Accommodating the informal sector street activities in urban design : an examination of the relationship between street spaces and street operated informal sector activities within the urban built environment in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Up to recent times the street operated in formal sector enterprises are mostly regarded as a nuisance to a city. At present a positive attitude towards their presence in the street tend to grow, viewing their contribution to the economy as well as to the character of the street. In the case of urban design the main actors in the play are the square, the street and the buildings that make up the public face of our towns and cities. The meaning and the role, these elements play in urban design. The street operated informal sector trading activities are come under street architecture that part of the urban design. In the designing and development of streets or their fragments, the designer has to bear in mind a street becomes a comfortable built environment, when the user senses and perceives it appropriately and in turn orientates himself within it. A street, which can be identified as a series of integrated spaces, is an attraction to informal sector activities, specially in some of its spaces. Out of observation it is found walkways, transitional spaces and squares as the most attractive spaces for street operated informal sector for many reasons. Selected examples shows how will be the informal sector incorporated to the built environment in successful way. Also what aspects should be considered? Some of the examples overcome the problems they face in the site while some have to rethink and arrange to make a meaningful one. Informal sector activities in street and how they accommodate to the Urban design will be the study are- of this dissertation and it may pave the way for creating a new outlook to the Urban built fabric. In the organization of these spaces the users perceivebility is a more appropriate approach. In this manner, the physical elements of a space can be organized to form relations to a center, enclosure and continuity as illustrated by many scholars. Within an organization of this nature the informal sector activities too has a place. They can be comfortably accommodated within this following the proper guidelines as discussed in this study.