Role of urban planning & design interventions in strengthening the sense of place of historic sites in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka

Urban planning or design interventions that alter the built environment or the current functions of the place in which they are implemented have the potential to change the meaning of those places, particularly for those who use them. This study addresses the growing knowledge gap regarding the role of planning and design interventions in strengthening the sense of place taking two planning and design interventions in historic sites in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka, as examples. A sample of 35 users were interviewed to get the average community perception, consisting of students, workers, nonemployees, and businessmen. Amongst the two projects, based on the research findings, Lake Round Development Project is recorded as the most frequently visited, closest, and the most memorable historic place in Kurunegala compared to Rajapihilla Park development. This leads to the conclusion that planning and design interventions have different abilities to either hide or emphasize place values, such as historic value, and affect the sense of place and overall urban image.