Abstract:
Cities around the world have experienced unprecedented changes
in their economy, environment and society due to rapid
globalization and urbanization. Contemporary colonial cities of
South Asian countries are dynamic, rapidly growing and
continuously changing. Thus, urban transformations and mutations
are not a new phenomenon, but rather a continuous process.
A historic city and its heritage enables people to better understand
previous generations and the history of where they came from, and
offer place integrity and unity in the city. The study scoped within
the discussion of urban metamorphosis in relation to morphological
elements in Slave Island. Slave island is a Colonial city with vast
collection of old buildings, yet serves as a home to all aspects of
social and cultural urban life. It is an example for “Utilitarian
architecture” where it comprises different kind of structures,
designed and built by architects and non- architects in public and
private spaces. This bustle commercial hub which has a dominant
character of urban transformation where it sustains the historic
authenticity while responding to urbanization. In such cases
population of communities endures place integrity in the heart of
old city.
The objective of this study is to examine the engagement of social
activities in development which incited place integrity. Further it
aims to study the factors which preserved within the historical
setting in relation to the elements of urban metamorphosis. The
urban mutations of the existing physical structures have
interconnections with social, economic, cultural and other aspects.
Continuous urban growth, diversified activities, and social
perception will always mutate the cities.
Certain parameters have taken to measure Place integrity and
identified the sense of place to analysis the sustained historic
authenticity of this situation. Further the research has identified
socio-cultural relationship of transforming urban setting.
