Master of Science in Urban Design

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.248.9.226/handle/123/77

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item: Thesis-Abstract
Adaptive reuse : underrstanding effectiveness fo adaptive reuse as a tool for urban regeneration
Jayawardana RM; Wijesundara J
The practice of architectural and urban design being involved in forming the space in our cities and built environments has certain effects on the social life in society that in its turn conditions the performance of the practice. The continuous changes in cities and societies, however, are just partially caused by the practice of architectural and urban design. In a fluid context of social and spatial transformations, the control and manipulation of the effects of the practice become yet more complicated entailing a deeper understanding of the nature of urban transformations and the dialectic between urban life and its spatial frames in cities. The objective of this thesis is to improve this understanding. The thesis deals with discourses in the fields of theory of architecture, architectural and urban design practice and sociology. It examines the concepts of society, space and culture and discuses the content and historical context of predominant urban design ideas and concepts in different periods. All of these factors must then be integrated with new construction in order to continue the narrative of the building. “The building already has a story; all you have to do is add the interesting next chapter." Throughout this paper, discussions will take place on how exactly we add this next chapter. The study will be made to look at the theories in conservation as a tool in which to establish coherence and unity in the presentation of an adaptive reuse project. Through the use of evolution, scarring, layering, and display, principles will emerge as a way in which to embrace storytelling as a process to communicate what once belonged to the past and explain what has emerged as part of the present function. This article focuses on the protection and development of old buildings cultural characteristics oriented to the concept of recycle culture, so as to provide a theoretical reference for a sustainable urban culture.
item: Thesis-Full-text
Analytical Study about the Improvement of Underutilized Urban Spaces with special reference to Colombo Fort
Thilakarathna WT
Colombo - Fort has become one of the less used areas by the public today . This Dissertation is about the look of elements of responsive urban space , what are the solutions for improvement of underutilized urban space in Colombo Fort , how its works with the present situation . The Dissertation looks at four selected locations within the Fort .The aim of this dissertation found the solution and how to maintained the Live urban space with the incorporation of the Development
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An analytical study of attributes of urban public spaces that contribute to qualitative public life with special reference emerging public spaces in Colombo
Fernando LD; Wijesundara J
Urban Public Space (UPS) is a vital component in the formation of a cityscape. They are also the activity nodes where people interact with each other in various manners or simply spent time in relaxation. It is understood that urban public spaces (UPS’s) play a considerable role as means for social transformation in today’s context. Researchers have proved that high quality UPS’s have a direct impact in terms of public benefits which may be in two folds of physical and psychological. The importance of UPS’s is that it helps to keep a balance between built and un-built areas in a city as most of the time UPS’s are open spaces. Public squares, water fronts, parks, gardens and streets are some of the identifiable UPS’s. These UPS’s help to break the monotony and enrich the character of a city and further be amused for the restless lives of the urban population. Sometimes for some individuals the public spaces become memorable spaces of their day to day lives also becoming the communication & urban activity nodes which makes the cities as living entities. There are many physical elements present in UPS’s. It is of paramount importance that UPS’s are made user friendly and alive in order to make the space more viable and vibrant. The evolution and formation of UPS’s and their contribution for betterment of society was an essential aspect when analyzing the UPS’s. 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 UPS’s in Sri Lanka, had emerged without prior prerequisite requirements and thereby compelling, not to have proper design or standards in quality. Thus the need has arisen to understand the qualitative attributes of UPS’s when provides higher level of comfort, protection and enjoyable environment. Therefore it is important to identify the attributes of present UPS’s in the city of Colombo and the reaction to such by the public and their expectations of such places. This research helped in generating a suitable qualitative typology for the usage of future urban designers of UPS’s in the country.
item: Thesis-Full-text
Analytical study of branded "Tourist city" and its effect on social, local, environmental quality and realm of the citizen
(2022) Bandara KPSJ; Dharmasena J
The city is a major economic factor in any country or society. When there is a break in this interconnection between the growth of a city and its economics, the function of a city changes and turns into a domestic low-level dwelling city or at times termed as abandoned. After the industrial revolution with better health and a growing economy, growth in human townships evolved rapidly in relation to that of the ancient city. With the growth of these townships the growing demand and attraction towards city life, progressively increased over time to date. This demand for growth increased the need for the city to generate more wealth for the growth and development of the city. This phenomenon automatically created competition amongst all cities throughout the world. Same way wealth was a factor of power and protection for its inhabitants. In some ways for a city to survive, it needs to brand itself, otherwise, the city will struggle to succeed with the competition of the neighboring cities, the region, or the national level with the economy. But city branding for its better future can happen in less time than the time it needs for a city to evolve In the days gone by many people who had heard of a place or cities, conjectured them virtually imagining of other part of cities. This concept radically changed after early to late seventies with the vibrant development of transportation and media. With the development of televisions and film industry, it became a major turning point for obtaining knowledge and exploring a city. After the invention of personal computers, exploring of other part of the cities around the world became much more accessible with digital media. The early nineties with invent of the internet made a massive change in connection peoples around the world. By this time the concept of Globalization, a Global village was aggressively explored, and the branding own cities became an inherent platform to attract more wealth to the cities. The remarkable change in city branding evolved with smartphones and every visitor to the city sharing images of interesting places with each other. This is evolving further with the introduction of digital social media, giving rise to “influencers”, who write extensively of their experiences in various cities and places of interest, thus iii encouraging more and more people to visit. The branding profession expanded beyond imaginable limits with the new era of communication. With all the branding of a city, the tourism industry became a major component of the city economy. Architecture, Archeology, food, fashion, urban experience, Natural beauty were some key elements to brand in a city as tourist destinations. This tourism branding idea was developed with the modern communication platform such as television, via the internet, and the latest methods such as social media mainly with smartphones. This branding technique is becoming a fast method to attract tourists. Due to fast branding, other supportive facilities in the city also need to expand at the same speed. This gives quick transforming of the urban economy for a better way and the realm citizens are also changing due to these factors. The realm of the wealth of citizens achieves in a short period of time. But it meets only one or few realm urbanites. The branding can bring negative aspects as well. This study focuses on research and analyzing how the realm of people are affected by City branding.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Analytical study on the built and spatial transformation in shrinking cities and setting out an urban design strategies for revitalization of Matale City
Wickramanayake UACJ; Wijesundara J
Shrinking is not a new occurrence. It has been documented in a large literature analyzing and economic issues that have led to population decline, the social resulting, in the worse cases, in the eventual abandonment of blocks of housing and neighborhoods. Analysis of shrinkage should take into consideration in built and spatial form for understanding that this phenomenon is now global and multidimensional — but also little understood in all its manifestation. Thus, as the world’s population increasingly becomes an urban, accepted view of urban decline need re-dentition. This decline situation instantly express on built structures and later in spatially too. It was previously well known term to only western world and now it’s also popular word among the eastern countries as well. After decades of urban growth, modem societies now face an increasing number of shrinking cities with undergoing massive physical transformations. Since, the impacts on the inhabitants in shrinking cities are numerous. Mostly negative effects dominate in the public discourse and visually witnessing the outcome ofthe effects built and spatial fomi too. But urban growth and urban decline have been synonym of achievement throughout the world and even considered the proper and solitary for urban designing. It has become more visible, since unquestionable facts started to challenge conservative and established urban design paradigms. Consequently, the shrinkage or urban decline is considered as an urban design tool to measure the intensity of decline or growth of cities. Nevertheless, not only in European or American cities, but also in Asian cities in, China, India, and Japan, has number ofshirking cities at recent days. on The study was mainly focused to understand the Urban decline in Srilankan context, selecting Matale City as a case. This study results show how the city structures transform under declining process in Srilanka and the resulted negative effects, outcomes and the underlying causes. Later, analysis direct to establish a conclusion and which will be utilizing to set out urban design strategies for Revitalization of Matale city.
item: Thesis-Full-text
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.
item: Thesis-Full-text
The Changing place sensibility of an arterial neighbourhood: case study - Duplication road, Bambalapitiya
(2022) Fonseka MM; Dharmasena J
The creation of a secondary arterial connection parallel to but less significant than Galle Road, in the late seventies cut through the Colombo suburbs of Kollupitiya and Bambalapitiya, breaking neighbourhood connections and dividing families. Unlike Galle Road, this second artery had no associated spaces or services that could help build its urban character or its edge condition, it cut through the urban fabric without regard for what was on either side. Even its name suggested its duplication of function rather than amenity. Another road running parallel – Marine drive was introduced subsequently along the coast also to take the load of the traffic in Galle Road. This dissertation proposes to study how a second sub-arterial road, Duplication Road, introduced in the early 1970’s has impacted the forms of neighbourhood character sustained by the urban relationships that were formative for Bampalapitiya’s Place-Sensibility.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Character study on the context responsive design strategies of hill towns with special reference to town of Haputale Sri Lanka
Sugirthan K; Fernando H; Wijesundara J
Hill country towns of Sri Lanka have unique character on the nature of landscape, pattern of development, urban form and its shape. Due to the nature of hilly landscape; Net buildable or for urban growth and functions limited. Form and character of a hilly country is highly influenced or shaped by the landscape. It is usable area are vital for Sri Lankan hill towns that the natural landscape is the strongest standing force preserve and expresses their uniqueness. Most ofthe urban design principles and approaches deals with the urban context based on 2D plane built vertically into a 3D space. But hill towns are formed in 3D landscape. There is a need to study the form, function, and character of hill towns and their relationship within the force of undulated landscape. It raises the question that how such environment both built and natural can cooperate to preserve and harness the rich nature while providing the opportunity to urban functions. Sri Lankan hill towns are livable and enjoyable due to the climate, rich natural vistas and landscape, water, sun shine, and breeze on elevate. Scenic Haputale town located around 1430m elevation is examined in this study. This town has several issues due to its undulated terrain. Accessibility is limited due to the level changes by the form of contour. The town has curvy linear growth of dense built form and urban growth along main road and junctions due to commercial activities. Absence of regulation or urban development guideline is another important limitation to drive better urban form. In the form of hill towns; the natural landscape plays the role of shaping the physical environment. Overall city shape, form, and assembly of the city elements and the
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Comparative study between convivial and conventional urban design approaches with special reference to socio - spatial experience of Tamil cultural cities in Sri Lanka
(2021) Yogalingam, A; Wijesundara, J
This study focuses on the necessity of socio-spatial experiences of people, which has been gained from the parks as a public space that are subject to urban design approaches. Besides, analysis of geographical, physical and administrative dimensions of the place, which are related to design and planning processes, it reveals the necessity of including the psychological effects of the place on people via their senses. In other words, the information is gathered through my experiences to design the process. By this way, attempts are made to explain the content of the relationship between daily experiences of people and spatial formation of a park, celebrative events and public life and public place. Thus, the study focuses on the Convivial Urban Design approach which brings about the emotions and psychology of people in the way of celebrating events laterally especially by these kinds of urban designs. In this perspective, the author examines parks that are situated in the center of Batticaloa and Jaffna Town (Tamil cultural cities) whereas Tamil community people are predominantly living in Sri Lanka when compared with other districts which is recorded as 99% in the Jaffna district and 79% in the Batticaloa district in 2019 according to census and statistical data. The parks, which have a vital position within the city center, have well-maintained its prominence as existence, one of the parks activities that is pleasing to the people parks of numerous portions of city, age and gender from past to present. The activities of parks are analysed in terms of friendliness under five different criteria via a questionnaire and the results of this study are inspected clearly. The results give conclusions about friendliness of a place in terms of celebrating events and involving in activities in these parks, which can be adopted throughout the design process. The results of this dissertation reveal the indicators that can be used as inputs for design lively urban recreational space and celebrative space and reveals why the Batticaloa Gandhi Park and the Jaffna Beach Park still have some appearances that cause an intensive use. Criteria and conclusions reveal with this study, to show that there are more than conventional urban design approaches in space design.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Critical analysis of the relationship between crime, safety and the physical environment in new low-income, high-rise housing in Colombo
(2022) Sumanadasa KHM; Dharmasena J
In Sri Lanka after year 2000, Many Low-income, high- Rise housing developments have being built to reclaim some of the scenic places in the city and to satisfy the housing demand for the growing Urban population. These houses are mainly concentrated in the north and east of Colombo metropolitan area. Due to the high concentration of low-income houses in these areas, and poor maintenance etc., these LIHRHs have developed a stigma. Most number of Crime Incidents of the city are also reported from these areas. Due to these Many residents who can afford it, move out of these newly built LIHRH worsening the situation due to these vacant premises been rented by gang leaders and drug lords. In the past Internationally, due to such problems, many such housing developments were demolished. Extensive research work and theories were also developed in other countries as to how to avoid such crime breeding grounds in housing developments. Of these defensible space by Oscar Newman is the most accepted and widely adopted in controlling crime via environmental design. He discusses how this can be achieved under four main categories. First is via increasing territorial control by residents over their premises, second by increasing the natural surveillance of residents over their premises, third by improving the image of the housing development and thereby attracting users of higher income categories to the area and fourth how the proximity to safe places can increase the safety of the LIHRH. Jane Jacobs and some others theoreticians have also talked about different aspects that contribute towards reducing crime in housing schemes such as the presence of children playing in sidewalks and shops that keep natural surveillance over the streets in a neighborhood. As a measuring tool for Crime occurrences and safety levels in selected case studies four main headings of Territoriality, Natural Surveillance, Image and proximity to safe and non-safe places were adopted. Under these other 29 subcategories were utilized to measure crime and safety levels in the case studies. Using these, Objectives of the study are to see whether there is a relationship between built form and crime in Sri Lankan context and if there is to see what can be done to the built form and the environment to reduce the crime rates and increase the safety in LIHRH. iii Selected three case studies are Muwaduru Uyana, Sirimuth Uyana and Randiya Uyana. Ninety residents from the 3 case studies answered a questionnaire and drew mind maps of safe and unsafe areas of their LIHRH in the given maps. There were interviews of residents, UDA officials and police personnel and photographic survey was also conducted see how the three case studies fared in terms of the four developed main categories for crime and safety. In addition to these, a cartographic analysis was also carried out about the nature of built form. Crime data relating to the three case studies were obtained from the relevant police stations. Police data indicated that Muwaduru Uyana was highest in crime second is Randiya Uyana and Sirimuthu Uyana had a smaller number of crimes. Sirimuthu Uyana was considered as the safest by residents. Survey observations also supported this data. Therefore, it was concluded that a. When the territoriality, Natural surveillance of the residents increases over their premises and image of the improves and LIHRH is located in proximity to safe areas crime decreases –Inversely Proportional relationship b. When the territoriality, Natural surveillance of the residents increases over their premises and image of the improves and LIHRH is located in proximity to safe areas Safety Increases –Proportional Relationship Based on survey findings, possible improvements to the built form and surroundings of the three existing case studies and future recommendations to adopt in LIHRH were proposed under the four main categories of Territoriality, Natural Surveillance , Image and proximity to safe and non-safe areas. Under these 4 categories, 33 recommendations were proposed.
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The effect of water bodies as a determinant force in generating urban form
Fernando, KPSS; Navaratne, DB; Fernando, H
The formation and regeneration of urban form is often a result of the response for the natural geophysical features that are present in an urban context, the subculture of the region, human behavioral patterns and their response. Nevertheless there are primary forces and secondary forces that becomes a resultant of regenerating urban forms in different parameters. In an era of rapid globalization and urban sprawl the need for sustainable urban form has been a widely spoken phenomenon in the last few decades. Regenerating cities in a meticulously planned manner; hence has been of prime importance which otherwise has resulted in many negative implications such as unsightly, polluted and unlivable cities in various parts of the world. Water bodies and water features that are present in urban contexts has played a significant role in the formation of urban forms which has become the part and parcel of the urban fabric and the morphological patterns. In regenerating urban form, the response to the natural elements, and the context has been a key feature in forming sustainable urban forms. Which has resulted in habitable, aesthetically appealing and environmentally friendly cities that has formed as functional cities. Such cities also become people friendly cities, with a sense of place and identity. The human perception on urban forms and built fabric also has been another important dimension in the regeneration of sustainable urban forms and cities. The core relationship between water bodies and urban forms results in a symbiosis; where if the two are responsive to each other collectively they will result in positive implications in the city. Where the livability the habitability and the urban aesthetics etc. will be enhanced in a significant manner. Hence the two components in an urban context the Urban form and the Water Body will form a Symbiosis where the two will have to co-exist in harmony and the latter will have to be responsive to the former, where the resultant will have positive implications on the city which inevitably will make it livable and sustainable. iii A water body in an urban context is a static variable where the urban forms that are generated around the body are a dynamic variable unless the water body changes its form. It is also a hydrological urban space. The study intends to carry out a literature survey of the water bodies and urban form in the European context and the Asian (local) context; where the water itself has played a pivotal role, in the formation of urban settlements. Thereby to develop a set of matrixes to assess the main water body; and its resultant urban form taken in for the case study. This dissertation intends to carry out a study of the Beira lake Colombo, where the generation of urban form around the water body as a resultant, due to the functional and aesthetic aspects will be assessed where the final objective will be to investigate the merits the city would harness by creating responsive urban forms in relation to the water bodies, and also the nonresponsive urban form can be a resultant of many other negative implication into the city.
item: Thesis-Abstract
An Evaluation of the applicability of compact city strategies in Sri Lankan Urban Form
Ranaweera S; Wijesundara J
The study on “An Evaluation ofthe Applicability of Compact City Strategies in Sri Lankan Urban Form” examines the key issues related to urban form of Sri Lankan cities and evaluates the applicability of strategies adapted for compact city development by the Western Countries in addressing the issues related to barriers in optimization of scarce land resources with cost effective infrastructure usage and meeting the challenges of exorbitant land prices prevailing in urban areas as against the present practice of enforcing standards and regulations in such areas. Urbanization and urban development is a continuous process throughout the World which is occurring in an ad hoc manner and in haphazard way if the process could not be regularized through planning which is the existing issues characterized by the urban centres of Sri Lanka, thereby mostly cities are experiencing sprawling along major transport corridors in an uncontrollable manner which does not make any sense on sustainable development, strong urban- rural linkages or economic development to the region so that the growth associated with commonly visible problems where none of the urban centers provides or act as engines of growth for their peripheral areas. This pattern of growth and inefficient use of urban space lead to a multitude of problems which in turn affects to the wellbeing ofthe city dwellers as well as commuters to the city daily. The projections and forecasts show that the urbanization and related issues will become a severe threat in the quality of life in the future of Sri Lankan cities unless otherwise the situation becomes unmanageable to the city administrators and the city planners together with city designers and architects as the cities make unsustainable in future. Compact City Strategy is a basic model which involves with sustainable urban design. European Commission introduced the “Compact City” concept as the archetypal sustainable urban form for European cities by publishing the “Green paper on the urban environment” in 1990. The basic idea of this model is to have high density, mixed use development with high quality public realm. This approach to urban planning and design is well established among proponents of the New iv Urbanism, Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and Smart Growth movement too. Compactness is a way to save limited resources such as land, other natural resources, and time, attracting people to enjoy with facilities developed in relation to interchanges developed in expressways and highways as well as many valuable aspects in urban areas. Compact City is a collection of coherent compact urban districts and a compact form. Increasing densities requires improving the quality of urban areas to attract people to live and work and its long term sustenance of its existence. This study examines how to incorporate the basic concepts and strategies of Compact City Model in Sri Lankan urban form and discuss how it could be used and what limitations exists in urban design point of view. The applicability of model, methods and strategies in problem solving of the urban areas and the results anticipated in adapting ofsuch a model will be analyzed by a case study conducted in Bandarawela Urban Council area. The research methods ofthe case study evolve mainly through an interview with a selected sample of knowledgeable people ofthe locality who have the ground based knowledge of the area, in depth interview method with the professional practitioners like planners, architects and designers who have engaged in planning and developments of urban areas and direct observations through field visits by the researcher.
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An Examination of the relationship between outdoor activities and physical quality of street spaces
Arachchige, NLB; Fernando, H
The knowledge inputs by the professionals in the field of urban design, is pleased by the emerging awareness of making vibrant urban spaces which is somewhat beyond the current practice of just providing basic infrastructure or establishing physical assets which is more common in road infrastructure developments in Sri Lankan context. Thus, the time is good for a change to move away from the current approaches and practices to convert our roads to streets and look in to them as a vital part of public realm. For such an initiation, it would be very much useful to have a thorough understanding about our streets and human activities occurring there. Therefore, this study has been focused on examining possible relationships exist between the occurrence of street activities and the physical quality ofstreets in Sri Lankan urban context. Jan Gehl’s explanation of three categories of outdoor activities has been taken as the underlining theoretical basis to conduct this study whereas the main street of Ambalangoda has been selected as a case study. Accordingly, based on the magnitude of accruing optional and social activities particularly, it has been attempted to identify special features and attributes associated with built environment as responsive to such activities. The research findings have been analyzed using graphical analysis tools and ultimately this study derives some key points which may support in street design endeavours looking forward of creating more responsive physical environments which better suit with Sri Lankan urban context. This study reveals that, street activities are noticeably responsive to the quality of physical environment. The detail analyses done on the built environment reveals about some of key features in the physical environment where social activities are particularly attracted to those spaces being vital parts of the urban public realm.
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Identifying and measuring urban design qualities related to walkability – special reference to jaffna down town
Jahanmohan, T; Dharmathilake, S; Wijesundara, J
Walkability is an important concept in sustainable urban design and active living life. Walkability and walking behavior of the people are being decided by the significant physical features and urban design qualities. This research mainly focuses on identified and measured urban design qualities related to Walkability -special reference to Jaffna downtown. Eight urban design qualities have been selected for the subsequent study. The main objective of this research is "Evaluate how urban design qualities influence in the Walkability to identify and measuring selected urban design qualities such as Imageability, Legibility, Transparency, Enclosure, Human scale, Linkage, Complexity and Coherence. Significant physical features and Urban design qualities related physical elements like courtyard, plazas, water bodies, parks, non - rectangular buildings, buildings with identifiers, street furniture, windows, wall, building colours etc. were collected and measured through Photographic survey, Walking through method, Mind map and Interview with people. Urban design qualities related physical elements are poor in condition within the downtown and they are not contributing to the Walkability. Only hospital street is enhanced the Walkability through related urban design qualities. The major urban design qualities related physical elements such as square, plazas, parks, major landscape features, outdoor dining, street trees are unavailability within the town and present setup of the long sight lines, street wall, windows and building accent colours are also not upgrading the urban design qualities. Finally, Poor and unavailability of physical elements of the urban design qualities is the major reason to the low Walkability and Walking behaviour of the people. Therefore, urban design qualities related physical elements have to enhance to increase the Walkability. Mainly related institutions like UDA, JMC, RDA and Archeology department will prepare and design to upgrade the urban design qualities.
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Impact of uniform commercial development on a street and its effect on the street character
(2022) Medagama RMDB; Dharmasena J
The quality of most Commercial Streets in cities are negatively affected by the lack of open areas and urban spaces. The streets and its activities when unplanned, are an unpleasant built space to urbanity. This impacts the maintenance of a good built environment and a quality urban life. Therefore, a well-functioning, pleasant urban landscape which maintains the disciplines required of a commercial development is important. This study investigated how to assess the impact of uniform commercial development on the urban streetscape and the effect of physical street characters. The study explored street characters generated by uniform commercial activities in selected urban streets. Usage qualities, spatial qualities of existing Commercial Streets were tested in this study, using three case studies similar in scale, but differing in location and physical characteristic in the Colombo district. Quantitative and qualitative characters were considered for this study, while data collection was done via self-study, questionnaires and interviews. Each Street has its own unique characters due to its physical qualities. By evaluating these physical Street characters and its activities, it is possible to identify what is the most uniform character. Street qualities of attractiveness, permeability, visibility, legibility, human scale and safety, which utilize street elements of furniture, lamps, sidewalks, etc.; further help to produce a distinct quality. These components facilitates social interactions, creates a comfortable atmosphere and highlights the character of the street. This ultimately affects the atmosphere of the town, which are identified by characteristics such as activeness/dead, plan/unplanned, cosiness and uniqueness. The street characters which are generated from uniform commercial development has a stronger character than a general commercial street
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Impact on public realm by urban intensification of privately owned public buildings
(2022) Cooray BDN; Dharmasena J
The public Realm is a place where anyone can access, interact physically despite of their economic social circumstances, it is the location where individuals interact physically. As a result, pedestrian walkways, parks, streets, squares, as well as signage and street furniture, are all included in the context. Privately Owned Public Buildings, spaces dedicated to public use enjoyment and which are owned and maintained by private property owners. Urban Intensification, Development that allows for more people to connect with in the existing urban area. The study will analyze the impact on public realm by urban intensification of privately owned public building. whether the privately owned public building has a positive or a negative impact for the urban user and its vicinity.
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Impacts of colour perception in Kandy with special references to Dalada Veediya and D.S. Senanayaka Veediya
Senaviratna WMJS; Wijesundara J
Colour plays a significant role in elements in the built fabric, where by it can enable a symbolic relationship between the people who comes in contact with the spaces. Thus colour can stimulate the minds of the people. Hence the effects on the perception of colour are interesting phenomena on the perception ofspatial quality and human response to it, by those who come in contact with the spaces. Nevertheless colour in built fabric can be a unifying thread in urban design where it can resemble the historic features, with a sense oftime, and the evolution ofthe urban forms and street scopes depicting the life style and the activity pattern ofthe people in relationship to the townscapes in cities. A holistic perception of colour can be the determinant factor in the street facades and the deep rooted socio cultural aspects in the evolution of cities. In modern planning of cities it is important to respond to the effects of colour in the design development guidelines and regularizing the planning trends where by the evolution of new building and structures can be done in an orderly passion in harmony with the historicism embedded in the built fabric. This dissertation indents to cany out an in-depth study, of the impacts of the perception of Colour in the city of Kandy, which is geographically located in a plateau surrounded by lush green mountain ridges, in the central hill of Sri Lanka. Where it was the bastion of the last reins, of the Sinhalese Kings, where it is a naturally fortified city which was a necessity to protect from the foreign invasions. Afterwards the city was under colonial rule. The city contains a deep rooted tradition, with the relationship ofthe users. The time period is reflected by the, symbolic relationship between the people and the urban spaces in the city, and the built fabric. The use of different colour shades, with its materials and textures resembling the identity of the subcultures in the region. The intensity of the colour used with the materials and elements stands out amongst the backdrop of the lush green mountain ridges and sky forming a horizon amongst the built fabric. The usage ofNatural, Cool and Warm colours in different blends in the Kandiyan region with varying intensities resembles the deep-rooted tradition and culture creating a sense of place and a scene ofidentity. The inappropriate usage of colour can create a dilemma of style and threaten to dilute the meaning and identity of the place and thus the importance of the appropriate colours in relations to the inferences of the case studies are then dealt upon. Thereby the appropriate usage of colour and thus augur in creating meaningful and aesthetically pleasing urban forms with the built fabric which inevitably will be a catalyzer in creating a sensory perception in cities with a sense of place with a unique identity.
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The Paradox of collective memory : the role of collective memory in shaping public square, Male'city
Shaheen F; Nawarathna DB; Wijesundara J
It is a seeming paradox that the balance between society and built environment has a constant change as we evolve repeatedly, and our collective identity mean to facilitate new public spaces to boost our public life, as well re-shaping existing spaces. The public spaces we design directly or indirectly influence to our behavior, experiences and social interactions which in turn reflect how we respond to our built environment. Even though urban designing and planning paly wider role of this evolving procedure, sometimes some proposed design does not respond to the vital role of public spaces and unknowingly break the relationship between man and his environment by incorporating some ambiguous attributes. This research aims to study the relationship between collective memory and public squares and the influence ofpublic collective memory to shape and re-shape, to revitalize and utilize today’s public squares. The qualitative and quantitate data to answer the research questions gathered by conducting user survey, visual documentation and interviewing with community focus group. were The study is conducted through a close examination ofthe Republic Square ofMale’ city, which was once prevailed with a strong sense of community, though today it is seen as an isolated piece of public realm. By combining the theoretical background with qualitative research and quantitative methods, the paper aims to provide a better understanding on the underlying issues and possible solutions. Findings indicate that the success of the public squares is based on the experiences and rationalities of the urban past as evidenced by the historical continuity which characterizes the relationship between collective memory ofits people and the public spaces.
item: Thesis-Full-text
A Perception of architects' & urban designers' on impact of outdoor advertisement on visual pollution; an evidence from Nugegoda, Sri lanka.
(2022) Dedo BAS; Dharmasena J
Today, Sri Lanka is moving towards developments of high urbanization this also leads to highly commercialized streetscape. In further Nugegoda, Sri Lanka is one of the envisioned Major Urban Centre within the Colombo Metropolitan Area for 2035. The rapid haphazard commercial development also leads to question the impact of Outdoor Advertisements on Visual Pollution within this context. However, Architects and Urban Designers are the professionals who define the streetscape and the image of the city. Therefore, this study focused on finding the impact of Outdoor Advertisements on Visual Pollution from the perceptions of Architects’ and Urban Designers’. The study area divided in to 44 surveyed points and photo-based web survey conducted to check the perception of the convenience population sample of 100 numbers of a mixture of Architects and Urban Designers on; appearance of the street (as), number of Outdoor Advertisements in the street (na) and appearance of the Outdoor Advertisements in the street (aa) based on these independent variables the dependent variable of Surveyed Visual Pollution Score constructed with Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS 26). The Surveyed Visual Pollution Score measured for each 44 points and Surveyed Visual Pollution Map was produced using ArcGIS Geostatistical Analyst to make kernel interpolation. The study findings show that; the area near the main node of the study area becomes the highest visually polluted area and pollution are decreasing with the distance away from the main node. Additionally, the Surveyed Visual Pollution Map shows that there is positive relationship with Surveyed Visual Pollution Score and the hierarchy of the roads. A higher number of 38 out of 100 respondents strongly agree to place OAs in the Streetscape. A higher percentage of 46.7% respondents perceive OAs as means of Visual Pollution. The second highest percentage of 24.1% respondents perceive OAs effects the Image of the City. A higher percentage of 34.9% respondents prefers to have virtual and social media advertising rather OAs. The highest number of respondents (30 out of 100 respondents recommended) recommended to premise the area ratio of OAs to building façade of 1/8 : 1. Moreover, another 25 out of 100 respondents recommended to premise the area ratio of OAs to building façade of 1/16 : 1.
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Reassessing the practices of green urbanism in order to generate a sustainable urban renewal in wellawatte town
Goonetilleke, JWA; Wijesundara, A
Under the broad umbrella of‘Sustainable Development’, many have discussed and in some instances implemented many means in which human behaviour is changed in order to reduce their impact on the environment, promote economic development as well as enhance social welfare. This dissertation intends to study sustainability in all its angles, exploring economic, environmental and social sustainability and the concepts of Green Urbanism principals to formulate a list of guidelines for sustainable green urban development. The research focuses on Sustainable Green Development, which transforms into an Urban Renewal in an already existing scenario. The chosen Case Study ofthe city of Wellawatte is studied and in turn its elements are manipulated to assess its potential to be sustainable, whilst maintaining its character and importance in the least intrusive manner. The principles of Green Urbanism are juxtaposed and over-laid on the research finding of the case study, presenting research ideology that can be used in future Urban Development. The case study highlights a city’s potential to be a sustainable green city, which will eventually aid in any research and development to be done along the concept of Sustainable Retrofitting in urban environments.