Master of Science in Landscape Design
http://dl.lib.uom.lk/handle/123/76
2024-03-28T14:42:09ZConcept of ECO2 cities and its relevance for urban landscape planning and managing the urban green space with special reference to the city of Colombo
http://dl.lib.uom.lk/handle/123/13987
Concept of ECO2 cities and its relevance for urban landscape planning and managing the urban green space with special reference to the city of Colombo
Ranasinghe, WMDD
Many ofthe policies, plans and programs related to the environmental conservation, greening
the cities, balancing the carbon foot print and sustainable environment and economic
development by planning and management of urban green space.
The institutions directly or indirectly and individually or collectively responsible in planning
and management of urban green space are engaged in frequently change new concepts in
relation to:
- Sustainable environmental development(by the Ministry' of Environment and
Natural Resources by i;Sri Lanka Strategy for Sustainable Development (February'
2007)”, National Plan for Haritha Lanka Programme” (2009) and National
Physical Planning Policy & Plan, Project Proposals, Sri Lanka 2030, January 2011
(NPPP2011) )
- Establishing environmental friendly modern / beautiful green cities ('Mahinda
Chintana- A Brighter Future 2010’.
Maintaining bio-diversity and Balancing Carbon Foot Print.
Many of these concepts although adapted by various institutions responsible in planning and
management of urban green space its trickledown effect has not significantly impacted the
conservation and development of urban green space in urban areas.
The main reason for this became that many ofthese urban areas in the country consists of its
lands in combination of open space elements such as urban, natural and agricultural requires
to effective incorporation into the city life with its ample opportunities was available for
visual and functional realization. The assessment of the actions so far being made by the
authorities as well as Landscape professional indicated that their involvement in planning of
urban space is done in piecemeal and in isolation manner. However the new way ofthinking
on the planning of urban landscape is that it creates economic opportunities through
protecting and nourishing the local ecology and global public goods such as the environment,
for future generation. Vll
In the context of increasing the world population for the first time in history more than half
the world’s people live in cities and over 90 percent of urban growth is occurring in the
developing world, adding an estimated 70 million new residents to urban areas each year
(World bank) a new strategy is inaugurates for recognizing cities at the core of growth and
human development. It is committed to promoting sustainable cities and towns that fulfill the
promise of development for their inhabitants — in particular, by improving the lives of the
poor and promoting equity -- while contributing to the progress of the country as a whole
which is developed as Eco2 Cities - a Guide for Developing Ecologically Sustainable and
Economically Viable Cities.
Issues facing the provision of open space and how to enhance the landscape in areas where:
- uneven distribution of public open space and recreational facilities in terms of
population catchment
- Sub-standard provision of open space and recreational facilities when compared to
international best practice highly inadequate statutory requirement and protection
for public open space.
The Ecological Cities as Economic Cities Eco2 Cities book introduces some powerful and
practical methods and tools that can further enable sustainable and integrated city planning
and decision making.
The dissertation on “ Concept of Eco2 Cities and its relevance of: Planning and Managing
Urban Green Space in achieving Sustainable Environment” is addressing the present issues
connected with urban landscape for greening the cities as well as how to landscape designs
could be done to make an integrated effort to have environmental and economic development:
Develop an appropriate landscape design criteria in construction of buildings,
communities and infrastructure to utilize green building practices that promote
improved environmental performance including energy efficiency covering
vertical landscaping, greening the buildings, urban agricultural practices,
viii
maintaining micro climate, integration of green and blue areas etc hoping to
facilitate for establishing Eco2 Cities that create economic opportunities for their
citizens in an inclusive, sustainable, and resource-efficient way, while protecting
and nurturing the local ecology and global public goods, such as the environment,
for future generations.
Design principles for urban, natural and agricultural areas located in urban centres
by analyzing their ecological and bio-diversity - that will provide the visual and
functional realization.
Planning for greening the Open Space to provide a community facility for
recreation that ranges from children’s playgrounds through town parks for all ages,
to sport venues.
Encouraging vegetated private open spaces are quite extensive and contribute to
the Green Infrastructure necessary for a healthy environment, including provision
of visual amenity/relief where visible and not degraded by waste dumping, while
affording a natural drainage network and flood protection when measured against
international standards for provision of open space, landscaped areas ;uid
recreation facilities.
Colombo : a landscape in transition
http://dl.lib.uom.lk/handle/123/13986
Colombo : a landscape in transition
Wijayanandana, RS
Abstract
Colombo: A Landscape in Transition - A Study Through Colonial Maps and Images
Colombo has seen an accelerated programme of urban renewal in the period since
2009 and work is underway to improve the living environment ofthe city. Steps have
been taken to enhance Colombo's existing green spaces, to restore its colonial
architecture and to revive old waterways and in some cases, to expand them.
Given this environment of rejuvenation of the city of Colombo, and that the focus of
many of these projects are relics ofthe colonial period such as the Dutch Hospital in
the Colombo Fort, the purpose of this dissertation is to examine the transformation^
of the landscape of Colombo, and sometimeTits suburbs, during approximately four
and half centuries of colonial rule. The lens through which this change is observed is
the pictorial representation left behind by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British
colonisers. The changes due to the transfer of influence to each colonising power
and the needs of the indigenous people is observed in the resulting hybrid
landscape.
Chapter Summary
Chapter 1: The urban renewal ofthe city in contemporary times.
Chapter 2: The arrival ofthe Portuguese and the construction and fortification ofthe
fort of Colombo.
Chapter 3: Dutch urban planning and traditions of landscaping. The Dutch
contribution to the field of botany.
Chapter 4: Changes to the City during the British Period. British streetscapes in the
Fort and other significant areas in Colombo.
Conclusion: Sri Lankan landscape traditions and the effect of colonial influence.
Talking streets
http://dl.lib.uom.lk/handle/123/13985
Talking streets
Kodippiliarachchi, PS
A space that stays deep rooted in one’s mind, is a place, accessed by all senses, one that stimulates and gets the attention of all senses. To touch all senses the place must have dynamism. A place stagnates with unchanging visual elements, with unchanging audible noise and with the wind carrying the same smell and it will not access the senses as much as a constantly changing, dynamic space will do. Any settlement, thus to become a place of interest has to have the qualities needed to stimulate most of the senses if not all. A street as its best, must have dynamic, constantly changing qualities. Changing facades and people, the flow of traffic, all provide a new experience each day, touching the senses with their changing elements. The street is a place where all senses should engage dynamically. 1 believe streets deserve respect - they shape the form of the city and how we move through it. They accommodate buildings, people, vehicles, utilities, vegetation, storm water, signage, street furniture and lighting. Streets are the most used and most visible public asset a city has. To build great cities and towns, first build great streets. in the recent past, many streets have been designed with vehicle movement as priority. This tends to diminish the potential of streets to function as social space and has resulted in some streets that are hostile environments for people. Streets make up the majority of the public realm in our towns and cities. How we feel about and value a place has much to do with how we move around it and perceive it at ground level, because a city is its streets. A street is a play of drama during ones progression from one place to the other serving its main purpose of accessibility in harmony with characters call elements, activities, and functions. Sometimes the streets bear strong character while sometimes being very humble. When streets bear prominent buildings, gathering spaces, social cultural importance then they become vital. Street is a pathway which connects people, and supports them in every aspect in their day today life. At this purpose they serve for human requirement and in reverse they build their character in a probable way where it is most suitable. Street is a manmade space where it is responsible for the human safety, social connectivity, and a stream for learning.
Landscape and creativity : a study of the outdoor environment and its ability to stimulate creativity
http://dl.lib.uom.lk/handle/123/13984
Landscape and creativity : a study of the outdoor environment and its ability to stimulate creativity
Premathilake, HDDC
LANDSCAPE AND CREATIVITY
A study ofthe outdoor environment and its ability to stimulate creativity