Oculus Staff Quarters At Jaffna Wind Power Park

Oculus Staff Quarters At Jaffna Wind Power Park
© Mahesh Mendis

OCULUS STAFF QUARTERS AT JAFFNA WIND POWER PARK

Palinda Kannangara Architects

ARCHITECTS
Palinda Kannangara Architects

CATEGORY
Hospitality Architecture

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Palinda Kannangara

LOCATION
Palai Railway Station, Pachchilapalli, Sri Lanka

PROJEC T YEAR
2016

MANUFACTURERS
Alro, Metroof Roofing solutions

CONTRACTOR
D And S Construction

ENGINEER
Siril Sahabandu

WINDPOWER PLANT
WindForce (Pvt) Ltd.

Text description provided by architect.

This is a guest quarters that is a part of the Jaffna Wind Power Park. Located close to a lagoon and mud flat landscape.

Oculus Staff Quarters At Jaffna Wind Power Park
© Mahesh Mendis
Oculus Staff Quarters At Jaffna Wind Power Park
© Mahesh Mendis

It’s a part of an axis/spine of wind power plants 16, in number that begins with the staff and guest quarters at the entrance and culminates in the office building at the end. It is a simple plan with a low budget designed without harming the surrounding vegetation.

The guest quarters are for the visiting engineers and staff members. It has been built with a close connection to its context, with an open ground floor living area and finishes that reflect the colors of its surroundings.

Oculus Staff Quarters At Jaffna Wind Power Park
© Mahesh Mendis
Oculus Staff Quarters At Jaffna Wind Power Park
© Mahesh Mendis

The ground floor consists of an open living, dining area, kitchen, caretaker’s quarters and a shallow pond with a sculptural spiral staircase leading to the upper floor.

The ground floor has a height of 16’ which adds to the spatial experience of a wild open landscape coming into the building.

The shallow pond at the core of the building with varying water depths that catches the reflection of the windmill acts as the eye of the oculus.

Oculus Staff Quarters At Jaffna Wind Power Park
© Mahesh Mendis
Oculus Staff Quarters At Jaffna Wind Power Park
© Mahesh Mendis

It is a constant presence against a backdrop of lush vegetation mixed with clear skies. It also catches the reflection of the windmills along with the landscape of lagoons and mudflats and windswept grasslands.

The four corners are sliced through with the pond in the center offering the notion of an axis that opens out.

Oculus Staff Quarters At Jaffna Wind Power Park
© Mahesh Mendis
Oculus Staff Quarters At Jaffna Wind Power Park
© Mahesh Mendis

The upper floor consists of a living area, two rooms for staff and two rooms for guests. Each bedroom located has a view of the surrounding landscape and lagoon with plenty of light and ventilation providing a light, airy space. Each room comes with an attached bathroom which has an open to sky courtyard for natural ventilation.

The timber screens offer filtered light and constant ventilation. Additionally inner glazed screens provided options of disappearing into the walls at the corners providing uninhibited views of the landscape.

Oculus Staff Quarters At Jaffna Wind Power Park
© Mahesh Mendis
Oculus Staff Quarters At Jaffna Wind Power Park
© Mahesh Mendis

The timber screens further act as an additional layer of heat protect to the inner glazed screens. Also there is an option to condition the space in the future if necessary. The roof appears to be floating, supported by steel props.

The temperature can soar during the hot summer months so the additional screening aids Microclimatic modulation: through the use of timber screen walls, verandahs and balconies.

Oculus Staff Quarters At Jaffna Wind Power Park
© Mahesh Mendis


Oculus Staff Quarters At Jaffna Wind Power Park
Upper floor
Oculus Staff Quarters At Jaffna Wind Power Park
Ground floor


Oculus Staff Quarters At Jaffna Wind Power Park
Front elevation
Oculus Staff Quarters At Jaffna Wind Power Park
Section A-A


Oculus Staff Quarters At Jaffna Wind Power Park
Site plan