This research project explores how the city of Kandy’s architecture reflected and influenced authority and social stratification during a period of rapid political transformation. With Sri Lanka’s history spanning over 2,500 years, the 18th and 19th centuries were particularly pivotal, marking the transition from the Kandyan kingdom (1592–1815) to British colonial rule. The study examines how Kandy’s urban planning and architecture during the Kandyan period symbolized and reinforced social hierarchy. The central positioning of the royal palace and the Temple of the Tooth Relic, now UNESCO World Heritage Sites, highlighted power and authority, surrounded by elite dwellings and administrative structures, while commoners’ houses were relegated to peripheral areas. The city’s fortified design and winding streets not only served defensive purposes but also regulated mobility, reinforcing social stratification and the dominance of the elite.
The research will also investigate the influence of British (as well as Portuguese and Dutch) engagement on architectural design and social organization. It will assess how British colonialism reshaped Kandy’s urban space, repurposed historical buildings, and established new decision-making networks.
Focusing on archival materials from Sri Lanka and colonial administrative records, the study aims to answer three key questions:
- How did urban organization change under British colonialism?
- What roles did historical buildings serve during this time?
- What networks influenced architectural and urban decisions?