More than just a boot camp

In this rural town, some 60 kilometres from the capital city of Colombo, low-rise buildings stand on hilly slopes dotted by large trees. They are part of the many old concrete buildings located inside Sinha Regiment’s headquarters.

While other buildings were built to serve military operations, these wood buildings mark a new era for the Sri Lankan military after the country’s 25-year civil war ended in 2009.

Their purpose is to turn Sinha Regiment, which lost over 4,000 men during the war, into the most educated regiment in the nation by 2020.

After five years, the "Post-war Collective: Community library and social recuperation" project was completed with a small budget of about 500,000 rupees (Bt126,000), on top of the construction work undertaken by some 120 young servicemen.

Despite having zero knowledge of such work, the men completed their task with patience, knowing they could make use of the skills they were learning once they were discharged.

The reintegration of young soldiers is one of the great challenges Sri Lanka faces. This Community Library has provided young men from underprivileged backgrounds with on-site construction training, and their service also reduced labour costs and produced a skilled workforce.

The library itself, stocking up hundreds of books as of this past September, can be a source of knowledge to all who are discharged after four years of service. It is also open to the public.

Edward Schwarz, general manager of the LafargeHolcim Foundation, said the project has been able to create jobs that Sri Lanka needs.

Meanwhile, the buildings were designed to consume few natural resources and reduce carbon emission. They are also supported by new construction innovation and a variety of products that promise more sustainability.

The buildings were constructed on sleek steel posts. Shielding them against rain are thin concrete roofs and a glass wall which freely lets in daylight. Discarded railroad sleepers have been used as flooring.

Large trees outside serve as natural air-conditioners, while rammed-earth walls and recycled materials reduce costs and the ecological footprint.

The project, designed and completed by Ganga Ratnayake and Milinda Pathiraja of Robust Architecture Workshop, boasts a beautiful combination of architecture and landscape.

"The project is simple but it combines economic, social and environmental value," said Maria Atkinson, a member of the LafargeHolcim Foundation’s board and global jury, explaining why the foundation’s "Global Silver Award 2015" went to the 1,400-square-metre library building.

It was among more than 6,000 entries for projects to be built in 152 countries.

The "Global Gold Award 2015" went to Colombia’s UVA de La Imaginacion project, which centres on creating public spaces at a reservoir where two giant water tanks have been replaced by new water infrastructure.

Architectural form at the Colombian project takes inspiration from the site’s history, surrounding topography, and structure of the existing tanks and pools, resulting in an intervention with minimal environmental impact, she said.

Social and environmental value

To Atkinson, the uniqueness of the project in Sri Lanka is the social element and training environment. Together, they show the social and environmental value.

The prize presentation ceremony was held on-site in September, attended by Maj-General Boniface Perera, colonel of the regiment.

On that occasion, architect Pathiraja said that sustainability depended on people’s viewpoints.

"For me, sustainability is doing nothing. The landscape helps to ensure low consumption of resources. The building is designed to be close to trees and respond to learning functions," he said.

He explained that the project also contributed to improving the quality of construction in Sri Lanka: skilled workers are essential for architects and acquiring skills is also necessary for those workers aiming at having a career in the construction industry.

"Architects have a responsibility not only for the profession and the client, but also to society – it’s our goal to bring these dimensions together in our work," he added.

The Sri Lankan project perfectly fits the LafargeHolcim Foundation definition for sustainable construction: the incorporation of elements of economic efficiency, environmental performance and social responsibility with support from architectural quality, technical innovation and transferability.

"The buildings today shape how we live today and tomorrow," Schwarz said.