"AN EXAMINATION OF THE POTENTIAL OF SPATIAL 
PROGRESSION IN CREATING A MEANINGFUL CM YSCAPE 
WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE CITY OF COLOMBO" 
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MORATUWA AS 
A PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE 
DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ARCHITECTURE 
2 1 7 
: ij v 
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S M K C JAYASIRI 
Department Of Architecture 
University Of Moratuwa 
Sri Lanka 
JULY 1988 
T H 
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A B S T R A C T 
The Ci ty is the greatest creation o f man Each city has its own character, harmony and 
rhythms, which results in its unique identity. Once a cityscape is appropriately designed, 
the Ci ty becomes a delightful place to live in 
Spatial progression important in an individual design approach is equally significant in 
City designing though in a different manner. In this attempt I have examined how 
spatial progression can be perceived in a City. 
Basical ly spatial progression can be achieved by the use o f limited urban space, in a 
functionally meaningful manner by connecting the elements in coherent harmonious 
combinations and arranging them in aesthetically pleasing relationships. Beginning with 
a definition o f spatial progression I have discussed how the City can be perceived in the 
light o f theses combinations, relationships and their arrangements. 
1 have examined part o f central Co lombo (Fort & Pettah) with the idea o f spatial 
progression in mind. Where spatial progression is lacking or absent, I have analyzed the 
reasons for its absence I have also perused what potential there is, in achieving spatial 
progression in the future development in this part o f the City. 
I believe that this study will provide a new vision and opportunities for achieving spatial 
progression in the future development o f the City o f Colombo. In doing so however one 
must not abandon the fact that development is for the benefit o f humanity. 
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A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S 
In writing this dissertation 1 was helped by several people giving me advice and 
encouragement to make this a success. With sincere gratitude 1 acknowledge the help 
given to me by all o f them. 
M y warm heartfelt thanks g o to Dr. Ranjith Perera my tutor, for the invaluable advice 
and guidance given to me and for the correction o f my draft. 
I sincerely thank Architect Vidura Sri Nammuni & Architect Ravin Gunaratne for their 
suggestion advice and critical comments on the draft. 
I extend my special thanks to. . 
Architect Ashley de V o s 
Architect Vinod Jayasinghe 
Architect Upendra Randeniya 
Architect Oshadi Nissanka 
Architect Sanjeeva Liyanage 
for sparing their time on valuable discussion, offering me literature and material on 
many relevant subjects and topics. 
I profusely thank messes W H W de Soysa (Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry o f Post 
Telecommunicat ion and Media) for providing me with information and books. H W D 
sunil (Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry o f Post Telecommunication and Media) for 
extending support in many ways . K D G Wimalaratne (Director Department o f National 
Archives) for providing me with the opportunity o f using the national archives and D D 
W Gunawardena (Executive Secretary, Sri Lanka Institute o f Architects) for assisting 
me at all times. 
I thank my friend Surangi for permitting me the use o f books 
A special word o f thanks is due to O I C Fort Police Station. Mr. E M Ekanayake and 
Constable M s Nadira Dissanayake for the valuable help extended to c a n y out the 
research in areas o f high security in Co lombo 
I thank Mr. Alahakoon o f the technical staff in the University o f Moratuwa for taking 
photographs from books. 1 also thank Ms Nilmini Praxida and Mr. Manjula de Silva for 
assistance rendered to me in typing and photocopying this dissertation and to Mr 
Samarajeeva for driving me around in Colombo. 
Very special thank is due to my friend Mr. Indunil Peiris for his excellent job on the 
computer. 
Finally my gratitude goes to my parents for their continuous help and support given to 
me at all times. 
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C O N T E N T S 
I N T R O D U C T I O N 
0.1 TOPIC EXPLANATION 
0.2 INTENTION OF THE STUDY 
0.3 NEED FOR THE STUDY 
0.4 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS 
0.5 METHODOLOGY [900 Wordsl 
C H A P T E R O N E - " P E R C E P T I O N A N D S P A T I A L P R O G R E S S I O N " 
1.1 THE NATURE OF SPATIAL PERCEPTION 
1.1.1 WAYS OF PERCEIVING THE ENVIRONMENT 
1.2 THE CONCEPT OF SPATIAL PROGRESSION IN ARCHITECTURE 
1.2.1 MOVEMENT IN SPACE 
1.2.2 RHYTHMIC SEQUENCE OF SPACE 
1.3 THE ARTICULATION OF PROGRESSION IN SPACE 
1 4 SPATIAL PROGRESSION AS A PATTERN 
1.5 SPATIAL PROGRESSION AS A SERIAL VISION 
1.6 SPATIAL PROGRESSION AS AN INTERRELATION OF ELEMENTS 
1.7 DEFINITION OF SPATIAL PROGRESSION 
1.8 WAYS OF PERCEIVING THE CITY [2650 Words] 
C H A P T E R T W O - " C R E A T I N G A N U R B A N P R O F I L E " 
2.1 URBAN SPACE AND URBANIZATION 
2.1.1 URBAN DESIGN AND PEOPLE 
2.1.2 URBAN DESIGN AND AESTHETICS 
2.2 MORPHOLOGY CREATED BY CITY ELEMENTS 
2.2.1 SQUARE 
2.2.2 STREET 
2.2.3 OTHER 11880 Words] 
C H A P T E R T H R E E - " C I T Y F O R M A N D S P A T I A L P R O G R E S S I O N " 
3.1 FORM OF A CITY 
3.2 INTERCONNECTED SPACES 
3.3 CONCEPTUAL THEORIES OF CITY FORM 
3.3.1 PLANING THEORY 
3.3.2 FUNCTIONAL THEORY 
3.3 3 NORMATIVE THEORY 
3.4 FACTORS INFLUENCING THE CITY FORM 
3.4.1 GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF A CITY 
3.4.2 CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL FACTORS OF A CITY 
3.4.3 TECHNOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS OF A CITY 
3.5 COLOMBO 
3.5.1 THE CITY FORM OF COLOMBO 
3.5.2 CITY FORM OF CENTRAL COLOMBO 
3.5.3 FACTORS INFLUENCING THE CITY FORM OF COLOMBO 
(a) GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE CITY 
(b) CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL FACTORS OF THE CITY 
(c) TECHNOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS OF THE CITY 
3.5.4 SPATIAL PROGRESSION IN CENTRAL COLOMBO 
(FORT AND PETTAH) [3660 Words] 
CONCLUSION |96() Words] 
REFERENCES 
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L I S T O F F I G U R E S 
F I G U R E N U M B E R F I G U R E P A G E 
1.1 Spatial perception and spalial experience 05 
1.2 Pcrccplion is dcpcndcnl on Ihe position of the observer 05 
1.3 Sequence of spaces 06 
1.4 View of favorable and hostile environnienl 08 
1.5 Klcc diagram 09 
1.6 Paul Klecs thinking Eye 10 
1.7 Configuralioii of Ihe path - (a) 12 
1.7 Configuration of the path - (b) 13 
1.8 Sequence 15 
1.9 Approach 17 
1.10 Linear transitional space 19 
111 Entrance - (a) 20 
1.11 Entrance - (b) 21 
1.12 Path - space relationship - (a) 23 
1.12 Path - space relationship - (b) 24 
1.12 Path - space relationship - (c) 25 
1.13 Axial characteristics - (a) 28 
1.13 Axial characlcristics - (b) 29 
1.14 Serial vision 32 
1.15 The feeling of here and there 34 
1.16 Rasthrapathi Bhawan in New Delhi 35 
1.17 The Scanner - (a) 36 
1.17 The Scanner - (b) 37 
1.18 The elements of the Cily 39 
2.1 Rob Kricr (1975) square 45 
2.2 Circular and triangular urban spaces 46 
2.3 Typologies of urban spaces (from Kricr. 1975) 47 
2.4 Typologies of section & elements 48 
2.5 Characteristic of successful urban spaces 49 
2.6 Techniques of participation & levels of participation 50 
2.7 Piazza del. Popolo in Rome 53 
2.8 St. Peter's Square in Rome 53 
2.9 Piazza Na\ ona in Rome 55 
2.10 The Capitol, Rome 56 
2.11 Market Lucca 58 
2.12 The Amalienborg Copenhagen 60 
2.13 Rome and Sixlus V 62 
2.14 The Spanish Steps Rome 63 
2.15 Regcn Street, London 64 
2.16 The High Street. Oxford 65 
2.17 Elements of Townscapc - Summary 66 
3.1 The Cily forms 69 
3.2 The grid City 70 
3.3 The concentric City 71 
3.4 The linear City 72 
3.5 The slar City 73 
3.6 The galaxy City 74 
3.7 Interconnected spaces 75 
3.8 Edinburgh 76 
3.9 Serial, parallel and multiple connections 77 
3.10 "Y" junctions arc used in great variety of scales 78 
3.11 The impact of different configurations on the behavior of the 79 
observer can be seen in the above diagram 
81 3.12 What is Ihe problem 
3.13 Chinese Theory 81 
3.14 Indian Theory 82 
3.15 Rome 83 
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3.16 Different Land forms 84 
3.17 Different Land forms 85 
3.18 Peking - (a) 90 
3.18 Peking - (b) 91 
3.19 Map of Colombo - (a) 93 
3.19 Map of Colombo - (b) 94 
3.20 Portuguese Dutch Map of Colombo 97 
3.21 Ground plan of the City & Castle of Colombo 98 
3.22 Colombo in 1901 99 
3.23 The first Fort 100 
3.24 Portuguese Colombo 101 
3.25 Colombo in 1800 102 
3.26 Dutch gate 104 
3.27 Main Street Pcttalt. Colombo 105 
3.28 The races at Galle Face 106 
3.29 Echelon Square 121 
3.30 Analysis - Strengths and Potentials 123 
3.31 Analysis - Weakness and Constraints 124 
3.32 Development proposals for the City Centre of Colombo -
Proposed Traffic Network 
125 
L I S T O F P L A T E S 
P L A T E N O P L A T E P A G E 
1.1 Piazza of Si. Peters Rome 18 
2.1 St. Marks Square Venice 54 
2.2 Piazza San Marco 54 
2.3 Piazza del. Campidogolio 57 
2.4 Lucca 59 
2.5 Paris 61 
3.1 Venics 86 
3.2 Prague 86 
3.3 Siena (Italy) 87 
3.4 Morocco 88 
3.5 Sluishtar (Iran) 89 
3.6 Jerusalem 89 
3.7 Hong Kong at night 92 
3.8 Colombo - Birds eye view 95 
3.9 Pcllah (a) 106 
3.9 Main Street and Keymans gate (b) 107 
3.10 Chalmers Granaries 108 
3.11 Galle Road corridor 109 
3.12 Gallcface Green 109 
3.13 Gallcface n o 
3.14 The node at Ihe Gallcface hotel and Gallcface Court 110 
3.15 Bcira Lake 111 
3.16 Birds eye view of the node 111 
3.17 Node - Where Lotus Road. Janadhipathi Mawatha and Marine 112 
Drive meet 
3.18 Janadhipathi Mawatha - Focussing the clock tower 113 
3.19 Standard Charted Bank 113 
3.20 General Post office 114 
3.21 Baron Jayatlulakc Mawatha 114 
3.22 Chatham Street - during the colonial rule 115 
3.23 Cliatham Street - at present 115 
3.24 The Lotus Road 116 
3.25 Sri Sambuddhaloka Vihare 116 
3.26 Pedestrian bridge of the Hilton Hotel 117 
3.27 Although it is a node the City dwellers never feels that it is a node 117 
lo their perception 
3.28 York Street 118 
3.29 York Street - in the past 118 
3.30 York Street - Cargills & Millers 118 
3.31 York Street - Hemas building 119 
3.32 York Street - ANZ Grindlays Bank building 119 
3.33 Grand Oriental Hotel 119 
3.34 YMBA building and the Gafoor building 120 
3.35 Dutch Hospital 122 
3.36 Harbour Wall - along Abdul Carder Road 126 
3.37 . Khan memorial 126 
3.38 Main Street 127 
3.39 Main Street - A place of vibrant activity 127 
3.40 Main Street - Bell and Bell Tower 128 
3.41 Kaymans Gate - node 128 
3.42 New Moor Street 129 
3.43 Wolfcndahal Church 129 
3.44 Node where central road and Ratuajolhi Saravanamuthu Mawatlui 129 
begins 
130 3.45 Adhoc development along the central road 
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