Arts
Reaching high in a male domain
On February 14 this year for the first time in the history of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects Design Awards, a female architect carried away the coveted prize of ‘Young Architect of the Year’. Award winner Pinnya Samaratunga who also won the Award for Excellence in the category of Private Residencies sat down with the Sunday Times Magazine a week later to talk about winning these prestigious awards.“It was not an easy win,” Pinnya admits, speaking of the challenges she encountered with the projects she submitted for the awards, but says it was gratifying to win the Young Architect Award, as it validates all the hardwork she put in.
In fact, to submit an application for the Young Architect of the Year Award, architects must show that they are active members of the SLIA, that they have contributed to Architectural Education as well as to Architectural Publications / Research, and submit three completed projects for consideration, one of which must have made a contribution to society, all while being under the age of 40. No easy task considering that it takes close to a decade to qualify as an architect. This is more so the case when it comes to a female architect, competing in a male dominated industry.
Each of the three projects she had submitted had challenges, the common thread being that each was on a very small plot of land.
Her first, which incidentally was a community project was the ‘Sri Abheya Daham Pasela’ building in Athurugiriya. She was given the project by a family friend even before she had completed her architectural studies. Constrained by the size of the property but determined to ensure the comfort of the children, the building unlike the conventional one-storey Sunday school, was a three-storey one. In order to make the building multi-functional, she utilized a simple but effective method to separate the 10 classrooms, whilst allowing them to be converted into halls for events such as prize givings or sermons by using collapsible, timber framed opaque partitions. She happily notes that the building not only meets its purpose but has become a source of pride for that community.
Pinnya’s success could perhaps be attributed to her support system – her family and especially her husband, fellow architect and partner Eresh Weerasuriya. His support was invaluable during the construction of ‘The Vent Box’, a three-storey residence in the bustling suburbs of Rajagiriya. The construction took years due to issues with labour contractors and was exacerbated by the clients being abroad during the initial stages. During the construction stage Pinnya had her second child, and was unable to be on site to oversee the construction and her husband stepped in to assist and support her, helping in site execution. Her father, who has always been a driving force in her life, has also supported her every step of the way, she adds.
Pinnya Samaratunga
Of the Vent Box Pinnya says she had nothing to show the clients at the time as she had no completed projects, but the client, a friend, had confidence in her as an architect and trusted her with designing her home.
Coming from a family of building contractors, Pinnya grew up visiting building sites and the family timber and stone carving workshop. Inspired by what she saw growing up and by reading the biography of the first Sri Lankan female architect, often dubbed the Asian Woman Architect, Minnette De Silva, Pinnya embarked on her architectural studies at the City School of Architecture in Colombo in 1998. The course was tough, but she enjoyed it nonetheless.
Pinnya’s designs focus on being both aesthetically pleasing and functional. In all her designs she ensures that natural lighting and natural ventilation are provided for. This maybe attributed to the training she received under Architect C. Anjalendran, known for his utilitarian approach to design. Culture and heritage influence her designs, and when going modern, she says it’s always still at the back of her mind. “If I design something totally alien, just because it’s in vogue I won’t do justice to my conscience.”
“I was surprised when I won the excellence awards; I applied but never thought I would win,” she says. In the category of Residential Buildings, she won for the ‘Vent Box’ and it’s easy to see why. Built on not more than 7.5 perches of land, Pinnya has succeeded in making the house appear spacious and seamless by eliminating any boundaries between the different living areas and affixing large sliding glass and timber doors on the face of the building , allowing space to extend upto the courtyard and pool. Large overhung slabs protect the lower levels from monsoonal rain whilst giving the house a tiered look. Designed with a minimalistic approach the concrete and timber materials make the house seem almost like a retreat in the bustling city. In fact the client’s extended family and friends use it as a retreat almost every weekend.
Though pleased with her effort, she believes that the award should be shared with all those who helped execute her projects. “Designers will be nowhere without the builders and the craftsmen,” she states, “the team effort is important.”
The ‘Sri Abheya Daham Pasela’ building
Pinnya receiving the Young Architect of the Year Award - 2017’ - from Pakistani architect Jahangir Khan, President of ARCASIA (Architects Regional Council Asia). Also in the picture is SLIA President, Architect D. Wijewardena. Pix by Dhammika Wijesinghe
Another view of ‘The Vent Box’