Browsing by Author "Wijesundara, J"

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5th International Urban Design Conference on Cities, People and Places ICCPP- 2017 - Pre Text
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2017-10-20) Wijesundara, J; Dayaratne, R
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6th International Urban Design Conference on Cities, People and Places ICCPP- 2018 (Pre Text)
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2018-10-05) Wijesundara, J; Dayaratne, R
6th International Urban Design Conference on Cities, People and Places ICCPP- 2018 Theme: Socializing Cities: Creating People-centered Streets and Places
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9th International Urban Design Conference on Cities, People and Places ICCPP- 2023 (Pre Text)
(Centre for Cities & Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2023-04) Dayaratne, R; Wijesundara, J
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Adaptation of biophilic design strategies in urban environments for optimizing the user comfort; study of entrance spaces in academic environments
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2019-11-14) Senthuran, G; Wijesundara, J; Dayaratne, R
In generally architecture crafts in-built human tendency to associate with nature, inward the contemporary world directs to build environment to be vital approach towards humanitarian design including physical and mental wellbeing. The idea of humanitarian build environment generates biophilic design intervention to understand the human evolution in adaptive re-joining factors to natural and human created forces. The confront of biophilic Design in urban environment is to state the lack of coherent and the user comfort of passionate built fabric in the urban tissue. Biophilic Design pursue to produce respectable territory to people through establishing the strategies and frameworks by better architectural practice. The thesis sets out to speculate on how biophilic design strategies contribute to optimize user comfort in urban environment examines the selected building entrance spaces in educational environment. The study argues that, the use of biophilic strategies and impact of using the strategies in urban spaces to improve the quality of the academic entrance spaces, how these spaces are influenced by the culture of the community, and design strategies that can be evolved in the earliest with humility and understanding in urban spaces. Based on the review of building documentation, interviews and building output analysis, the thesis evaluates and critiques on strategies of Adaptation of Biophilic design, in particular: (1) how effectively biophilic elements are adopted in urban places and (2) how these elements can be productively incorporate with cultural impact to comfort and healing, in the entrance space of academic environment. The research concludes that adaptation of biophilic elements in academic environment can provide comfort and healing, and this will be affected by cultural specific attributes.
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Alriwaq: the power of art in creating public spaces
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Hasan, S; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
Bahrain like all Gulf Cooperation Council countries has transformed in a few decades from a traditional country to a modern one due to oil discovery. This modern life has created many problems within the city; the most obvious is the lack of public spaces. Modern buildings and roads replaced the courtyard, alleys and markets of the past, which were a place of social gatherings. With the latter in mind this paper would like to point out an art gallery in Adliya in Manama that has been able to recreate these experiences within Block 338. The gallery creates a few events around the block during the year which brings life to it. Adliya was not a dead space per se before these events however there were empty pockets with little or no human actives in the block. Those who visited Adliya would usually park their cars as close to the restaurant they are heading to. Al-Riwaq transformed underutilized outdoor and indoor spaces into public ones that encouraged social interactions. The event that will be analyzed within this paper is Alwan 338; this art event changed the characteristics of an abandoned building, a lifeless square and alleys to places full of people that brought life to them and added to the enthusiasm of the block. The goal of this paper is to investigate the effect of Al-Riwaq, specifically Alwan 338 in creating public spaces.
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Analytical study on sense of safety in urban landscape spaces
(Department of Architecture University of Moratuwa, 2016) Jayasinghe, Y. A. O. D.; Gunasena, K; Wijesundara, J; Dayaratne, R
This paper examines the user behaviours relative to sense of safety in urban landscape spaces. Reconciliation of feelings, emotions and behaviours of user due to image of the space; it may be comfortable or uneasy. Urban become abandoned or uneasy caused by many design issues. It disruption user engagement and assist to create opportunistic crime spaces. Space contain several physical and psychological parameters which have been found on this study. Prospect and refuge theory, figure ground theory, concept of eyes on the street, broken window theory and sense of ‘enclosure’ theory strengthen the selection of parameters. Theoretical parameters are strengthened by visibility, boundary and enclosure and changing elements affect the sense of safety and fear. Beira Lake and Viharamahadevi Park have been selected as cases, because both have similar landscape characteristics. Surrounding path adjoining with roadscape and middle landscape mass add symbolistic similar characters. This study has used questionnaires, interviews, photo and video survey, behaviour mapping and observations to identify safety or fear generating factors considering a sample of participants in the multi ethnic neighbourhoods, visitors and regular visitors in the day time and night time. Compared to Beira lake; Viharamahadevi park gives safer feeling due to width to height ratio. The park has comparatively long width relative to surrounding heights. The Beira Lake is crowded with high rises and length comparatively less than Viharamahadevi Park. It makes uneasy feeling and control user behaviours.
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An appraisal of co-benefits of green building; challenges in creating crisisadaptive built environment
(Centre for Cities & Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2023-04) Mudannayaka, MADD; Wijesundara, J; Dayaratne, R; Wijesundara, J
As the world moves achieving sustainable built environment, the concept of green building has emerged as one of the most important trends in the construction sector around the world. Buildings that are sustainable, use less energy and less water, save money while preserving natural resources. As a result of growing interest in the topic on a global scale, the development of sustainable buildings has recently appeared as an emerging trend in Sri Lanka. According to the findings of several studies, the initial expenditure required for the construction of sustainable buildings is considerably more than that of conventional buildings. Adopting a green concept for the construction of buildings, in a state of crisis like Sri Lanka needs to understand the advantages and difficulties that may arise in the process. In the face of the current crisis in Sri Lanka. This study is conducted to examine the co-benefits that can be obtained from the concept of green buildings and the methods used in creating such buildings that are adaptive to prevailing crisis. A questionnaire survey is deployed to accumulate primary data, and the statistical approach of the relative importance index was utilized in the analysis of data. According to the findings, green buildings offer numerous environmental co-benefits, economic co-benefits, and social co-benefits, creating energy efficient, and crisis-adaptive built environment. Further the study reveals the relative significance level of each building element within the context of sustainable built- environment, and barriers in the construction industry in its achievement.
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The appreciation of the sense of space through the acoustic landscape of urban parks: case study of urban parks Colombo
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2017-10-20) Waduthanthri, YH; Amendra, S; Wijesundara, J; Dayaratne, R
The main goal of this study is to analyze the human sense of space of an urban park through the acoustic landscape of it. The research will be done in sample four sites in and around Colombo Sri Lanka; viharamahadevi park, diyathauyana , independence square premises and the study was done maintaining the equality of the case studies by observing in the same time during congregative Sundays . And the acoustic landscape will be appreciated through several methods of study. the analyze will based on the acoustic characterization of the park’s interior noise levels of selected functioning and isolates spaces , and by two separate socio- acoustic surveys to the visitors and selected sample of people to check there perception on acoustic quality , of the above mentioned urban parks . The measurement of acoustic characterization is done by recording the sounds and plotting in to graphs where decibels and frequency compared. And a social survey is done by giving a questioner to the random users of the parks .so that the data will be analyses on charts and graphs. The second phase of the study is done by giving the above recorded sounds to the selected group of people and through a questioner the idea on the sounds will be collected and graphed. The study and the summery prove that the urban parks in Sri Lanka contain lots of unwanted, unpleasant and unexpected sounds that the people does not expect or prefer other than the human favorable and natural acoustic sounds.So that the noises affect the concentration and disturbed the perception.
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‘Architecture of fear’: an analytical investigation on ‘negative impression’ in architectural design articulated by ‘integrated spatial and space-related aspects
(Department of Architecture University of Moratuwa, 2014) Dayasagara, N; Botejue, P; Dharmatilleke, S; Dayaratne, R; Wijesundara, J
Architecture of fortification; iron bars and iron spikes, cinder blocks and barking dogs, razor ribbon wires, glass spines and security alarms- The city has been armed with apparent evidences all over the city. The built fabric has been transformed into an ideal representation of ‘contemporary fears’ of citizens. Often people scare to use lifts, narrow walkways, rear staircases, darken basements, high roof tops or largely open public places. In such places they fear being murdered, abused, abducted, or stabbed. The investigation primarily measures the ‘required sense of safety’ in an urban public realm with respect to the architectural design principals, spatial and space related aspects. The four case studies of the research will be focused on ‘public buildings’ filling the ‘research gap’ within the field of study existed between two main levels of ‘city fabric’ and ‘individual dwelling’. The research outcome reveals the ‘controlling power’ of ‘fear in space’ that has influenced user psychology and behavior accordingly, including 21 integrated architectural aspects behind the cause. Concurrently, the investigation emphasizes possible design interventions to diminish such negative impressions composing ‘positive motives’ which supports public cohesiveness, interaction and free movements in built-sphere in which architectural design becomes a ‘tool’ in order to manipulate ‘sense of safety’.
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Art, cities and social enterprise
(Department of Architecture University of Moratuwa, 2014) McQuilten, G; Dayaratne, R; Wijesundara, J
This paper explores the potential role of art-based social enterprises in contributing to sustainable urban development. It considers the examples of two social enterprises on opposite sides of the globe, and with contrasting relations to the “urban”; the Pacific Women’s Weaving Circle in the heart of inner-city Melbourne, Australia and Dzidefo Women’s Cooperative which traverses the rural context of Kpando, Ghana, with urban markets in Africa and the USA. Both enterprises use the vehicle of art to create opportunities for communities facing economic and social hardship. This paper approaches the field of social enterprise with a cross-disciplinary perspective that combines empirical, art historical and cultural studies methodologies to provide a deeper and more nuanced understanding of how communities manage the complexities of simultaneously pursuing economic, artistic and social development goals. At the point of rapid growth in this field, it considers the conditions for success, and potential risks, of art-based social enterprises in different geographic and urban contexts internationally.
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Ascertaining the kinetic patterns of informal spaces in the commercial streets of Pettah, Sri Lanka
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Makevita, U; Rajapakse, A; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
The study is an investigation of “kinetic” patterns in the urban informal commercial sector of Pettah, Colombo. Kinetic spaces refer to the transforming temporary physical developments and structures that complement the “static”/ permanent built fabric of cities. They introduce a humanized scale to the city in terms of “form” and “function”. Kinetic patterns represent development of the informal sector as connecting patterns between the static city and the activity patterns. Pettah is the main commercial and transportation centre in the country, which is currently undergoing transformations by removal of all informal, kinetic spaces and functions in a city beautification process. Yet, these patterns establish distinct characteristics within the city and need to be accommodated as part of the identity of the urban context. Based on Christopher Alexander’s “Pattern Language” and patterns related to the commercial context of cities, a theoretical framework was developed to explore examples of similar patterns in the kinetic developments in Pettah. They were traced and presented in a hierarchical order. The method of analysis was mainly through careful on site observations, activity maps and 2D and 3D maps documenting spatial and functional connections, photographs of the selected areas etc. The identified framework is place specific and primarily presented through graphical representations of the re-interpretation of Alexander’s generic images of the universal pattern, to establish the kinetic patterns of Pettah. The research ascertains that there is logic in the development of kinetic spaces and that the kinetic patterns follow the logic of the general pattern language of the city in terms of the practical connectivity of functions and physical spaces. The essential components of theses pattern relationships are extracted to establish what is specific to the context.
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Assessing visual impacts of roadscape installations on urban safety and comfort in Galle Road, Colombo
(2020) Wijekoon, N; Wijesundara, J
Today, the world is moving towards Urbanization which adapts sustainable development. Currently in Sri Lanka, the challenging development position in terms of its urban development with the introduction of number of mega projects ranging from urban core intensification to introducing and improving infrastructure and alternative multimode transportation systems. With technology and other high intelligence base development are now making space for poor safe and secured cities resulting all types of pollutions such as air, water, soil, sound and visual which risking the inhabitants and exposing into the general public. Though various urban development programs are being implemented in high dense urban areas of the country, how far such initiatives were able to create a positive impact to minimize visual issues in the city has not been clearly identified and clarified. Accordingly, views on redefining the urban environment in terms of visual atmosphere in order to prevent and control visual impacts of roadscape installations is a critical task facing today with rapidly increasing needs of commercialization. As the magnitude of its influences on urban users have not been identified, measured and analysed analytically, the results is increasing roadscape psychological and physical damages which runs as a long term process. The proposed study is intended as an assortment of properly designed specific research constituents. In order to begin the study, it is expected to conduct first-hand observations and identify the key problematic situations in urban commercial roadways and roadsides in Colombo in terms of urban comfort and safety due to roadscape installations. A comprehensive literature survey will be carried out for in-depth studies of precise constituents of the research. Prior to the detail analysis, it is planned to conduct a pilot surveys to identify key factors to be measured with regards to the specific stockholders and area analysis through questionnaires, direct/indirect interviews etc. with random local and foreign city users. After that it is decided to conduct details field surveys, laboratory experiments on existing conditions using focus variables to understand the stockholder acceptance. Compiling the research findings giving high regards to user satisfaction and document accordingly. In order to improve visual comfort and ensure user safety through visual impacts in roadways and roadsides due to roadscape installations, it is aimed to identify roadscape installations and its impact rating, to review build, designed and situational factors of identified installations, determine the correlation between roadway and roadside installations and safety, comfort and to investigate the effects of identified installations on pedestrian and driver attention and performance. As a result, this study will worth to design a method to assess visual impact due to roadscape installations in commercial activities based roads and to identify the visual influences and its magnitude on roadway and roadside users which opens a gateway to establish an assessment model in order to assess urban comfort, safety and security of public realm for sustainable urbanisation in Sri Lanka.
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Attributes of urban public spaces that contribute to qualitative public life; study of emerging public spaces in Colombo
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Fernando, LD; Wijesundara, J; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
Urban Public Space (UPS) is a vital component in the formation of a cityscape. Such spaces further enrich the public requirements of activity nodes facilitating people’s interaction and relaxation. Thereby quality of UPS has a direct impact in terms of public benefits which may be in two folds of physical and psychological. It is a fact with the rapid urbanization, UPS becomes an essential component and Sri Lanka too has no exemption to such prerequisite requirements. But in close scrutiny it will be disclosed that many Urban Public Spaces’ in Sri Lanka, had emerged without prior prerequisite requirements and thereby compelling, not to have proper design or standards in quality. The lack of quality and standards is mainly due to the fact that Left over Spaces (LOS) had been turned as UPS’s; than creating the UPS’s in advance, as a key component of the cityscape. In these circumstances the need has arisen to redirect the emerging urbanization to consider proper urban design and planning aspects in terms of UPSS which would in return contributes to the public and their Standards of living through Quality of Urban Public Space (QUPS). The paper, intends to explore qualitative aspects in UPS’s, that had turned out of LOS’s; by comparing the international models authored by Jan Gehl and Helen Beck, and which in return would create a comprehensive analysis and evaluation model to achieve qualitative Urban Public Life (UPL). The methodology adopted had two folds, namely a literature survey and social survey and the said social survey had been carried out by a structured survey through a questionnaire. The data gathered in the said social survey had been compiled and analyzed by using the derivatives attached to each and every questionnaire. The Galle Face Green (GFG), Diyatha Uyana in Battaramulla (DUB), Dutch Hospital Courtyard (DHC) and Urban Wetland Park in Nugegoda (UWP) are samples for the Social Survey. The first two of the samples that is GFG and DUB have been considered as open spaces and the latter two that is DHC and UWP have been considered as urban spaces in its analysis. Further it is to be noted that non availability of UPS’s, the aforesaid four spaces were selected as the most suitable case studies for the research. In the analysis of UPS’s in terms whether it has been predesigned UPS or LOS turned as UPS, the impact over standard of living and thereby the QOL, is almost the same. But in detail analysis had divulge that QUPS has a direct impact over the public in the usage of the facilities provided.
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Bangkok street food phenomenon
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2017-10-20) Maglumtong, M; Wijesundara, J; Dayaratne, R
In 2016, Bangkok was voted as the world’s best destination for street food for 2 consecutive years according to CNN. It shows that street food is very popular among both local and international tourist, a s i t i s d elicious, e asy access, and cheap. Its contributions to urban life go beyond their own informal employment, as it generates demand and supply for a wide range of services provided by other informal and formal workers: (1) as fast food providers, for low to middle-income workers, (2) as an economic activity, which generates income for urban poor, and (3) as a social connector for the variety of its consumers.Accordingly, This research aims to study on the phenomenon of Bangkok street food by examining the history and relationship between street fooddistribution, location, and other urban activities.Din Daeng, NongKhaem, Rat Burana, and Samphanthawong are four cases that were chosen for analysis in terms of ‘self-made’ public space and spatial identity. With this study, the well-planned and managed street food can be part of the city, which captures and responds to Bangkok’s urban contexts.And it will help to find solutions for s treet f ood t o b e included in policy terms as economic assets to cities, while endure in the city within the contemporary urban context.
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Beyond the ‘desire of the city’ urban boundaries & inequality
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Kukreja, S; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
Cities are born, and grow throughout ages; they deform under the assaults of life - an evolution more or less serene is disturbed by the repercussion of successive political-social–economic invasions. Urban processes, spatial transformations, urbanization, segregation, deterioration into slums, gentrification, pollution, and human migratory movements indicate upon the social issues facing us today. The depiction of different urban zones, local areas or neighborhoods is rarely a matter of drawing lines on a page: it now creates social categories, sets apart communal groups, and demarcates public problems to what David Harvey (1973) refers to as-the systematic 'urbanization of injustice'. Cities’ depicting these diversities is not only an urban fact but also a principal urban value. The question of how physical places with imbalanced distribution of civic resources and prejudiced land holdings pullulate often appears in urban analysis. How do cities as diverse, distended and desecrated expect safety, survival and future coherence for long? The author tries to focus in brief on the transformation of space in a city approached with problem of urban migration. Medium sized cities in India are perpetuating vulnerable spaces in wrath of boundaries and inequality. Most crucial to understand of urban equation today is ‘not that cities contain a lot of people and pack them in tightly but that cities need to rethink-revive and organize the differences between them for their future sustenance.’
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Can the process of redesigning the built environment facilitates reconciliation?
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Liyanage, J; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
In post-conflict settings, ‘reconciliation’ is the catch-cry of social pressure groups, aggrieved victims and government institutions attempting to account for the past, acknowledge human suffering and transition from war to peace. At this critical juncture, can efforts to redesign the built environment contribute toward national reconciliation, and more specifically in the post-conflict context of Sri Lanka? This paper presents a case study of urban development as a vehicle for reconciliation: specifically, the development of a new town plan for Mannar City in North-west Sri Lanka. The paper charts a journey of diaspora and in-country partners finding ways to meet the requirements of social and physical infrastructure for rebuilding after war and also for reconciliation outcomes. Commencing with identifying a community’s priorities through an extensive visioning initiative, Mannarin Marumalarchi 2022 (the renaissance of Mannar), diaspora influence has facilitated three key agencies - Mannar Urban Council, Urban Development Authority and the National Physical Planning Department - to collaborate on preparing a people-centred town plan. This design process has presented opportunities for inclusion of marginalized groups, opening spaces for dialogue among perceived ‘adversaries’ and exploring the conditions necessary for a broad-based reconciliation. Through this journey, many insights were gleaned about the key dimensions that undergird both social and physical infrastructure development. These include the benefits of ascribing special status to residents as the local experts, introducing them to fresh perspectives and good practice examples from elsewhere and encouraging a future orientation which in turn nurtures increased personal agency. The findings also highlight the crucial role of process as much as outcome that urban development can play in reconciling conflicted relations – with the diaspora, among diverse ethnic and religious groups, between different strata of government and also with those perceived as enemies of the state. Finally, the paper points to the effect that people-centred planning can have for both unique and positive urban and economic development as well as for the cause of national reconciliation.
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Caring neighbourhoods in managing cities for transforming futures
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2019-11-14) Wijesundara, J; Weerasinghe, UGD; Perera, R; Dayaratne, R
City performance ensures references to the spatial form of the city or any built environment as places for people. The quality of a place is a result of the combined effect of place and society that inhabits in it. In managing cities, it is important to understand behavior of different social groups reflected in urban formation and transformation. Several performance dimensions are identified in Good City forms; it should be vital, sensible, well fitted, accessible, well controlled and all of these are achieved with integrity and internal efficiency. They are the collective experience of urban form of a city; at local community space levels, giving birth to neighbourhood sustainability. As an important concept in Planning and Architecture, Sustainability has become vital in contemplation of cities. In the development of neighbourhoods, it has received lesser attention particularly in the context of developing countries for some reason. However, cities cannot be considered sustainable and cared, if constituent neighbourhoods, do not meet sustainability measures. It is clear that the urban form of a city is constantly facing to challenges in transforming into futures, and therefore, should with-stand to impending social, environmental and economic requirements of the neighbourhoods; where people live in and work at. This paper attempts to discover the sustainable identity of a selected residential neighbourhood in Colombo inner city limits as a case sample, to recognize its determinant factors in design formation. Further it investigates the means of improving and maintaining them, to be preserved as long lasting, great urban neighbourhoods. This will address the essentials in caring such urban neighbourhoods as distinctive living entities, which are momentous constituents of changing city.
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The charing cross: unfolding a genius loci in the city of Lahore
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2018-10-05) Imtiaz, H; Mustafa, M; Wijesundara, J; Dayaratne, R
The Charing Cross, Lahore may be ranked as more than simply the junction of roads. It is a memorial representing architectural, social and cultural history of Lahore. Imprints of Colonial, post-colonial and modern era can be traced if the evolution of architectural space and elements of The Charing Cross, Lahore are closely examined. The multi-faceted space of The Charing Cross, Lahoreis understoodif a temporal cross-section of the square is cut and critically analyzed. Designed and built during the British (colonial) times the square has, from the beginning, marked its genius through its ideal location and spatial quality. From being a centrally located square with carefully marked monuments and buildings to a democratic and recently a politically charged demonstration space, the square in Lahore has changed with time yet it retains its Genius loci through its form and events. Also, number of attempts made for shifting the location and position of monument within the confined periphery of chowk demonstrates how the monument has been perceived and treated by ruling elite and people of Lahore city in different times. The Charing Cross, Lahorein this paper is seen as a palimpsest with each layer of time and space reinforcing the genius loci of the square within the city of Lahore. The paper analyzes the juxtaposition of time and space boundaries that have contributed in making the historic chowk of The Charing Cross Lahore, a, genius loci. The paper begins with an introduction to the space; in this case The Charing Cross Lahore, with a brief background to its history and evolution. The paper then move towards introducing the theory and the methodology through which the paper signifies the square in relation to the events.Supported by the critical analysis of the historical (physical and social) evolution of the square, the paper establishes the significance of The Charing Cross as a genius Loci, in the city of Lahore.
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City and terrorism mapping the impact of terror and paranoia on urban culture and fabric of Lahore city
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, 2018-10-05) Imtiaz, H; Wijesundara, J; Dayaratne, R
Post 9/11 saw a shift in the way people started behaving, using and even looking at the city of Lahore, although the transformation remained subtle and slow. Starting in 2006 Lahore saw malicious terrorist attacks which targeted government buildings, public and religious places. It has been recorded by “CIRCLe” that the attacks in “Punjab account for only 18% of attacks in the whole of the country, yet in terms of deaths, Punjab is 18 percent of the casualty figure of KPK and 19 percent of the casualty figure of FATA”.7 The past decade has taken its toll on the city of Lahore, impacting the physical as well as the social fabric of the city. Terrorism has given rise to an environment of “insecurity” in Lahore, which is rapidly reshaping not only the fabric of the city but the everyday life of the residents and the socio-economic dynamics as well. The strength of this fear can be measured by understanding how people behave, move (in the city), interact, use and reminisce public spaces. In such conditions fear and paranoia becomes one of the most important tools for its people to map the city and to understand society in its true form it becomes imperative to understand the fabric of the city within such realm. The paper shall aim to understate various kinds of violence and terrorism forms prevailing in the city, their evolution. Mapping of the area of Mall road shall be used to understand the direct impact in terms of design elements that have altered the fabric of the place and photographic survey shall be done to highlight the transformation in the built environment over the years.
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City as a performative place: asala perahara and the spatial dynamics of Kandy
(Department of Architecture University of Moratuwa, 2014) De Silva, W; Dayaratne, R; Wijesundara, J
Traditional cities are dynamically re-enacted through regular performances and rituals. Kandy city is described within this per formative phenomenon in order to understand the dynamics of the place. Phenomenology is the research methodology . A theoretical framework, synthesizing key concepts of place, sense of place, dwelling, Chora, becoming, non-representational landscape theory and performance theory is developed and used to examine performance of the Asala perahara ritual process in Kandy city. Case study findings illustrate that, Asala perahara marks geometrical patterns, in the landscape connecting different locations, rituals, people and the invisible dimensions of the place. Unfolded place within this cultural drama, experiencing natural –cultural setting and body performances is a dynamic process. Spiritual experience is significant in these ritual performances and built forms , inseparable from people and the place. Analysing of Asala perahara explains that city is understood as an inside enclosed by three mountains, reflected in the city form and architecture of Kandy. This reveals important guide lines for city conservation and developments.