Revitalization of the Historic Core of Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, India—A Sustainable Approach

The process of city growth starts at the center, which turns into an inner-city as the city grows. City core becomes congested as the sizes and functions change, and those spaces struggle to cope with the modern living standards associated with healthy urban development. The urban core is not only rich in traditional treasures, but also, they have the potential for local economic growth and cultural identity regeneration. Due to haphazard urbanization, the city center confronts the prospect of neglect and contributes more to climate change due to the high concentration of people and economic activities. Hence, revitalizing these areas is beneficial for both the environment and the inhabitants. Therefore, this study attempts to address the concerns and problems that arise in the urban core of Srirangam, Tamil Nadu due to the uncontrolled expansion and a lack of suitable direction for future development. It also focuses on the design principles and guidelines for planning sustainable heritage development. The main objectives of this study are to review and analyze the trends and spatial patterns of urbanization, to sustainably rejuvenate the architectural characteristics in the streetscape, to improve the place identity and to incorporate various methods to restore the heritage character of the area. The study adopts participatory observations, semi-structured interviews, and questionnaire analysis. The findings suggested providing spaces that are more suitable for a better future and allowing inhabitants of Srirangam to live a sustainable lifestyle. Also, preserving the heritage for future generations as these cultural assets are irreplaceable historical resources.