Spatial attributes of subculture - case of panchikawatta triangle

Abstract

Then main two objectives of the research are, identify spatial attributes and evaluate the sub-culture manipulation in those spatial attributes. First the meaning of culture was defined by doing substantive literature review. It was understood that culture is collective name for form of cultural production, dissemination, and reception and the collective values of social group as expressed in habits and expressions of everyday life (Miles, M & Hall, T & Bonder, L (ed.) 2000). It can be qualitative and quantitative. ( Bronislaw Malinowski’s, 1957). Built form pattern, Street pattern, Clustering patterns and housing appearances are such four quantitative spatial attributes were studied in this research. (Amos Rapoport, 1982). Panchikawatta triangle was selected as case study area and sub cultural groups were identified in based on the ethnicity of the residents. Then it was studied, to identify how sub-culture groups manifest in space in selected four spatial attributes. In each and every spatial attribute; photographic survey, interviews, discussions with people, observation studies were done to achieve the stated objectives of the research. As it is mixed and evolved by nature, even we could clustered the sub-culture groups based on ethnicity where they dominantly occupied the space, there are more similarities in the spatial attributes and in some sense no influences of sub-culture in particular spatial attribute. Mainly in street pattern, no any influences were found through the analysis; generally it is evolved by nature. Likewise in built fabric studies, it shows only the area where Sinhalese sub culture-group living has more void and other sub-culture groups has more solid. In activity pattern and housing appearances, there are differences, sub-culture to sub-culture but not substantive. In housing appearance, there are differences in houses within sub-culture groups depend on who has high level income. Appearance of façade, privacy level and internal arrangement of spaces are such elements shows differences between the sub-cultural groups. When see the low income groups, it is almost common to all sub-culture groups rather than differ in few elements (grills, painting, personalization).