DESIGNED SPACES FOR INFORMAL SECTOR STREET ACTIVITIES : AN EXAMINATION OF THE STREET SPACES TO INCORPORATE STREET OPERATED INFORMAL SECTOR ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE URBAN BUILT ENVIRONMENT A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO ? " " X THE UNIVERSITY OF MORATUWA FOR THE FINAL EXAMINATION IN M.Sc. (ARCHITECTURE) AND TO THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS FOR R.I.B.A PART II 6 b'J o -v. ^ V GAURI KISHANI WICKRAMARACHCHI FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE UNIVERSITY OF MORATUWA Ce^l SRI LANKA. JUNE 1996. 68709 ABSTRACT Up to recent times the street operated informal sector enterprises are mostly regarded as a nuisance to a city. At present a positive attitude towards their presence in the streets begin to grow, viewing their contribution to the user economy as well as to the character of a street. In the designing and development of streets or their fragments, the designer has to bear in mind a street becomes a comfortable built environment, when the user senses and perceives it appropriately and intum orientates himself within it. A street, that can be identified as a series of integrated spaces, is an attraction to informal sector activities, specially in some of its spaces. Out of observations it is found walkways, transitional spaces and squares as the most attractive spaces for street operated informal sector for many reasons. In the organisation of these spaces, the users perceivability is a more appropriate approach. In this manner, the physical elements of a space can be organised to form relations to a centre, enclosure and a continuity as illustrated by many scholars. Within an organisation of this nature the irifarmal sector activities too has a place. They can be comfortably accommodated within this following - the proper guidelines as discussed in this study. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many people have helped me understand, gather and compile relevant information in producing this dissertation. I am indeed indebted to them and gratefully acknowledge their support. I am profoundly grateful to my tutor Dr. L.S.R.Perera, Senior Lecturer Dept. of Architecture , University of Moratuwa ,fbr this invaluable guidance and help rendered to me writing this dissertation. I offer my special thanks to Archt. Vidura Sri Nammuni, Archt .C.J.De Saram, Archt. Dr.R. Dayarathne, Archt. D.P.Chandrasekara and Archt. Kapila Darmasena, the Lecturers of Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, for their invaluable help and advice. I specially thank Mr. K.D .Fernando, senior lecturer, Dept. of Town and Country planning for his kind understanding, interest and generous help. I am deeply indebted to Archt Jagath Munasinghe for his guidance and unreserved help given to me for the completion of this study, without whose help, this could never be a reality. Archt. Mr. I. Kuruppu, Archts. Mr & Mrs S.U.B.Dollepihilla, for their advice and criticism offered so generously. Archt. Piyal Silva Director Planning U.D.A., Mr. U.Jayawardena Associate Director Marga Institute, for their invaluable guidance and help. Sakunthala, Cbampika, Chana, Roshan, Mandangi, Damie, Janaka, Chamila, Dilshan and all other friends for their contributions in many ways. Nalin and Sandya for all the effort contributed in formatting and printing this Dissertation. 11 The librarians and the staff of T IS ATP, Marga Institute, U.N., ILO and University of Moratuwa for their kind understanding and help. S i m a n t h a k i n d i m d e r a f a m r h n g , e n c o u r a g e m e n t and mrrtrrniniis support extended to me throughout this task to make this a reality. Above all I must extended my thanks devotedly to my beloved mother, sisters and brothers for their continuous assistance and encouragement given to me. in DESIGNED SPACES FOR INFORMAL SECTOR STREET ACTIVITIES: AN EXAMINATION OF THE STREET SPACES TO INCORPORATE STREET OPERATED INFORMAL SECTOR ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE URBAN BUILT ENVIRONMENT. CONTENTS P& Abstract 1 Acknowledgement H Contents Introduction i 1. Topic Explanation 1 2. Intention of the study 2 3. Importance of the study 2 4. Methodology 3 5. Scope and Limitation ^ CHAPTER I: INFORMAL SECTOR ACTIVITIES LN RELATION TO URBAN & CONTEXT 6 1.1. Nature and the characteristics of urban Informal sector. 6 1.1.a. Definition g> 1.2.b. Evolution of urban informal sector 3 1.3.c. Characteristics ^ 1.2. Attitudes and Interventions towards the presence of street operated '2 urban Informal sector. 1.2.a. Attitudes in relation to urban development. 11 1.2.b. Intervention towards streets operated informal sector in Developing 14- countries 1.2.C Adopted policies and strategies. '7 1.3. Street operated Informal sector as a reflection and Extension of the urban built environment. 1.3.a. Place and application in physical terms. 1.3.b. Material and construction 3£ 1.3.c. An architectural element of the streetscape. 2& CHAPTER 11: SPATIAL AND FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF THE STREET OPERATED URBAN INFORMAL SECTOR IN RELATION TO PHYSICAL FORM OF THE STREET 3 0 2.1. Positive locations 2 , 1 2.11. Walkways Si 2.1.1.a Open walkways - pavements. 3 a 2. l.l.b. Enclosed side walks -colonnades and arc 33 2.1.2. Transitional points. 5 4 2.1.2.a. Nodes. 3 * 2.1.2.b. Junctions. 2.1.3. Squares. (Market squares) 3 6 2.1.3.a. Periodic market square. 2.1.3.b. Permanent market square. 2.2. Infomal sector in a Walkway ^ 2.3. Informal sector in a Transitional point ^ 2.4. Informal sector in a Square D D CHAPTER H I : THE ORGANIZATION OF SPACES OF A STREET TO ACCOMMODATE THE STREET OPERATED INFORMAL 33 SECTOR ACTIVITIES 3.1. Street as a collection of spaces 3.2. Elements of a space 3.2.1. Elements of a Walkway 3.2.l.a. Centre of a walkway 3.2. l.b. Enclosure of a walkway 3.2. I.e. Continuity of a walkway 3.2. l.d The place for informal sector 3.2.1 .e. Ways of incorporation 3.2.2. Elements of a Transitional space 3.2.2.a. Centre of a Transitional space 3.2.2.b. Enclosure of a Transitional space 3.2.2.C. Continuity of a Transitional space 12.2 A. The place for informal sector 3.2.2.e. Ways of incorporation 3.2.3. Elements of a Square & 2 > 3.2.3.a. Centre of a Square 6& 3.2.3.D. Enclosure of a Square lo 3.2.3.C. Continuity of a Square 70 3.2.3.d. The place for informal sector yo 3.2.3.e. Ways of incorporation 7» CONCLUSION So 81 33 3 3 4 3 4 3 44 4& 4 1 S o 5 6 En 55 (oO BIBLIOGRAPHY