A Study on placemaking through youth friendly spaces in Sri Lankan urban context

Abstract

Urbanization in Sri Lanka, driven by industrial expansion and rural-to-urban migration, has transformed cities into hubs of education, employment, culture, and services, particularly for youth. However, urban public spaces and placemaking efforts often overlook the deeper spatial, social, and experiential needs of young people, focusing mainly on functional requirements rather than meaningful engagement. There is a critical research gap in understanding how youth, the urban context, and placemaking interconnect, especially within Sri Lanka, where studies rarely investigate how spatial design influences youth behavior or how youth contribute to the shaping of public space. The purpose of this research is to examine how placemaking can create effective, inclusive, and sustainable spatial interconnections between youth and the urban built environment within the Sri Lankan context. This study explores the relationship between youth behavior and spatial qualities within the urban context, emphasizing how architectural and urban design approaches can contribute to meaningful placemaking. A qualitative methodology is adopted, utilizing three case studies as the primary basis for data collection and analysis. The focus is on identifying how specific spatial qualities influence youth behavior and how these insights can guide more responsive, youth-centered, and contextually appropriate urban places. Findings highlight that youth-friendly spaces are essential for fostering social inclusion, encouraging active participation, and nurturing civic responsibility. When ‘placemaking’ is aligned with the real needs and lived experiences of young people, it enhances their overall quality of life and strengthens both community well-being and the long-term development prospects of the nation..