Abstract:
Most certainly, architectural objects are the basis of the physical assembly of a city and they
result in urban spaces with incomparable values and features. The Built environment of South
Asian contemporary cities including the Capital city of Sri Lanka, Colombo, encompasses both
permanency and impermanency which can be observed with an irregular spread. Ephemeral
Architecture queries the idea of permanence in the way we produce architecture. As a feature,
more impermanent, ephemeral built interventions assembled by people are concerted in residual
city edges, commercial streets, along water bodies, and in-between solid blocks as more informal
built settings. Facing numerous uncertainties due to natural disasters, lack of development
attempts by the government, and clear negligence, still these urban spaces operate as more
vigorous nodes within cities. Ephemeral built interventions generated by people act as the main
facilitator of these spaces and street markets in Colombo are significant in this scheme.
Considering the connection in-between the operational strength of urban spaces and its built
interventions, the key aim of this study is to determine the role of ephemeral built interventions
in operating market streets enhancing with the robustness in cities. Multifunctionality, loose fit
and social interaction are considered determinants that ensure the robustness in market streets.
The study is reinforced with systematic observations, photographic studies, and maps.
Questionnaire survey conducted within the case study context support the study of user’
perception on robustness, examining the case of Thotalanga Market Street in Colombo. Being an
exploration of the operating status of ephemeral built interventions in contemporary urban
spaces, this research would be an initial step to facilitate “ephemeral urbanism” as an urban
design strategy to deliver robust cites for the future.
