Influence of paving and building facades on pedestrian walkability in D.S. Senanayake road, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study examines how building facades and paving affect pedestrian walkability along D.S. Senanayake Road in Kandy, Sri Lanka, emphasizing how these two features work together to influence pedestrian experience and enhance the streetscape as a whole. The research systematically aimed the types and patterns of paving, as well as the structural and visual attributes of building facades across various street segments, using a mixed-method approach that integrated survey-based evaluations with physical assessments. Because characteristics like surface evenness, slip resistance, and comfort have a direct impact on safety, ease of movement, and pedestrians' willingness to use the area. the results showed that paving has the most direct and immediate influence on pedestrian walk-ability. In contrast, well-maintained paving improved comfort and accessibility, resulting in a safer and more welcoming pedestrian environment. Uneven, poorly maintained, or slippery paving surfaces were found to discourage walking and reduce the street's functional appeal. The street's perceptual and aesthetic qualities are shaped in part by building facades, which also contribute to a sense of enclosure, rhythm, and visual interest that affects how pedestrians view and interact with the urban environment. The social and cultural value of walkability was reinforced by coherent, visually appealing, and contextually appropriate facades that not only made the street more aesthetically pleasing but also promoted longer pedestrian stays and higher levels of satisfaction. Therefore, the study shows that combining high-quality paving with well-planned and maintained facades can significantly improve pedestrian walkability, promoting both practical mobility and visual appeal. These results highlight how crucial it is to implement integrated streetscape strategies in Kandy's urban core, where enhancing façade coherence and paving quality could create safer, more welcoming, and livelier pedestrian-oriented public areas that cater to both perceptual and physical needs.