Urban edge as a responsive urban space : examination of the impact on the city with special reference to City of Colombo

Abstract

Most urban built environment in the past has spontaneously responded to social and cultural values as well as political and functional needs. Consequently they have respond to qualitative needs as well as qualitative needs of people generating authentic and unique characteristics. However as a result of rapid development and their consequential destructions, most of the cities lost their identity and legibility and have not provided proper "architectural settings" for the urban spaces. As a result of that, generate more and more lost spaces day by day in our cities. The negative effect of this rapid development could thus be found at all places in all levels. Towns, open spaces, public buildings and other areas around the world are becoming similar, due to standardization of production methods improper use of materials and lack of concern in urban environmental design. This is directly affected to create socially unresponsive urban space in all over the city. The urban edges are the boundaries of the city, defining a big entity of enclosure; the city form and its spatial contents. Therefore it is an element of the city. As such defined city edges are necessary constituent of a positive image and responsiveness to the city. But that is also in a threat of lost space in an urban situation as an urban space. Therefore need of "meaningful, socially responsive urban places and urban edges" which are capable to accommodate various urban public activities. Thus the study focused on positive transformation of negligible edges, as a responsive urban space in a city.