Comparative study between convivial and conventional urban design approaches with special reference to socio - spatial experience of Tamil cultural cities in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study focuses on the necessity of socio-spatial experiences of people, which has been gained from the parks as a public space that are subject to urban design approaches. Besides, analysis of geographical, physical and administrative dimensions of the place, which are related to design and planning processes, it reveals the necessity of including the psychological effects of the place on people via their senses. In other words, the information is gathered through my experiences to design the process. By this way, attempts are made to explain the content of the relationship between daily experiences of people and spatial formation of a park, celebrative events and public life and public place. Thus, the study focuses on the Convivial Urban Design approach which brings about the emotions and psychology of people in the way of celebrating events laterally especially by these kinds of urban designs. In this perspective, the author examines parks that are situated in the center of Batticaloa and Jaffna Town (Tamil cultural cities) whereas Tamil community people are predominantly living in Sri Lanka when compared with other districts which is recorded as 99% in the Jaffna district and 79% in the Batticaloa district in 2019 according to census and statistical data. The parks, which have a vital position within the city center, have well-maintained its prominence as existence, one of the parks activities that is pleasing to the people parks of numerous portions of city, age and gender from past to present. The activities of parks are analysed in terms of friendliness under five different criteria via a questionnaire and the results of this study are inspected clearly. The results give conclusions about friendliness of a place in terms of celebrating events and involving in activities in these parks, which can be adopted throughout the design process. The results of this dissertation reveal the indicators that can be used as inputs for design lively urban recreational space and celebrative space and reveals why the Batticaloa Gandhi Park and the Jaffna Beach Park still have some appearances that cause an intensive use. Criteria and conclusions reveal with this study, to show that there are more than conventional urban design approaches in space design.