REVITALIZATION OF FORT AREA IN TRIPUNITHURA, KERALA

Abstract

Rapid urban growth often leads to the collapse of historic urban cores, since urbanization generally occurs at a more rapid pace at city's peripheries than centers. Revitalizing historic urban centers thus makes sense from numerous perspectives, including economic efficiency, promotion of commerce, trade, and tourism; employment creation; poverty reduction and the strengthening of civic and national pride. This dissertation aims to ;draw anattempt,/to understand the critical issue: Revitalization which simply means infusing life into historic urban quarter and making it economically efficient. This dissertation begins with the identification of the problem and formulating certain aims and objectives. A review of literature and case studies were also conducted which culminated with certain transferable key lessons. These key motives were employed for analysis of the study area which is the old fort area within Tripunithura. Analytical structure was based on three parameters: natural, built, socio- cultural-economic _,. ecoomic environments. - Various revitalization concepts for historic urban quarters and the implementation strategies of revitalization were derived from several case studies. SWOT analysis method was carried out in order to analyze in detail a particular action zone (street) within the fort area. Finally dissertation terminates with certain revitalization strategies and initiatives which can be implemented for the specified study area. Several proposals were detailed out graphically for the same area. This integrated and systematic approach led to formulation of few guiding principles which can be applied for similar projects of Revitalization.