types of plants, helping create a kind of micro-climate.
Sheran Henry Associates encourages its employees to embrace a more interactive approach. In today’s day and age, a modern outlook in architecture blended with innovation is involved but it is also very essential to highlight nature at her best.
