Place making : an examination of the use of the concept with special reference to selected examples in the urban context

Abstract

Architecture unlike other arts, has direct communication with people as the onlooker is subjected to both psychological and physical influence, in his total experience of 'inside' and 'outside 'Spaces and each one of us, as Alexander (1977) defines, has some where in his heart, the dream to make a living would, a universe, which suggests that human activities are mostly concentrated around the built environment and each one of us has an awareness about his place is relation to the physical form of the building and its relationships with the 'inside' and 'outside' environment. Presence of 'Place' - healthy environments is a necessity for the psychological as well as physical well being of people. The creation and demonstration of healthy Spaces 'inside 'and 'outside' a built environment is a necessary duty of an architect or the designer, as the writer sees, it is the successfully designed built form which has potentials in becoming healthy spaces, rather 'Places'. Thus the study concentrates on the successful way of designing the build form and the process of making its healthy - 'Place Making'. In this sense, the concept of Place, its constituents such as physical psychological and social, and its implications as to three urban theories are first highlighted. The concept of Place Making is even discussed in relation to theories and principles of Urban 'Place Making'. Such theories are then discussed in relation to Sri Lankan Urban situation in view of highlighting the healthyness or unhealthyness of Places.