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Urban Design · Master Planning

Gurunagar Fishing Harbour & Community Zone

Jaffna · Lagoon Development Master Plan

Planning and development of the built environment ensures that the various thematic interventions proposed in the master plan for the development of the Jaffna, Uppuaru and Thondamanaru lagoons are accompanied by strategic and sustainable supporting infrastructure with the overall aim of improving the living standards and quality of life of the lagoon populations.

Key focus areas
01

Lifestyle & Consumption

Supporting the livelihoods, markets and everyday rhythms of the fishing community.

02

Sustainable Planning & the Built Environment

Development that responds to the cultural identity and fragile coastal setting.

03

Mobility & Accessibility

Connected streets, waterfronts and public spaces that move people and goods.

04

Integrated Infrastructure

Strategic services woven through the public realm to underpin daily life.

Realizing the vision

Gurunagar Fishing Landing Site & Community Zone · 8 ha existing land, 30 acres with reclaimed land
Gurunagar Fishing Landing Site site context plan, Jaffna
Gurunagar Fishing Harbour proposed master plan visualisation
Gurunagar Market existing and proposed
Gurunagar foreshore existing and proposed

Green & sustainable

Three principles guiding the development
Gurunagar green and sustainable public realm visualisations

Ecology

  • Providing a buffer zone between the proposed fishing-zone development and important shorebird roost sites.
  • Preserving and enhancing existing native vegetation.
  • Dedicated conservation areas within and around the selected fishing zones, especially at Gurunagar.
  • A public-realm and landscape strategy that complements the outstanding ecological and natural landscape values of the sites.

Public Realm

  • An interconnected network of open spaces balancing leisure and recreation with conservation of the sensitive coastal environment.
  • Enhancing beach parks and delivering foreshore parklands with diverse activity zones, including youth activities.
  • An urban public-realm network of retail shops, walking facilities and attractively landscaped beachfront, streets and mid-block connections.

Built Form

  • Ensuring built form responds to the existing cultural identity and tropical, coastal setting.
  • Designed and constructed to best-practice sustainability and efficiency standards.
  • Implementing water-sensitive urban design throughout public and private open spaces.
Location
Jaffna Town, Sri Lanka
Programme
Urban Design, Master Planning
Role
Consultant architect to Master Hellies Pvt Ltd.
Status
Proposal