Overcoming the degradation of arterial towns: typo-morphological studies and technological robustness

Abstract

Over the last few decades, the part of the world identified as ‘developing’ has witnessed dramatic increase in urban population, drastic changes to its urban landscapes, and the launch of separate construction markets with limited connection in terms of building procurement modes and labor allocations. Sri Lanka is no exception: the extremely limited opportunities offered by the dwindling economies of small towns in the country’s interior have triggered the migration of rural population to Colombo and other major towns, which have in turn produced radical transformations in building morphology, land use patterns and labor market structures. The small towns located along regional arteries, in particular, are morphing into continuous commercial strips without apparent structure, coordinated land use planning or good performance of its building stock. Such urban growth has come to depend on largely unskilled workers, which does not favor the production nor the industry’s ability to meet demand, thereby resulting in operational barriers and the subsequent proliferation of sub-standard building systems and processes in urban areas. This paper looks at countering the formative failures of arterial towns by developing a two-phase response. Firstly, typo-morphological studies of the urban fabric are proposed to determine the technical and functional behavior of the existing building stock, and identify the problems and potentials of the emerging building types, forms and constructional responses. Secondly, a framework for a design theory, which addresses the building challenges posed by urbanization is presented by comprehending and appropriating the organization, skill-base and internal links of various industrial actors and processes that make up the industry, because it is only within this scale that the rationale and the means for action can be found and possibly activated.