The Impact of pedestrian experience on the legibility of the city-a case study of Kurunegala

Abstract

Many Sri Lankan cities are expanding rapidly, yet their spatial structures often fail to support intuitive navigation and user-friendly walkability. In Kurunegala, despite its rich cultural heritage and iconic landmarks, the disconnection between built form and pedestrian movement has led to fragmented urban experiences. The core problem lies in the lack of visual and spatial legibility that enables people to easily read, interpret, and move through the city. Urban legibility is an important factor in determining how pedestrians make sense of and navigate through urban environments. Drawing upon Kevin Lynch’s writing on imageability of cities and Leon Krier’s theories on city planning, this study identifies critical elements that facilitate urban legibility: that is, street patterns, districts, edges, and landmarks, and their synergistic effect on navigating and orienting within the urban space. Based on Lynch's theories of mental mapping, this research emphasizes the importance of recognizing the inherent urban features, both natural and cultural, that shape the imageability of Kurunegala. This study investigates how pedestrian experiences shape the legibility of Kurunegala city by analyzing the interplay between urban design elements, spatial organization, and wayfinding behavior. Using Kevin Lynch’s imageability framework, five elements — paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks — were analyzed. Data collection involved 40 cognitive map sketches, interviews, field observations, and photographic documentation along key pedestrian routes. Data analysis included thematic coding, sketch interpretation, and mapping to compare perceived and actual spatial features.Findings revealed that major landmarks such as Athugala and Kurunegala Lake are underutilized in wayfinding. Instead, people rely on commercial signage and junction forms. The study highlights the importance of improving landmark visibility and incorporating clearer directional cues using inherent natural and cultural features at decision points for an enriched legibility of a city.