A study of the differences between the 'intended' and 'resulted' patterns of use of public open spaces in Colombo urban area

Abstract

This thesis evaluated the differences between the ‘intended’ and ‘resulted’ patterns of use of four public spaces around the Colombo urban area The research explores user intensity levels and activity pattern in relation to supplying elements presence or absence, amenities & other factors. The study found five key quality aspects of the places are, ‘comfortable’ and has a ‘good image’; ‘enrich the existing environment’; ‘mixed uses and variety of forms’; the space is ‘flexible design its changes’; and it is a sociable place and ‘make connections’, one where people meet each other and take people when they come to visit. Urban designers’ intentions to regulate the public space in a particular way in designing and producing space considered the aesthetic and visual greenery and environmental quality improvements. However users are too different dimensions presence as a response to urban public space concern access, freedom of action, claim, change, to find quality user amenities. The behavioral patterns of people experience and use these spaces is a valuable source of information for spatial planning. Indeed, studying how these spaces are used has also shown a significant difference between the intentions of planners and users. However, currently facing challenge by urban designers and planners, how to make public spaces become usable for different types of users who come to use these spaces for diverse purposes and attach different meanings to them.