Architectural impact of built fabric on street child : special reference to Colombo City - Sri Lanka

Abstract

The context of the study is to identify the architectural impact of built fabric on street child The very thought of the built fabric brings about a perception of which includes spaces which are accommodated by those children. Depending on the importance of social, physical, economical, political and the other factors this community has established and perceived their own values with dominant physical characteristics, thus as those communities found its fitting urban context. Although street children are considered as an offe~c~and wrong doer by the society they have become an increasingly important component in the city population in the developed as well as developing countries. Solving the problem of street children is a complex issue and it is not the responsibility of architects to find the solutions for it. But these children cannot be rejected by the society and they should absorb to t~e countries economy .and main streams of the society. There by in architectural point of view with in this environment such urban communities have to achieve their goals of satisfying the spatial needs. Built substances have imposed on it positive and the negative manner. There for as architects studying of archttectural impact of prevailing street environment and its built fabric is must. As the built environment affect upon the behaviour pattern of ones life style it can make changes upon both moral and physical characters of child even positive or negative manner. There by the architectural impact of surrounding built fabric of streets will be a remedy to shape the child life towards a reformatory one. In Sri Lankan context, most of the street spaces are fulfilling the needs of transportation. In the urban context restricted living spaces are highly favoured by the children and they are encouraging the street activities. These activities influenced on posttlvely or negatively. If the built'tabrick nable to get positive impact over those children it create varies problems with in individual or the society Street spaces become isolated and ~ lack of use. There by built fabric should ~ responded in social positive manner to the way of life of the street children .. This becomes an important issue within the society. There by in the point of architects three reasons can be taken out as solutions for this situation.