Study of the development of Zamindar house, Dhaka division

Abstract

Under the colonial discourses, tapid changes have been occurred in every aspecl of socio-cullural and economical perspectives in whole Bengal, e'p""ial1y in Banglade,h. TIlese changes had direct influenecs in the field of development of architecture. The geo-climatic malrix of thi, region along "ilh the occidental style of architecture propagated dramatic changes in the form and technology of the architecture in different manners and volume. In thesc versatile spectrums of colonial architecture', Zamindar houses were the striking subject in hoth of local and Europcan concepts. The concept of Zamindal'i or Zamindar had evoked a new dimension hy the 'Permanent SeUlement Act' of 1793, popularly known as 'ehiro.,thai bOlldobosIO", which for tlle first time confirmed the o"nership of land by Zamindars in colonial period, TIlis settlement act helped to providc some smooth ttansaetion of rcvenue collection as wcll as for developing a new class in the ,ocioeconomical COlltextof !Jangladesh. These new elite c1asscs of the >ocicty in association with colonial rulers adopted ,,"d followed European philosophy and orientatiou which is reflected in their writings, orienlations and of course in their architectures. The giant editiees of Zamindars are the events of heritage "hich is the texturc of colonial creeds - a mutual context of local and European a,peets. rhe present re,earch is a primary step to explore the type of architecture framework in a precise volume of Zamindar house' of the 'colonial Dhaka divi,ion", The research raise' que,lions mostly rclated wilh (he scheme of Zamindari and its infrastructure dcvelopment in rcspect of architecture. The prescnt study discusse, the main theme of the architecture adopted in Zamindar houses of Dhaka division in a particular fmmework of time, contexl, space and form which will heip to study the development of Zamindar house and its architecture in a wider asp""t of Bangladcsh. "Ihe 'ludy also investigated the socio-politieal and cuhural norms, tllc architectural matrix of the Zamindar houses as weli as (JICframework of architectllre and its typology, The study ultimateiy t"CsolvedZamindar honses as a dynamics of oriental and occidental architecture which w"s Ilourished during the colonial period and evolved as a new chapter in the history of architecture in Bangladesh.