Historic Urban Areas as an Asset in Development of Cities Jayatissa Herath

The questions: what is an Urban Area, Town or City? what is a Historic Urban Area?

Dynamic place population density is high, land division is high, more and more roads, paths and alleys, More built-up areas buildings for residential, administrative and commercial functions along the roads Services are concentrated Amenities are close at hand. Demanding improvements Development

And many user groups varying from residents to commuters, working people public servants and private businessmen, people who come to buy things or to sell things, or people who come to get some services or to use amenities. regular and occasional users. Increasing and Demanding Development

Historic Urban Area Historic Built up area – Identity, Character Art, Architecture, Landscape Open spaces – Social and cultural activities A Socio-Cultural representations Representation of traditional planning Approaches Relationship to whole territory

We should identify the attributes that contribute to form the character of a historic town. They can either physical or non-physical. Physical attributes are the road layout or pattern, Building stock and their characteristics, built to un- built relationship, pattern of divisions of lands and their sizes, open spaces, formation of landscapes and streetscapes, vistas. Urban Tissue

Among other factors of creating an Urban Space, Morphological factors, Geometry in Design Principles, Astrological Cosmological and cosmographical inputs are also there.

Any Town or Urban area whether it is gradually developed over a span of time or deliberately created at once, is a reflection of culture of the people who created it and who has been using it.

It is our heritage, material and non- material. It is the evidence and record of the past. We have inherited it and enjoyed it and why not we pass it to our next generation. The township is the reflection of our heritage in material and behavioral sense.

In today’s context, the development pressure is high. Demand for space, services, and amenities is high. We cannot get away with it. We need more developed services, amenities, for a comfortable living. Life styles of the residents of the town ships also need to upgrade. They should not confine to what they are having at the moment. In this scenario is there a space for protection or conservation of the historic city?

Lifespan of any thing around us is limited. The conservators’ attempt is to extend it. It is an exercise going against the natural phenomena. Therefore, it is not easy. It needs a positive attitude, care and attention and expertise.

Conservation is defined as prolonging the life span and it could involve two ways. preventive actions to avoid any threats to its life Or curative actions against infections caused due to threats

One can talk of conserving a small artifact or even a city – in terms of its material But, Conservation has a broad aspect than conserving physical materials. The Emphasis is now on Conserving the Values of the property

“conservation” should not only consider the physical built fabric or individual materials like in small artifacts, but it should also involve its other intangible values as well. These values are first felt by the people who has close association with the “object” or “property”

Any historic centre has built forms as well as its own intangible values that touch our hearts and mind telling us that this is the spirit of the place etc.

For example conservation of a Kovil as a physical entity would not be successful if the conservator did not consider its surroundings, interactions with people etc. Likewise a historic centre would be isolated and dead if the conservation programme did not encompass its interactions as well.

Any Conservation activity, especially urban conservation should envelop that aspect for it to be a success.

The cities are the mirror of the past and for this reason it must be preserved. It can be treated as a gift that humanity has given to us and because of that we do not have the right to spoil or losing it. We have the right to make use of it, enjoy it and preserve it.

Is there a way to integrate both Development and Conservation It is a resource to the city

Singapore is a good example to understand this issue. When the rapid development activities are going on, the historic structures were ignored and removed to pave way for new buildings.

But then they came to realize that they have lost their valuable historic structures and with it the spirit of their past. We should learn from others’ experiences and try to avoid similar situation as we have still time to do something.

The conservation of living historic town need not be justified solely by a romantic attitude of “picturesque”, “artistic”, ”historical” or “antique” alone. It is an economic Asset.

There are many more reasons such as “conservation of resources”, “ for preserving skills and tradition”, “for the quality of life”, “for continuing past into future”, “for identity”, “for character and appearance”, “for stability and continuity”, “for architecture”, and also “for tourism”.

Through this the city can achieve better living for the residents, better facilities to the commuters in a sustainable approach. If we win the hearts of the stakeholders they definitely support it by realizing the values.

Thank you for your patience