From Chaos to harmony: reimagining Pettah, Colombo through lens of strategic urban planning

Abstract

Urban Planning incorporates elements that can recognize chaotic, ad-hoc environments and trans-form them into inclusive, accessible, and vibrant places. Pettah stands out as the most significant transit and commercial landscape of Sri Lanka, is a unique case study which illustrates both the challenges and opportunities for such transforma¬tion. This site was selected given its significance as outlined in Colombo City Development Plan [1] (2022–2031) towards strategic transform in the area and surrounding to meet contemporary needs while preserving cultural and economic value. This study began with systematic data collection including an initial ground observations and fur-ther mapping out the urban stressors to identify the misfits of the urban core. Through several anal¬yses these problems and potentials were identi¬fied. Contemporary needs were sorted through a stakeholder mapping exercise.