2024 LEVEL 1 PLANNING AND DESIGN STUDIO'S EFFORTS IN REVITALIZATION OF COLOMBO'S NEIGHBORHOODS
The urban environment is multi-dimensional, it consists of various interconnected aspects that shape the physical and social spaces where people live, work, and interact. Understanding the dimensions of urban design including morphological, perceptual, social, visual, functional, and temporal aspects is crucial in assessing the vitality of public spaces and public life. However, achieving a balance among these dimensions remains a challenging task in urban planning.
Against this backdrop, Planning and Design Studio II provided level I students in the Department of Town and Country Planning with an invaluable opportunity to hone their skills in conceptualizing and interpreting the urban environment. Prime aim of this studio was to enhance students' sensitivity to their surroundings and foster their ability to observe and interpret urban spaces for design purposes.
Students focused on studying various neighborhoods within the Colombo Municipal Council area, including the Colombo Town Hall area, Pettah Bus Stand vicinity, Fort Railway Station front, Maradana Road area, Narahenpita Junction surroundings, Slave Island area, and Panchikawatta Junction vicinity. Employing spatial analytical tools such as figure-ground mapping, time series analysis, legibility analysis, streetscape, land use analysis, and 3D physical modeling, students explored into the multidimensional nature of urban space and documented the social dynamics and characteristics of public life.
The studio project showed a collaborative effort to explore and understand the complexities of urban design, with a focus on creating spaces that reflect and enrich local character, identity, and connectivity within the larger urban context.
This studio project was designed, guided, and supervised by Prof. Jagath Munasinghe, Plnr. Eshi Wijegunarathna, and Archt. Daitha Dharmasena.
CONGRATULATIONS BUDHWIN!!
Budhwin Anuk Delgoda Arachchi (212305T) of the Department of Town and Country Planning represented the winning Rowing Crew of University of Moratuwa which secured the third place in the Varsity Boat Race Malaysia 2023 under Mens M8+ Category held on the 07th of October 2023 in Malaysia
LOCAL PLANNING AND DESIGN STUDIO 2023
UNDERSTANDING THE SPACE, USER AND THEIR INTERACTIONS IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT
In urban settlements, the space can be perceived in a range varying from the public to private domains. The interface of the two and the gradual procession with subtle demarcations is of interest to urban designers, mainly because it is this space-in-between that is critical and needs careful handling for the development of functional, cohesive, inclusive, and sustainable urban environments.
Scholarly works have consistently highlighted, with evidence, that urban informal settlements exhibit these characteristics to a greater extent than formally planned urban neighborhoods. Livelihood activities such as vending, domestic industries, catering, etc., as well as community activities such as recreation, socializing, dining, celebrating, mourning, commemorating, and entertaining, will all happen in well-conceived spaces in such informal localities. The limited space is well managed for multiple uses with mutual understanding and consensus built among their users. Even though such settlements and their communities are often seen as eyesores and misfits to our cities and towns by mainstream planning institutions, there are many important lessons that we can learn and incorporate into our modern-day planning and design practices, in order to develop more sustainable urban areas.
The Planning and Design Studio 1 offered an opportunity for level 1 students in the Department of Town and Country Planning to develop skills in observing, recording, and presenting the characteristics, patterns, and spatial as well as non-spatial information of an urban environment. Furthermore, students had the chance to comprehend the multi-dimensional nature of the spaces we inhabit and to understand the dimensions that essentially make up human activity spaces.
For this purpose, students were instructed to study several selected informal settlements located within the Moratuwa Municipal Council area. The study locations included Usavi Watta, Idalwatta, the Lunawa Station area, Dandeniya Watta, Siribara Manikepura, and Samarakoon Watta.
Throughout the studio activities, students explored the location, history, demographics, and relevant socio-economic factors contributing to the formation and growth of each settlement. Through on-site observations, documentation of experiences in the form of photographs, freehand sketches, video footage, etc., and friendly engagement with residents and community leaders students have gained many insights into the needs aspirations, and spatial practices of these communities. Furthermore, students evaluated the environmental conditions and vulnerabilities of the settlement, as well as any impact it had on local ecosystems and natural resources.
This studio exposed students to the ground reality that many academic programs generally never touch upon, yet it is critical for them to be aware of in their urban planning and design careers.
This studio project was designed, guided, and supervised by Prof. Jagath Munasinghe, Archt. Ditha Dharmasena, Plnr. Eshi Wijegunarathne, and Dr. Malani Hereth.
My Dream City’ EXMO 2023 Winners Announcement
We are thrilled to announce the winners of ‘My Dream City’ Art Competition. This competition brought together an incredible display of artistic talent, and we want to extend our gratitude to all the talented artists who participated. Winners impressed our judges with their outstanding creativity and artistic prowess. Their artwork captured the essence of the competition's theme.
Category Winners
Age Category: Over 19
First Place winning artwork
Name of winner: Ms. D. Sathsani Buddhiprabha |. Age Category: 16 – 19 | First Place winning artwork
Name of winner: Ms. Gangamini Dileesha | Age Category: 10 – 16 | First Place winning artwork
Name of winner: Ms. W. Gothami Sithumini Kulasooriya | Age Category: Under 10 | First Place winning artwork
Name of winner: Mr. S.M. Sadew Damsara
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CAP OUTSTANDING YOUNG PLANNER AWARD -2021
FINALIST
MS. TANIA MUNASINGHE
CAP (Commonwealth Association of planners) Outstanding Young Planner Award was held last August and the Award sought from Young Planners on the critical theme of “outstanding contribution of young planners to the development of sustainable communities and the planning profession in the era of pandemic”. Tania Munasinghe has represented the Institute of Town planners’ Sri Lanka as a student member and became one of the 7th finalists from all over the world. She is a fourth year undergraduate student at Department of Town and Country Planning , University of Moratuwa. In her winner remarks, she highlighted “ As a self-motivated individual, I always wanted to do something for society, and selecting the education path of a young planner was one of the achievements of mine to be a social worker with the right to change the city's behavior sustainably.
In past years, I have taken every opportunity to immerse myself in volunteering with community engagement projects as I believe that the “Change” should be initiated first within me in every small way.
Being a young planner always allowed me to be with people and that opportunity leads me to understand peoples’ needs, wants, and desires. The biggest lesson that I have learned as a young planner is, “planning is not for people. Real planning is planning “with” the people by combining several disciplines to create environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable cities in the future”. Every single step took forward along the way as a young planner as well as a social worker, enhance the curiosity of doing something for the betterment of society and that courage leads me to apply for this young planner award category and I want to prove to myself and as a human being that my efforts and academic experiences will change the society and make an impact on creating better cities in a resilient way. Therefore, I want to lead the journey that I have started as a young planner and I want to convert my commitment to action with active support”..
We hope Ms. Tania's achievement will inspire every young planner to use their unique and individual voice in international platforms that will help to build their enthusiasm and confidence to become future leaders who embrace change for the global betterment.
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"Purawara Ragamadala 2021"
The annual drama festival -"Purawara Rangamadala" oraganised by the Level 1 students of the Department of Town & Country Planning was held successfully for the tenth consecutive year. Due to the pandemic for the first time the festival was held as an online event (Radio Dramas) on 16th of October 2021.
Click here to enjoy the radio dramas!
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The level 3 students (2017/2021 Batch) of Department of Town and Country Planning, University of Moratuwa has Successfully Completed the Regional Planning & Design Studio
The Regional Planning & Design Studio provided an opportunity to gain knowledge in a regional scale planning framework for a selected region and to bridge the national policies and the local needs through an appropriate framework of the plan. Colombo Metro Region was identified as the selected region for the studio project based on National Physical Plan 2017-2050 and students were formed into three (03) groups to develop regional spatial plan and policy framework and completed the planning exercise in a span of 15 weeks.
Three groups had different approaches for the plan and plans were prepared with the focus of following directions:
Group 01: Smart Growth based Economic Development oriented approach
Group 02: Smart Inclusive City based "15-Minute-City" approach
Group 03: Resilience driven Pre-Emptive approach
Students were assessed based on their overall understanding of the Regional Planning Process, Innovative and Creative solutions in the outputs, Applicability and creativity of the outcomes and quality of the visual presentations. The exercise has improved the students critical thinking ability, team work skills, communication and Self Management and Professional Development in the field.
Group 01 focused on a new paradigm for Colombo to be a Globally renowned sustainable region with the vision of "Global Gateway of South Asia" by 2050. Spatial strategy was targeted on to create a self-sufficient, economically developed, environmentally viable, socially vibrant high-tech metro region by 2050. 
Group 02 focused on transforming Colombo region into knowledge intensive smart region for all. It is anticipated that Colombo will be experienced 
as a Smart City with upgraded services and utilities. In 15 minutes' region concept cheap, flexible and centrality principles were considered for providing access for sound knowledge, technology education, and vocational training in order to achieve high income region by 2050.
Group 03 envisioned Colombo Metro region's resilience to provide a vision of "pre-emptive Colombo" for Sri Lanka. Under this concept, Colombo Metropolitan region was considered as a defensive region a responsive region, and a resilience generation to establish facilities, amenities and services related infrastructure incidental to the development of the physical environment.