Contemporary walk-up house form in Dhaka : study of its evolution

Abstract

To trace the stages in tho evolutionary process oftbe conternpomry Walk-up wblm dwelling units, tho thesis ooncentrates on g:raduftl findings of different in-deplh element Firntly city's development in !emI.of its unique physical growth is lr3COd from thOl'Oughcomprehension of urbomizationand all inlegl3ted filctors.A traditional house form is !heo set in its socio-cultural settings to find out how the physical city developed within the uniqoe ftam"""",k of cultural socoario. As a broad based appru.1Ch,the study also looks at Bengali house form and in its subsequent development into urban house funn in its historical context The spatial distribution pattern of Dhaka city and its )lTOWCSsivdeeveJopmetIt has been elaborated so that the evolution of the contemporary walk_up form can be studied in fuI~ withio the total setting of the city's I"'ttem and filbric. 00 the basis of findings from """" studies from different settlement pottem, an exploration was done to find out any mo.jar predominating force !hill may b~"e physically affected the evolution proces.o (the influence of Government housing). Different det=ninanls and modifying factors which have influence on the evolution p!'OCes.w'!ere aLloprobed. The present Dhaka, a rapidly growing urban centre nf the country, e:<hibits mixed and complex set of characteristics. The metropolitan city, already a megalopoJi. _ is experiencing more pressure than ever for housing solution, because of rapid urbanization faotor. To define and anal~ lite form of the contemporary multi_storied walkup residontlal buildings in the urban areas of Dhaka selection of feP"'sentative house. involve. observation of different spaces in the house, spatia1l1l1llllge11leloltf different zones, the use pattern etc. The walk-up of contemporary Dhak~ has b<!come the most recognized and dominant urban building follll. Attempt has b<!enmade to see how life styles. social relationships, concepts of privacy, spatial concepts etc. gradually acolimatize 10 this JIMlicnlar fOIlIl in its process of formation. Analysis has been done in diversified issues to see how tbis distinct walk-up residential blocks became the most prevailing idol of coo temporary urban house fOIlIl of Dhaka.