Ascertaining the kinetic patterns of informal spaces in the commercial streets of Pettah, Sri Lanka

Abstract

The study is an investigation of “kinetic” patterns in the urban informal commercial sector of Pettah, Colombo. Kinetic spaces refer to the transforming temporary physical developments and structures that complement the “static”/ permanent built fabric of cities. They introduce a humanized scale to the city in terms of “form” and “function”. Kinetic patterns represent development of the informal sector as connecting patterns between the static city and the activity patterns. Pettah is the main commercial and transportation centre in the country, which is currently undergoing transformations by removal of all informal, kinetic spaces and functions in a city beautification process. Yet, these patterns establish distinct characteristics within the city and need to be accommodated as part of the identity of the urban context. Based on Christopher Alexander’s “Pattern Language” and patterns related to the commercial context of cities, a theoretical framework was developed to explore examples of similar patterns in the kinetic developments in Pettah. They were traced and presented in a hierarchical order. The method of analysis was mainly through careful on site observations, activity maps and 2D and 3D maps documenting spatial and functional connections, photographs of the selected areas etc. The identified framework is place specific and primarily presented through graphical representations of the re-interpretation of Alexander’s generic images of the universal pattern, to establish the kinetic patterns of Pettah. The research ascertains that there is logic in the development of kinetic spaces and that the kinetic patterns follow the logic of the general pattern language of the city in terms of the practical connectivity of functions and physical spaces. The essential components of theses pattern relationships are extracted to establish what is specific to the context.