People's contribution to urban environmental management through place making process: a study with special reference to housing environments

Abstract

It can be seen that the urban environments are becoming disordered and meaningless due to lack of Environmental Management. It is also due to the lack of appropriate regulations for building in urban areas and Man builds more often not to suit his environments but for the personal glory, The people's lack of awareness of the environment is the basic reason of this unmanaged environment. To create an environmental sensitive people, the sense of belonginess of place comes into existence,, This study views that people's placemaking process can contribute to the Urban Environmental Management to achieve a livable place as an ultimate goal. Urban Environmental Management is not only the management of built environment, but also the natural, social and economic environments. The study is engaged in both these components because it seems a single can't be managed without considering others, as all components are intimately tied to each other. The Urban Environmental Management can be done in two ways. By the professionals and the users themselves. It is true that the people are in a better position to do that if the professionals can guide them. To see the people's contribution to the urban environmental management in a better way, the best place is their living environment that is housing, rather than concerning their working environments. People make spaces into places. The Urban Environment to be a livable place, therefore Placemaking process plays a great role. Thus the people's participation is essential in the process of Urban Environmental Management. Therefore the study examines the role of Placemaking in urban housing environments from a people's point of view by studying examples, and illustrations using several situations from the existing surroundings in Colombo. The study concludes that for a better UEM people's participation is essential and improving people's sense of belonginess of place leads to better livable environments in the Urban Environment.