ICCPP - 2013

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.248.9.226/handle/123/22076

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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.
item: Conference-Abstract
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.
item: Conference-Abstract
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.
item: Conference-Abstract
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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Cohesiveness of a built fabric and perceptual implications
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Jayasundera, N; Weerasinghe, G; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
Human mind is known to be one of the most powerful processors. This processor possesses a unique ability to identify patterns in and among various objects that exist in the physical world. This ability has enabled the human being to visualize surroundings of self not as individual units but as a whole, which could be interpreted as a congregation of individual blocks. This is the point at which the concept of “cohesiveness” or, the “state of sticking elements together” was developed. This research was conducted with the aim of further generalizing the concept of “cohesiveness within a built fabric” along with its relationship with users’ perception. This study was based on the city of Kandy, the capital of the central province of Sri Lanka. It is a city in which economic, social and cultural characteristics directly interact or co-operate with traditional settings and values. A survey was conducted on a sample of 50 people, to extract the essence of their opinions on the cohesiveness of a built fabric. The data interpretation of the research has exhibited a close relationship between cohesiveness and user perception. Basically it is only the user of any built fabric, by whom the city’s level of cohesion is determined. It has further established the need for a strong concern on the users’ perception in building in adding to, or altering an existing built fabric. As the conclusion, the study revealed some interesting aspects which imply that the cohesiveness of built fabrics is defined and determined by the users.
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Creating sense of community in gated apartments in the city of Colombo
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Weththasinghe, A; Coorey, S; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
With increase in population and limitations in urban land, there is a growing demand for vertical housing resulting in a dramatic increase in the construction and the occupation of vertical housing. Such fast growing vertical housing for middle-income urban dwellers, are prevalent in many parts of Colombo and marketed as places for optimal "Sense of Community" and "Ideal Places for Living". But such identities created by developers are questionable. This paper tests the "Sense of Community" indicators in selected urban gated housing in Colombo and identifies several built environment factors that can enhance "Sense of Community". Questionnaire surveys are done within three selected cases in Colombo to measure "Sense of Community Indicators". The built environment factors relevant to sense of community such as building layout, spatial relationships between dwelling units, visibility levels, circulation spaces , common spaces were observed via, questionnaires, checklists, inventories and systematic observations. As a preliminary attempt to explore the sense of community in gated housing in Colombo, the study shows that visual and physical spatial integration can enhance vertical interactions among neighbors across floors. Building layouts with open corridors and central courts is more appropriate than the now commonly seen housing layouts with single linear internal corridors and types with housing clustered around lift cores. The strategic locations of common spaces and its qualities in terms of habitability facilitates interactions and better sense of community than the extent and quantity of common spaces allocated in housing. Although findings supports studies discussed in literature review the limited qualitative data and number of cases may lay setbacks to the research findings.
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Creating sunshine environments in public spaces of residential districts in the colder regions of China: a digital simulation
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Li Ang, ZT; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
Taking full advantage of the natural light is a key element of eco-settlement design, and also an essential index of evaluating the quality of residential districts. The research of architectural interior lighting for residential districts is quite mature, but the research for sunshine environments of residential public spaces is still neglected, especially for the small towns in cold area of China, where the sunshine environment is even more important. Digital simulation technology based on computer science development has influenced the design of architecture and urban planning deeply. The development and use of digital simulation platforms make it possible that planning can compare, analyze and adjust design through the environmental performance-based assessment at any time. In this paper, an analysis of the sunshine environment and its impact on the public spaces in cold regions is presented. It takes a typical small town in a residential district as the study object. It uses environmental and spatial simulation software such as Ecotect Analysis and Depthmap,, to simulate and study the solar radiation distribution at specific time periods in the residential district public spaces. Combined with the characteristic of residential activities, it adjusts the program and tests the results to ascertain the cold climate adaptability of the public space of small towns in order tobetter fit activity characteristics of cold regions.
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Designing democratic India’s cities: public space for whom?
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Palavajjhala, R; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
Cities agglomerate power, capital and people. They become the arena where issues that may be pan region or even pan nation play out. India still struggles to see its ideal of democracy percolate into its society or translate into the morphology of its cities. India’s democratic electoral politics are volatile, built on the creations of factions and identities which are multiple and interchangeable. This is often played out spatially in capital cities and at times, space-making becomes the instrument for such confrontations; which is what the paper would attempt to discern and illustrate. Lucknow (U.P.) is a peculiar example. Uttar Pradesh is India’s most populous state and also among the most feudal states socially where elections are predominantly fought along caste and communal lines. The previous chief minister, Ms. Mayawati received much publicity for constructing monumental parks across the city by reclaiming land from the river, demolishing housing colonies and demarcating territory through iconography. Using a blend of colonial grandeur and Buddhist iconography, the built environment projected and glorified the ‘Ambedkarite’ idea of Buddhism as a means for the Dalits to counter upper caste suppression. The study attempts to- firstly, appropriately place the examples being looked at in the study within their own socio-political contexts, and understand earlier theoretical work on social change and architecture. Secondly, situate and understand the transformations to the built in the immediacy of their physical and social and political contexts, as well as the larger socio-political backgrounds. Thirdly, elucidate the processes of the manifestation of the built form - constructions and demolitions both. Fourthly, conduct a spatial analysis of the built and the processes leading up to it with a view to relate them to social processes. And finally, elucidate the relationship between the socio-political processes and the transforming built environment. The processes of the social and spatial transformations are concurrent as the city remains in a constant state of flux where the social and political confrontations play out in the spatial realm of what is proclaimed to be ‘public space’.
item: Conference-Abstract
Discovering public-places in the people – streets of New Delhi
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Mital, R; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
Urban public spaces, in particular streets have been recognized as a major ordering element in the physical structure of the city. Spiro Kostoff goes as far as saying that without the street as a public space there is no city. Indeed it may be stated on the basis of research that links good streets to good cities that a city is only as good as its streets. What then is a good street? And how important is the street in evaluating quality of life in a city? This paper looks at some typical scenarios on streets in the capital city of New Delhi with the express intention of show casing the all-important though not always visually impressive informal people-places in public spaces. The paper also looks at the margin areas between planned and un-planned Delhi as potential people-places. Through informal market places and life on the streets on the margins it will be attempted to establish that public places are vital as necessary interfaces between the haves and the have-nots and thus that vibrant streets/ public places are essential to healthy cities. The informal and temporary character of street happenings gives the street a dynamism that is almost tangible in its celebration of the citizen. The here-today-gone-tomorrow property of street-plays, market places, chance encounters etc give the street or any place for casual public activity a constantly changing form and provides, it is felt, the opportunity for sensitivities to develop that address the feeling of belonging and ownership so essential for good democratic governance of urban centres.
item: Conference-Full-text
Dubai creek: the telling place
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Kennedy, T; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
Dubai, one of the world’s fastest growing cities, has created at breathtaking speed one of the world’s largest waterfront developments. Much to the detriment of its ecology, multi-billion dollar projects, enormous human-made islands, are forming off its coast. The city’s tourism trade is one of the largest sectors of its economy and has garnered international attention among travelers wishing to partake of its brand of luxurious Arabian ambience. At the heart of old Dubai are the districts that straddle the original creek; they harbor the original context of the city’s ancient reputation as the most notorious port on the Persian Gulf. The contrast between the old and new Dubai is what attracts many of the tourists to its port center. Yet the new modernist narratives being set in place are at odds with the sustainability of the authentic experience that the Dubai Creek has to offer. An exploration of the place names around the creek points to a past intimacy between landscape and culture and tells a story that could inform how these essential sites can retain their valuable resource of authenticity.
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Green spaces of Colombo: the need for planned interventions
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Zulaiha, ML; Ranwala, SMW; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
The significant contribution of green vegetation in strengthening urban sustainability is often underestimated. Thus, the urban green spaces (UGS) are being threatened due to escalating population and developmental pressures in many countries. This paper presents a study that evaluated the temporal change of UGS in 47 wards in Colombo from 1960 to 2010. It employed geographic information systems, aerial photography and remotely sensed imagery. In order to identify the perceived value of UGS to its users, a public assessment using a questionnaire survey was conducted. Today UGS occupies 24% of the total land area of the Colombo City some being man-modified (GM) and some natural (GN). In 2010, only 4 and 11 wards contained ≥ 25% area of GN and GM respectively compared to 31 GN and 6 GM-UGS in 1960. The drop of GN highlights the depth of ecological damage that has occurred to the city environment while the growth of GM reflects the enthusiasm of city dwellers in upgrading greenery of the environment. This coincided with the perception and emotional experiences of the majority of city dwellers on UGS as they consider GM-UGS as places that provide freedom, happiness, and pleasure, and thereby strengthen bonds with Nature as well as family members. They are areas to play with children, and meet friends and relatives. It was evident that parks/recreational areas, and street trees acted as “an oasis” for the busy life of many individuals. However, active involvement of individuals with UGS was poorly represented during the public assessment of UGS. Thus the study proposes that the city planners improve existing UGS by adding walkways, jogging tracks and outdoor play and study areas to encourage active engagement of people. It is also suggested to adopt community-based tree planting and volunteer tree maintenance programmes that may contribute to increase the green cover of the City.
item: Conference-Abstract
Implication of artery developments on socio-physical identity transformation in Sri Lankan colonial towns; Mawanella as a case
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Abeykoon, A; Wijesundara, J; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
With the colonial intrusion in Sri Lanka, emergence of new settlements and decay of older settlements were occurred. These new towns emerged as a reflection of colonial found mostly on major traffic arteries. The development of infrastructural facilities is reinforced and encouraged the basic pattern of township transformation in Sri Lanka. Thus, traffic has been the prior superseding issue related to quality of life in urban development. Since this aspect is not dual considered by both academic and practice, the original townships have lost their identity with the transformation of their physical, social and economic fabric in ad-hoc spontaneous manner. Consequently, old townships begin to be conflicted situation. The major concern is how to strike the balance between the need for growth and change. In this attempt, it is important to identify what components of these towns are to be preserved and what are to be developed. Hence, the main purpose of the study is to identify the core characteristics that are central to the identity and character of the arterially developed colonial township as identified by both the residents and visitors of this town. The study assumes that, the identity of the town is constituted by the socio physical character generated from the urban form and the ambience created by the activities of the town. The study is conducted by several qualitative methods to discuss the matters under the theoretical framework. Both primary and secondary data collections are used. For the primary data collection, questionnaires are designed and interviews are conducted. The secondary data include literature on the concept and issues related to the study. Site observation is piloted under the preliminary observation and the systematic observation. Collected data discuss through place centered behavior maps, cognitive maps, and pictorial illustrations such as sketches and photographs. The principal outcome of this study is to identify transformation of township by presenting the interdependences between artery development and townscape. At the same time, providing information to meaningfully contributing to the process of urban development, identify community involvement for shaping townscape and localized self-organization, identify possible opportunities for future development-public spaces and reveal the importance for engaging to keep original township identity.
item: Conference-Abstract
International Urban Design Conference on Cities, People and Places (Pre Text)
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
item: Conference-Abstract
Istanbul version 2.0: the struggle between modernisation and historical heritage the case of Sulukule
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Pak, EÖ; Yilmaz, E; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
Istanbul has become a construction site by the beginning of 1990s following a dramatic change in policies on housing and urbanization policies. While the new middle class was invading city centre, urban poor was evicted by force from their habitats due to a rapid increase in land prices. Therefore, by the time the heart of Istanbul, the historical peninsula, where many ethnic groups have been living, has lost its diversity and become more homogeneous. As an outcome of six years of experience, this paper discusses the results of on-going urban policies and their impacts on historical neighbourhoods in the last 15 years. It takes Sulukule as a case study to illustrate. Sulukule has been a place for the urban poor including the Roma minority since the beginning of 11th century. Today, behind the Byzantium City Walls in a gated community, there is a settlement of the new middle class who want to be in the city centre in order to access the benefits of it, despite it being a sterile place. As a result of long-term intimidation policies, the inhabitants of Sulukule have faced deprivation. Hence, instead of questioning socio-economic problems, Sulukule Renewal Project not only increased urban segregation but also broke the social networks. This paper argues that cultural diversity and historical patterns can act as the ability to cope with gentrification. They are also accepted as the sources of sustainable urban renewal. The paper uses the evaluation of Sulukule Renewal Project through social segregation and forced eviction to do this. Urban development and the changes in socio-economic structure and physical space of six years of the renewal project are examined.
item: Conference-Abstract
Learning from the vanishing built heritage of colonial architecture (a case of Abbottabad-Pakistan)
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Shah, MW; Khan, AA; Khattak, W; Shah, MFU; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
Built Heritage is irreplaceable when it is at high risk; because culture cannot wait! The rapid urbanization is threatening the historic urban landscape and is making it increasingly vulnerable to natural hazards such as earthquake, Flooding, droughts and man-induced conflicts. These threats have obviously endangered the built heritage of colonial Architectural heritage in Abbottabad, once the garrison in British rule of India. In the early 20th century, Abbottabad became an important military cantonment. In October 2005 Abbottabad was devastated by the great earthquake, As a result most of built heritage became vanished, In order to preserve this valuable assets from vanishing which is the reflection of our past inherited from the British era in indo-Pakistan and then Pakistan. Most of the built heritage of Abbottabad, once vanished, is inimitable and now what we have is to conserve for the future. This could be only possible through practical approaches for the sustainable development. These approaches ranging from mass awareness campaign regarding the protection of built heritage, National legislation for the its protection needs to be revisited as per Antiquities Act of Pakistan gives protection only to 75 years or older buildings and cultural landscapes. Well equipped and trained people acquired for the conservation of built heritage through conservation Manuals and guidelines, These Manuals will educate un-skilled people, explaining the importance of the built heritage and cultural landscapes. It also explains the techniques for the repair and upkeep of historic sites, which will make sure that during repairing or reconstruction, antiquity or originality of the building or site may not be destroyed. In Pakistan, built heritage surrounded by the historic landscapes, Fragile and skillfully built towns like Abbottabad and Galliayat are now in shambles, what remains of their original designs and buildings are gravely endangered after this recent earthquake. Architecturally and historically significant built heritage is now at high stake and needs proper consideration of Archeologists, Architects and structure Engineers to make sure of keeping its true identity by maintaining its glorious history of British Empire, its antiquity and for the blooming of cultural tourism industry in Pakistan.
item: Conference-Abstract
Multidimensional model for feasibility assessment of urban development projects
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Bandusena, P; Sandanayake, YG; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
Urbanisation is a process of population concentration and it is one of the global challenges of today and of the coming decades. As a country emerging from the uncertainty created by civil unrest and natural disasters such as tsunami and floods, the rapid rate of urbanisation during the past couple of years has attracted widespread attention. Urbanisation creates enormous impacts on environment, society and the economy at the local, regional and global scales. Therefore it is important to assess urban development project feasibility prior to their implementation. Various research studies have been carried out to assess the feasibility of construction projects. However, the key studies have assessed the impact of limited factors such as economics, social and environmental issues on aspects of feasibility of urban development projects without conclusive and substantiated results. Another shortcoming from previous research is the lack of comprehensive and elaborate feasibility assessment indicators to assess success, failure or impact of urban development project to the whole nation. The aim of this study is therefore to develop a comprehensive feasibility assessment model enabling a multidimensional evaluation of the impact of urban development projects on the entire society. Research methodology was comprised with literature review, preliminary survey and structured interviews with the experts in urban development projects to identify feasibility perspectives and indicators to assess urban development project feasibility. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) tool was applied for data analysis and prioritise feasibility assessment perspectives and indicators. Results obtained from the survey identified seven (07) multidimensional perspectives, i.e. ‘market’, ‘technical’, ‘financial’, ‘social’, ‘environmental’, ‘physical’ and ‘institutional’ and 36 indicators for the assessment of urban development project feasibility. Survey further identified market and technical perspectives as the most important aspects in urban development project feasibility assessment. The multidimensional feasibility assessment model developed in this study can be used to enhance the feasibility of existing and future urban development projects and hence to have benefits for future generation in Sri Lanka.
item: Conference-Abstract
Natural resource management in cities: a key to sustain people and places through ecotourism
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Ghosh, K; Bardhan, S; Roy, S; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
Although the 21st century is the “Century of the Cities”, the crucial importance of natural resources like urban wetlands often goes unacknowledged. There are synergistic examples of urban environments that actually foster vibrant wetlands, which are disappearing due to rapid urbanization. The IPCC fourth assessment report has identified urban areas as hotspots in terms of vulnerability to climate change. Wetlands, within or on the periphery of cities, are life supporting ecosystems. Their role in being “flood cushions” for cities, water purification, nutrient retention, carbon sequestration and maintaining climate stability, which are the plethora of functions they perform. While harbouring a rich biological diversity, their role in waste water/storm water treatment of the city and providing sources of livelihood has also been widely acknowledged. However, their present state of degradation calls for efficient management interventions. Ecotourism is now being considered as a tool for sustainable development in natural resource management. Recently, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 2012 has also recognized the value of sustainable tourism and recreation in and around wetlands for development, poverty alleviation, local empowerment, conservation and wise use, and a meaningful visitors’ experience while achieving the targets of the Millennium Development Goals, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation and the Conservation of Global Biodiversity. This article examines the salient features of ecotourism development from case studies in developing countries like Costa Rica, Kenya and India. Through a literature review, the article tries to identify the major and critical issues embedded in ecotourism development, and from the lessons learnt, it tries to identify some of the key elements for developing an approach towards building a model of sustainable ecotourism development for the East Kolkata Wetlands, a threatened, but an internationally recognized Ramsar site in India. The article further argues that this could also be replicated in other Indian cities, for the survival of their threatened wetlands, along with the sustenance of livelihoods of the marginal population depending on them.
item: Conference-Full-text
Overcoming the degradation of arterial towns: typo-morphological studies and technological robustness
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Ranaweera, H; Pathiraja, M; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
Over the last few decades, the part of the world identified as ‘developing’ has witnessed dramatic increase in urban population, drastic changes to its urban landscapes, and the launch of separate construction markets with limited connection in terms of building procurement modes and labor allocations. Sri Lanka is no exception: the extremely limited opportunities offered by the dwindling economies of small towns in the country’s interior have triggered the migration of rural population to Colombo and other major towns, which have in turn produced radical transformations in building morphology, land use patterns and labor market structures. The small towns located along regional arteries, in particular, are morphing into continuous commercial strips without apparent structure, coordinated land use planning or good performance of its building stock. Such urban growth has come to depend on largely unskilled workers, which does not favor the production nor the industry’s ability to meet demand, thereby resulting in operational barriers and the subsequent proliferation of sub-standard building systems and processes in urban areas. This paper looks at countering the formative failures of arterial towns by developing a two-phase response. Firstly, typo-morphological studies of the urban fabric are proposed to determine the technical and functional behavior of the existing building stock, and identify the problems and potentials of the emerging building types, forms and constructional responses. Secondly, a framework for a design theory, which addresses the building challenges posed by urbanization is presented by comprehending and appropriating the organization, skill-base and internal links of various industrial actors and processes that make up the industry, because it is only within this scale that the rationale and the means for action can be found and possibly activated.
item: Conference-Abstract
Pedestrian movements in commercially transformed residential areas: Levent bazaar, Istanbul
(Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, 2013-10-15) Kürkçüoğlu, E; Derdiyok, HK; Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
Urban spaces undergo numerous transformations depending on growth and development dynamics of cities. This process can occur within both physical and socio-economic contexts. Besides, built environment can be conserved while socio-economic transformation is obtained. With growth and development of the central business districts (CBD) of cities, commercial transformation of residential areas and change of their spatial identity have become a common occurrence. This spatial change affects the users of such spaces and therefore, accessibility and intensity of pedestrians increase accordingly with the new transportation policies. This study examines the impact of morphological and functional layouts of built environments on pedestrian movement. The case area of Levent which has been built as a single-family housing area on the peripheral zones of Istanbul has later become an important commercial centre with the growth and the development of the CBD. Today, much of the district has been functionally transformed. However, the built environment has been largely protected through the laws that do not permit new folds on the buildings. Levent Bazaar has also become the main backbone of the sub-centre, which was a “local trade” nucleus of the residential area in 1950s with only commercial units on the ground level. In this context, the users of the bazaar have become urban and the number of pedestrians has consequently increased. The study contributes to literature in terms of questioning the relationship between morphological and functional layout and pedestrian movement in a commercially transformed urban space. The negative and positive aspects which demonstrate the stated relationship have been identified with the results of natural environment, built environment and pedestrian movement analysis. In the context of these findings, urban design proposals that aim to improve pedestrian comfort and spatial quality have been determined conceptually.

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