An Examination of impact of new buildings on historic built fabric : with special reference to Colombo & Galle Forts

Abstract

Development of a city is a unique historical process, which has grown up over centuries, and derived its shape and appearance. The physical structure of a city is considered as the order of the built form, which is a creation of man for living. Within this physical structure, built fabric becomes the most important component, as it is the container of people that creates the image of the city. The largest part of the city structure and its visual quality is mainly dominated by the built fabric. The built fabric which is present today is the product of the unified whole of buildings, built according to the different architectural styles of different periods. Though each type has a character and identity of its own, the unified environment was harmonious and had a distinctive architectural character and townscape value. But the most of the buildings, which came up in the recent past were designed and built regardless to its context or the urban setting resulting the fragmentation to the said harmonious built fabric. (historic/ existing) The design of new buildings should respect the norm or the context, for that to be harmonized with the surrounding. And this dissertation is based on existing towns, their intrinsic visual qualities and suggests some ways and means of maintaining it by suggesting that qualities that inherited from the past can become a discipline for the Change today, it's main theme, is that city's past, its present and its future (in terms of the visual qualities and the context) must combine to create a recognizable unit, so that the growth can be seen and felt to be continuous.