'Varisewana' A new Concept for Protection of Village Tank

How Emerge the "Varisewana" Concept !

An exploratory focus on how the ancient tank was preserved will lead to an exploration of how it was preserved and why it is not so now and how such preservation can be done today. At that time the tank, the dageba, the village and the temple were our culture.

Even before the dageba, the village, the temple, it was said that the tank. How close was the wewa dageba and temple to our ancestors? It was our own concept. Then the village tank was protected because the tank was attached to us. We bathed in the tank. we were playing on the boarder of the tank. We made chats sitting on the tank bund. Then who could destroy the tank ?

The complexity of the community is evident in the fact that it is difficult to remain in the reality of being constantly connected to the tank as in the past. The things we achieved naturally by the tank in the past, we are achieving artificially today. But the vast majority of the community loves the tank. So in the break from the restlessness, they prefer to relax in a place near the tank. That is why the tank is in great demand in the tourism industry.

However, no matter how restless we are, don't we like to come near a tank once a month, or at least once in three months or so to get a break from all restlessness ? That was always the case then. We do not come to the tank as often today as we did then. We are not able to do that due to our busy schedule. As one group returns, another group arrives at the tank. Then the tank will not be alone. The tank that hears the same voice will then hear different voices. What is needed is a manifestation of unprecedented splendor in the tank.

The concept of the tank, the dageba, the village and the temple of the past brings joy to our minds, but we are not left with the space to remain the same in the present and future social complexities. But we who love the tank, we must turn to the concept of taking a break or getting closer to the tank. That is why we need to explore a new concept that has been incorporated into the tank in anticipation of the tourism industry to protect the tank.

In that concept, the introduction of criteria for conserving the tank must necessarily exist. We must develop the tourism industry according to carefully selected criteria while reaping the benefits of the natural beauty of our country. Those criteria should include recommendations for approaching the tank.

Although the tank can be approached due to the attraction of the tank in the tourism industry, the activities that are harmful to the tank are also present in the movement, so the criteria we choose should include ways to block such ACTIVITIES.

How do we do that? That is where a new concept for the village tank is being developed. So the new concept we are looking for is “varisevana”.

"VARISEWANA" Concept

In search of a way that, how to amolgomate society again towards the village tank, we found that every tank and the surrounding environment of the tank consist with immensely diversed natural aesthetics, ecosystems, functions and ambiences, that would capture the human attention. Because that environment creates a perfect hideaway from their static and busy lifestyles

But, why we are not taking that opportunity ? So, through a proper analysis, we identified that the most lacking part of this matter is, these environments are not properly facilitated for this modern society to experience, while conserving the tank.

So therefore we formed the “warisewana” concept to create a ‘shelter’ around the village tank for the ones who seek these qualities and culture, while guiding the community in a responsible manner. Here our ultimate goal is to conserve the village tank and surrounding, while amalgamating the society again towards the tank. To achieve that we are following a sequential process, which covers all the aspects to avoid the negative impacts on tank, ecosystems, economy and community.

Project Formulation

Project Formulation

The scope of the project is based on how to achieve the project objectives through the design. Considering the existing condition and intervention of the users after implementing the design, deduces about the providing spaces throughout the design.

Using the existing conditions and values of the tank, to success the objective, “to give an awareness about the sri lankan history of irrigation and traditional methods of agricultural activities” provides by the museum. as an expansion of the learning process, all the conveniences provides through a facilitated training center.

To achieve the objective of “amalgamating society and the village tank”, created the opportunity to feel the environment, facilitating lodges and recreational park. To link these four spaces to adopt the user to the context of the design commences using the outdoor restaurant and through that accrues job opportunities to the existing community. So the scope of the project permeated on these five design spaces.

Goal of the Project

To conserve the village tank, avoiding it being isolated while improving the responsible interactions between tank, its surrounding and society.

Objectives of the Project

• Amalgamating society and the tank using a new concept
• Creating awareness about sri lankan history of irrigation and traditional methods of agricultural activities
• Conserving ankokkawala tank, catchment and its ecosystem
• Gaining economical benefits through tourism attraction

Design Process

Analysis & Inventory

Context Analysis

Visual Analysis

The observer can feel huge prospect with the panoramic views, and experience the character (ambience) of the place with more open, relaxed and expanded mind. (according to the prospect and refugee theory) In brief ‘prospect-refuge’ theory is founded on the notion that we seek out opportunities to perceive and acquire visual information, to explore environments and find opportunities (prospect) and to seek out shelter, protection, and environments where one can hide away (refuge).

Forest path through the ankokkawala tank basing. The Mistry feeling of the area is guiding the observer into the forest trail. (Information processing theory) The path is covered by vegetation with giving barophilic feelings to the observer. Basophilic hypothesis defining basophilic as “the urge to affiliate with other forms of life” (kellert & wilson)

Ankokkawala tank and its basin are fed by the water stream which coming from the upper catchment area. And the most of the water streams flow continuously throughout the year.

The sluice gate which can operate manually to allow under supply towards the agricultural lands. In the current situation, water spilling can be seen throughout the year including the dry season also. So it means there are some excess water amount all the time. It indicates an opportunity and need to increase the carrying capacity of the ankokkawala tank.

Swot Analysis

Strengths
• Calm and contemplative environment
• Most of the waterways which feed the ankokkawala tank active in dry season, so continuous spilling can be seen. Because of that, there is an ability to collect more water than existing with the raising of the tank bund.
Weaknesses
• Dumping garbage around the issolated village tank
• Water usage is limited only for the agricultural purposes Agricultural lands are situated far away from the tank, due to that condition, water is getting evaporated and wasted along the way to paddy lands.
• Aquatic weeds are planting by villagers can be seen.
Opportunities
• 2km to away from the galle town, rumassala sanctuary and the jungle beach
• Easy access for southern highway
Threats
• Unauthorized encroachments and constructions
• some tombstones situated nearby

After implementation of the project

There will be a presence of solid waste and wastewater flow. That will be a serious challenge for the project. But we found a way to conquer the issue by converting it to an opportunity. We are planning to recycle the solid waste by collecting waste separately. And also we hope to propose a natural treatment method for wastewater. So that, it can be reused by adding the treated water to the tank. (After treated up to the standard measures)

PESTEL Analysis

Political
• Poor infrastructure facilities due to lack of consideration
• Poor conditions in access roads and negligence in landscape management can be seen around the ankokkawala tank.
• Lands are encroached under political benefits
Economic
• Economical opportunities will appear around the area after implementation
• Rubber cultivation
Social
• Gap filling of the relationship between villagers and the village tank
• Modern society and youth are mostly detached from the culture that formed within the tank, due to busy lifestyle and the technological development and that caused to less social awareness on the values of the tank and the culture.
Technological
• Availability of adequate networking facilities with good signal strength and communication facilities. Environmental
• Aesthetic beauty of the natural environment
• Dumping garbage around the catchment of the tank.
• Rich biodiversity and diverse geomorphological patterns. Legal
• Environmental policies and reservations
• Ownership of the land
• Unauthorized constructions

Climatic Conditions

MIN. TEMPERATURE 22 Oc
MAX. TEMPERATURE 34 Oc
WIND SPEED (AVG) 2 - 15 km/h HUMIDITY 73 - 89 %

After implementation of the project, there will be number of opportunities for the secondary users (community of ankokkawala) based on tourism with the presence of the primary users.(local and foreign tourists) and that will also create a platform for these communities to interact with each other.

Design concept

By attracting the visitor and mixing with the context with sparking biophilic feelings, to give an emotional awareness about the values of the nature and the irrigation technology of ancient Sri Lanka, to convince the necessity of protecting the tank and related cultural environment.

Site designing (zoning) is a very significant phase. As shown in the below image, the main elements has carefully placed on the site while leaving the standard reservations along the edge of the tank.

Preliminary Design Stage

Our main design intention is to facilitate the people around the village tank in a barophilic environment, by submerging and harmonizing the structures with the nature to conserve the natural character of the place, while having minimum intervention towards the existing setting of ankokkawala.
When designing, we try to accumulate Sri Lankan traditional architectural style to represent our culture. Considering the construction and materials, we always focused green and sustainable techniques (principles) and methods.

Hospitality and Recreational Area

Our main design intention is to facilitate the people around the village tank in a barophilic environment, by submerging and harmonizing the structures with the nature to conserve the natural character of the place, while having minimum intervention towards the existing setting of ankokkawala.
When designing, we try to accumulate Sri Lankan traditional architectural style to represent our culture. Considering the construction and materials, we always focused green and sustainable techniques (principles) and methods.

Catchment Area

There are several streams in the upper catchment which feed the tank throughout the year. Because of that, the area is identified as a sensitive area. Considering that, we decided to leave the area almost as it is, except few improvements to the streams and small gathering areas. So, the space will be rich with biophilic qualities which encourage the nature lovers to observe the surrounding.

Tank Bund

Main purpose of the bund is to increase the height of the bund, as it indicates an opportunity to store extra amount of water with uplifting the capacity of the tank. At the same time the bund act as platform for the visitor to experience a panoromic views of the setting while capturing the prospect of the environment.

The Lodges

Main purpose of the bund is to increase the height of the bund, as it indicates an opportunity to store extra amount of water with uplifting the capacity of the tank. At the same time the bund act as platform for the visitor to experience a panoromic views of the setting while capturing the prospect of the environment.

The Museum

The concept of the museum to create viewpoints from the museum to see the ancient irrigation system exhibits and the ankokkawala tank at the same time, to give a more efficient educational experience for visitors. (to create a mental tracing)

Private Public Partnership for Project Implementation

Benefits to the private partners

There will be number of economical benefits to the private partners, since the project consists with several elements that creates paths of income.

• The hospitality and recreation zone consists with a recreation park and a restaurant which can be opened to the public. So the investor can conduct the restaurant by himself or rent it out.

• The tourist lodgings will be a definite way of income due to the uniqueness of the experience. Since there are number of both foreign and local tourists who are looking for this kind of nature hideaways.

• The training center provides the facilities to accommodate private and government sector, trainees, students etc... So, the training center can be rented out to these groups of people to complete their training objectives, workshops and sessions, staying there few days. And also those people could interact with other spaces such as resturants, park, which makes an additional income to the investor. Since this training center is registered and recommended by the southern provincial council, there will be high potential of encourage the government sector to conduct their trainings here.

Agriculture Irrigation Engineering Health Environment Real Estate

Eng. Lanka Ramanayaka - CEO
Design Knigdom Lk

BSc(Eng), PG Dip.(BSE), CEng., MIE(SL), MEC(SL)
Chartered Engineer

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