CONCLUSION
An examination ol the impact of Linear Development on Urban Form in South - West coastal region. The fundamental idea is to investigate of architectural impact on the evolution of urban form in the south-west coastal towns of Sri Lanka. The intention was to create an understanding of the nature and behavior of these towns, as to overcome the grave situation; present south-west coastal urban centers are facing with. The spontaneous city, also called 'grown', 'organic', 'generated', or to underline one of the evident determinants of its pattern, geomorphic. It is presumed to develop without benefit of designs, subject to no master plan, but the passage of time, the lay of the land, and the daily life of the citizens. Considering the evolutionary factors the south-west coastal towns could be categorized with 'organic' towns. South - West Coastal towns also emerge as organic or grown towns. With in these spontaneous developed towns, its element also developed in the same manner roads or streets, which link the urban spaces, are also spontaneously developed. Form being these streets developed in to main roads. These roads were developed in to unique places. That is very dynamic and alive With the continuous trend of globalization; collapse of the self sufficient production system in the regional village settlements, due to the introduction of export production oriented economic policy and colonial administration, paved the way for urbanization of the southwest coastal region. The growth of the south-west coastal towns is a continuous process, but the stages of evolution of the urban forms can be clearly distinguished. The common changes of urban form can be basically categorized into five phases and various social, economical and political reasons affect these evolution patterns. 1. Formation of the urban nucleus - The urban nucleus originate in open natural setting, with a few building loosely scattered, bordering the river, unlikely to be categorized an urban context. The main activities performed in the open areas and the main path way and the ferry terminal, which were there benchmarks of the context, set the orientation of the layout. Modes of transportation and transport interchanges made a vital role in locating and also determined the shifting of the urban core from the initiation. 67
An examination ot the impact of Linear Development on Urban Form in South - West coastal region. 2. Expansion the small Urban nucleus into a cohesive small urban center - After the introduction of the railway, the urban nucleus transformed into a small urban center, with railway station as the main element, creating a compact and cohesive urban context. Station square and station road became the main activity center with single storey buildings creating the boundary of this urban core. Urban migration caused considerable population settled in the periphery creating residential neighborhoods around the town center. 3. Linear expansion of the urban core along Galle road - In the early 20th century the central building fabric extends along the Galle road. The form of the urban center became linear. Galle road became the main path and activity center from previous station road. The introduction of automobiles into the urban context created major impact on the society and the built environment. The omni bus initiated a new public transport mode and the creation of new transport interchange was a significant event during this period. 4.The emergence of urban grid formation - The South - West coastal towns gradually transformed into major towns from small urban centers during the latter half of this century, with the establishing of new government institutions, government and private sector commercial establishments, religious institutions and recreational facilities, as a result of the urban growth and vehicular traffic. The road network, expanded throughout this period with creation of new bypass roads, highways for Galle road with the addition of cross roads. So, the linear/spinal arrangement became a grid organization creating urban blocks with specific land use patterns. The urban centers of the region remained cohesive but saturated entities in the end of this stage. 5. Expansion of the urban center into a large urban network. - Free market economic reforms, which allowed unplanned development of the urban built fabric, paved the way for a complex urban network. The central commercial areas with the transport interchanges were on the top in the hierarchy. Factories were accommodated in there outer urban areas and most of the government and commercial institutions were formed along the Galle road strip away from the central commercial zone. The introduction of open economy, influenced the cultural and the value system of the society, which also contributed to the changes of the life styles of the urban dwellers and there was significant increase in recreational 68
activities. It was during this period south-west coastal towns began to loose their character, identity, cohesiveness and unity as a result of the urban sprawl. New urban layers on older fabric have created non - comprehensible urban context breaking down the hierarchy. The urban cultural needs of new century also create unnecessary pressure on the built context. Every south-west coastal town have undergone this urban transformation, which began with the urban nucleus, but some towns still have not reached to the level of urban network and some small towns remained as in the linear form. Some of this these urban forms can be frequently observed in Sri Lankan towns, but this evolution pattern is unique to southwest coastal urban centers. 69
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