Implications of the Demise of American Style on Architectural Decolonization of Sri Lanka

With independence, Ceylonese elite embarked on a nationalist course.Nationalism was celebrated in the arts spheres initially, and then extended into architecture.In a context where elitist-architects propagated 'core'-oriented domestic architectures, Ceylon's (Sri Lanka's) nascent middle-class (MC) employed non-architects (NAs) who turned to post-war mass-housing in the US for inspiration (i.e.tract/cookie-cutter house).A hybrid in the making, the local emulation went by the name of 'American Style' (AS).This 1960s phenomenon disappeared altogether after neo liberal economic reforms (NLER) of 1977 that in turn introduced the International Style (IS) architecture to the nation.Although extant literature covers AS's inception/success, the underlying reasons for its decline and what became of are yet to be tackled; constituting a knowledge gap, and need for a study.This research employs a qualitative methodology delving on 30 random case studies from/around Colombo's 'satellite towns' (STs).Through empirical work, information on case studies were gathered by a team of three (over a course of one week) via interviewing inhabitants, and carrying out a photographic survey that recorded external changes undergone by front facades.The analysis is carried out via a table illustrating photographs that cover metamorphosis of case studies that in turn, aid to place them against underlying periodic changes recorded via interviews; in a phenomenological perspective.The research concludes that the AS has periodically been altered to suit a myriad of new uses.While approximately ¼ of them perpetuated their domestic use with alternations, ¾ shifted their use altogether with notable external changes.Only 1/30 suffered obliteration/abandonment/stylistic facelifts, among many other less-frequent fates also registered.The AS's demise marked the end of an architectural resistance by the MC that rejected elite-associated colonial residues.The real implication of its demise was the hindering of decolonization impact.Subsequently, the IS assumed AS's role.