CONSIDERATIONS ON BLOCK FORMATION AND HOUSE TYPES IN WOLVENDAAL (COLOMBO, SRI LANKA)

This paper intends to clarify block formation and house types of Wolvendaal, Colombo, Sri Lanka, and analyze their transformation process. The research on which this paper is based is the further study of the project called 'Field Research on Origin, Transformation, Conversion and Conservation of Urban Space of Colonial Cities', which the major targets are Dutch colonial cities all over the world. Further to this project, comparing colonial cities in South Asia, in terms of spatial formation and transformation is the ambitious objective of this research. Another purpose is to elucidate the Dutch way of houses construction in their colonial cities, where in Wolvendaal, Dutch developed the form of town houses for high-density living. Colombo was once a head quarter of Ceylon, one of five administrative districts laid by Dutch on South Asia. Wolfendaal also played an important role in British colonial period when the city experienced rapid growth. At present, there still holds numerous town houses. This paper clarifies the spatial organization of Wolvendaal, by analyzing the distribution pattern of its facilities and block formation, based on field surveys. At the last chapter, the paper focuses on house types of Wolvendaal identified according to their physical features and planning parameters, while the transformation process of these house types are discussed as well. This paper suggests that Dutch colonial town houses still playing an important role in the organization of special formation of Wolvendaal.