Departmental Conferences
http://dl.lib.uom.lk/handle/123/13482
2024-03-28T22:43:02ZAttributes of urban public spaces that contribute to qualitative public life; study of emerging public spaces in Colombo
http://dl.lib.uom.lk/handle/123/22446
Attributes of urban public spaces that contribute to qualitative public life; study of emerging public spaces in Colombo
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.
2013-10-15T00:00:00ZAscertaining the kinetic patterns of informal spaces in the commercial streets of Pettah, Sri Lanka
http://dl.lib.uom.lk/handle/123/22445
Ascertaining the kinetic patterns of informal spaces in the commercial streets of Pettah, Sri Lanka
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.
2013-10-15T00:00:00ZPedestrian movements in commercially transformed residential areas: Levent bazaar, Istanbul
http://dl.lib.uom.lk/handle/123/22444
Pedestrian movements in commercially transformed residential areas: Levent bazaar, Istanbul
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.
2013-10-15T00:00:00ZRole of adjoining edges in supporting pedestrians in public places
http://dl.lib.uom.lk/handle/123/22443
Role of adjoining edges in supporting pedestrians in public places
Bhise, R; Patil, A
Dayarathne, R; Wijesundara, J
The public realm is one of the important elements of cities, having physical access for all its inhabitants. The decline of public realm is a major concern. The public realm is physically defined by the adjoining edges of built environment in the surrounding. Adjoining edges act as a contact zone between built spaces, and pedestrians related activities, also affect success of public realm. Pedestrian supportiveness of built form is one of the important characteristics of a successful public realm. The pedestrians, who are dynamic in nature, generate different patterns while interacting with the elements of the adjoining edges. Many times the bleak frontages express built form. This study is aimed to identify & understand different types of adjoining edges, their elements, composition and possible coherence with pedestrians. Adjoining edges of all typologies are vital, though this study is limited to commercial typologies considering its importance in quality of public realm. The study is supported by an identified case of commercial precinct, presented as part of analysis. The study is structured in three stages. First is identification of types of adjoining edges based on built environment, composition of elements. Second is to understand the general pedestrian behavior in public realm. Third explores the possible coherence among adjoining edges and pedestrians, to identify pedestrian supportive elements and their composition. Adjoining edges vary greatly within the identified precinct, based on their elements and composition. Overall Adjoining edges are found to be complex, owing to its elements being entwined. Also it was observed that pedestrians are adaptive while interacting with different edge types. Temporary activities supported by adjoining edges attract a lot of pedestrians. The public realm is far more complex to gain insight into, but this study helps in identifying commonly observed composition of elements helpful in pedestrian supportiveness. Selected Case study provides some patterns in use of adjoining edges by pedestrians. The outcome can aid Architects and Urban Designers to address the issue of decline of public realm.
2013-10-15T00:00:00Z