http://lib.buet.ac.bd;localhosthttp://:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/51 Post graduate dissertations (Theses ) of Department of Architecture Tue, 21 Apr 2026 03:40:22 GMT 2026-04-21T03:40:22Z http://lib.buet.ac.bd;localhosthttp://:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/7218 Living condition in the Rohingya settlement camp in Kuthupalong at Ukhiyacox's Bazar Gomes, Dr. Catherine Daisy; Jahidul Islam; 0418012019; 727.0954923/JAH/2025 The Kutupalong Rohingya settlement camp, situated in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, is one of the largest and most densely populated refugee camps in the world. Established to provide temporary refuge for the Rohingya community fleeing persecution in Myanmar, the camp currently shelters approximately 1,003,394 refugees who arrived during a significant influx beginning in August 2017 (UNHCR, 2024). The Rohingya, a Muslim minority group, have sought safety and the opportunity to rebuild their lives in 34 makeshift camps within the Kutupalong area (Mohajan H. K, 2018). These camps are characterized by overcrowded living conditions, limited resources, and significant challenges related to shelter, sanitation, healthcare, and food security. This thesis investigates the living conditions of Rohingya refugees in Kutupalong, focusing on the spatial organization of shelters and the socio-cultural factors shaping their arrangements. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines qualitative interviews with Rohingya families and community leaders and quantitative mapping techniques to analyze shelter layouts and their significance. This integrated methodology provides a comprehensive understanding of how the Rohingya adapt to their environment and navigate displacement challenges. The findings reveal that shelter layouts in Kutupalong are deeply influenced by cultural practices, social relationships, and shared values. The spatial organization reflects the community’s traditions, such as extended family structures, communal living, and gender-based privacy norms. These arrangements help maintain a sense of identity, belonging, and mutual support despite harsh conditions. Additionally, the research highlights adaptive strategies employed by families, including modifications like bamboo partitions, tarpaulin sheets, and elevated flooring to enhance privacy, create communal spaces, and protect against environmental challenges such as monsoons and extreme heat. By exploring the interplay between culture and spatial organization, this thesis underscores the importance of integrating cultural contexts into humanitarian responses. It advocates for culturally informed approaches to designing interventions, ensuring they are effective and sensitive to the needs of displaced communities. The insights gained have significant implications for humanitarian agencies and policymakers, emphasizing the need to move beyond standardized solutions and prioritize the unique socio-cultural dynamics of refugees. Ultimately, this research celebrates the resilience and adaptability of the Rohingya community while offering valuable lessons for addressing displacement crises worldwide. It highlights the importance of dignity, hope, and culturally sensitive support in rebuilding the lives of displaced populations. Sat, 25 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://lib.buet.ac.bd;localhosthttp://:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/7218 2025-01-25T00:00:00Z http://lib.buet.ac.bd;localhosthttp://:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/7203 Daylighting and energy use intensity-driven façade design optimization for office buildings in the context of Dhaka Ashikur Rahman Joarder, Dr. Md.; Kundu, Gourab; 0418012010; 729,0954922/KUN/2025 Bangladesh's rising energy demand and the need for sustainable built environments have made green building designs increasingly popular. However, the growing trend of practicing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified green buildings in Bangladesh primarily focuses on using energy-efficient equipment. In Dhaka, many office buildings feature fully glazed façades, which minimize the need for artificial lighting but cause excessive daylight penetration, resulting in glare, solar heat gain, and increased energy consumption for cooling. Optimizing architectural parameters during the design phase can significantly lower energy consumption. The building envelope plays a key role in energy regulation, with its design significantly impacting heat gain and loss. In warm and humid areas, i.e., Dhaka, reducing the window-to-wall ratio (WWR) can help minimize solar heat gain but may also increase the need for artificial lighting. To counteract heat gain through large openings, the use of shading devices is essential. However, improper shading can reduce daylight availability, so careful design of façade parameters for each orientation is necessary to ensure adequate daylight while avoiding increased energy consumption. Therefore, there is a need for optimization strategies that identify the appropriate parameters for façade design elements, ensuring a proper balance among various building performance metrics, such as daylight, energy use, visual comfort, and thermal comfort. This research aims to optimize façade parameters (WWR ratio and horizontal shading depth) in Dhaka's office buildings to enhance daylight, ensure visual comfort, and reduce energy consumption. The study employed quantitative, computational, and analytical techniques and followed a four-step framework. The study began with an extensive literature review to identify key façade predictors. In the second phase, Rhino and Grasshopper were used to create a parametric test model for daylight and energy simulations. The models were then merged and analyzed in ClimateStudio and Octopus with genetic algorithms for optimization. Finally, the results were statistically evaluated through scatterplot analysis, which highlighted the trade-offs between daylighting and energy efficiency. A frequency distribution of façade design variables in Pareto-optimal solutions was conducted to identify effective value ranges for crucial façade design parameters. This analysis ultimately led to a sensitivity assessment of these parameters to ensure optimal performance. To visually analyze the optimum solutions, the Design Explorer was utilized effectively. The research identified optimized façade solutions achieving sDA300/50% values over 90%, ASE1000, 250h below 10% and an average EUI of 256.66 kWh/(m²y). Increasing the WWR on north and south façades enhances daylight, while reducing it on east and west façades controls solar exposure and lowers EUI. The study highlights that deeper shading on south, east, and west façades further decreases EUI. An ideal façade design includes high WWR on the north (80-100%), moderate to high WWR with deep shading on the south (51-100%), and low WWR with deep shading on the east and west (11-30%). This balanced approach optimizes daylight quality, solar control, and energy efficiency, showcasing a multi-objective optimization method that supports architects in making informed early design decisions. The potential for net-zero buildings may exist if other factors are further explored. Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://lib.buet.ac.bd;localhosthttp://:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/7203 2025-01-20T00:00:00Z http://lib.buet.ac.bd;localhosthttp://:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/7182 Exploring inclusive design criteria for the vision impaired students in Dhaka university campus Khan, Dr. Nayma; Khan, Zareen Jahan; 0418012009; 741.60954922/ZAR/2024 Ensuring accessibility and spatial planning in educational institutions is vital for students with vision impairments. Research indicates the challenges these students face on campus and the importance of inclusive design solutions. This study focuses on establishing inclusive design criteria for creating accessible university campuses, using Dhaka University as a case study. It examines the routes from residential halls to academic buildings for residential students with visual impairments. The research approach included a thorough field survey to identify barriers along the selected routes. Subsequently, a behavior observation was conducted and a close-ended questionnaire was administered with a five-point Likert scale. Through the behavior observations, the study identified navigation challenges faced by visually impaired students. The questionnaire survey provided valuable feedback on personal orientation and mobility skills, utilization of non-visual senses during navigation, as well as the physical, informational, and cognitive barriers encountered within the campus. Later a correlation analysis was conducted to comprehend the influence of these factors on navigation challenges. Additionally, from focus group discussion, specific qualitative feedback on barriers, the use of non-visual senses, and the effectiveness of assistance were gathers. Furthermore, participants shared potential interventions to address the barriers they encounter on the Dhaka University campus. Based on the research findings, several key barriers were identified that impact participants, particularly concerning parking, building entrances, and physical obstructions along pathways termed as physical barriers. These findings provide valuable insights that can guide us in addressing these challenges to create a more accessible environment for all students. It's important to consider the impact of these barriers, especially on female students, and to work towards implementing solutions that will enhance accessibility and improve the overall experience for everyone. Additionally, the research highlights the significance of non-visual signage and path layout in addressing information and cognitive barriers, offering us opportunities to make meaningful improvements in these areas. Later a set of inclusive design guidelines are proposed in the selected site of Dhaka University campus. It will help architects, designers and planners for further designing and planning an inclusive campus . Finally, The research outcome will support to achieve sustainable goal-4 by ensuring inclusive and equitable quality higher education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for visually impaired students. Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://lib.buet.ac.bd;localhosthttp://:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/7182 2024-10-01T00:00:00Z http://lib.buet.ac.bd;localhosthttp://:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/7176 Study on the role of internal open spaces for student’s informal interaction in vertical university campus Nilufar, Dr. Farida; Swagota Rownak, Khandoker.; 1014012022; 711.4/SWA/2023 Social interaction among university students is a primary factor in their learning for higher education. In highrise vertical universities, the provision for designing any social space within a building complex is quite challenging. Due to land constraints & other financial factors, the private institutions construct a compact & introverted kind of highrise building where educational facilities are accommodated. Architects are found to design internal open spaces in the form of a central or linear-shaped plaza, surrounded by building blocks in the university campus. These open spaces have the potential to act as social spaces in this compact built environment. This research tries to find the spatial and design aspects of this internal open space to accommodate students' informal interaction. This research identified the campus activities of university students that are social interactions in learning scenarios through a literature review. These activities are explored in two case studies through student interviews and observation. The spatial values of internal open spaces are identified by measuring accessibility and visibility using space syntax. The correlation method revealed the relation of occurrence of interaction with the spatial values of the parts of the internal open space in these case studies. Findings show that, although having different morphological characteristics, the internal open space in both case studies plays a significant role in accommodating students’ informal interactions. The internal open space in both cases is spatially more integrated than other spaces in the total building system. The study also revealed, that in vertical university campuses, additional social space is needed for upper-floor students. The other findings from this research suggest few design guidelines for accommodating large or small group interaction and static or moving interaction in the internal open space. Tue, 28 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://lib.buet.ac.bd;localhosthttp://:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/7176 2023-03-28T00:00:00Z