Abstract:
Cities are dynamic in nature. Image and the
experience of the cities are fast changing. People perceive
the cities individually. But all inhabitants navigate in the
city with use of a cognitive map based on individual
cognitive map based on individual experiences. This study
aims to derive a collective cognitive map in order to
understand urban fabric of a city. Furthermore outcomes
of the study are expected to be used as parameters to
enhance legibility of urban environments. This study is
focused on Maharagama, town as the location of study
which has undergone rapid changes in recent past.
Maharagama is a fast changing growth centre 15km
towards west of Colombo the capital of Sri Lanka. Study
uses lynch theories as parameters to analyse the urban
context. An attempt is made to figure out the Paths, Nodes ,
Elements, Edges and Districts of the study area physically
and as per the public perception in order to recognize the
features of probable cognitive map.
