Study of resilience in vernacular architecture of water nomads in Bangladesh

Abstract

A large percentage of Bangladesh’s population lives directly beside water or derives livelihoods from its lush tropical deltaic plain sand complex riverine systems. ‘Water culture’ has played a powerful role in shaping South Asian histories, societiesand economies. The Bede traditionally live, travel, and earn their living on the river, which has given them the name of "Water Nomads" or "River Gypsy”. This Study of ‘Resilience in Vernacular Architecture of Water Nomads in Bangladesh’ is intended to find out the characteristics of resilient dwelling practices of water nomads on water and land in the context of Bangladesh. This thesis addresses a single research question: Do the lifestyle, activity, material use and construction technology stimulate resilience in vernacular architecture practice of water nomads?The broad aim of this research is to understand resilience in vernacular architecture of water nomads (Bede community) in Bangladesh by documenting and analyzing the dwellings and settlements of them. To do so it specifically aims to enhance understanding of the relationship between socio-cultural factors and resilient architecture practice of nomadic Bede community of Bangladesh.To explain their vernacular responses, the research has sought to identify and interpret their social issues,lifestyle,spatial organization, collaboration and adaptation. Adopting a mixed methodology consisting of ethnographic case study and syntactic approach,the primary research was conducted in 2settlements around Dhaka.The research employs a range of methods including observation on site,questionnaire survey of local water nomads,semi-structured interviews with various agents working for nomads and community members, relevant literature survey and analysis of historical photographs.Taking two examples of these respective tendenciesBede settlement in Keranigonj and Bede fleet on boat in Gazipur as comparative case studies. The potential of resilient nomadic living is latent in vernacular practices of water nomads. Both mobile life on boat and semi-static life on shores are studied which indicates mobility, adaptation and collaboration may be the means for resilience practice in their architecture.The research tries to find out how social context influencesthe architecture of water nomads through ethnographic study and syntactic analysis.

The vernacular compact physical features of water nomads have impacts on the socio-cultural as well as environmental aspects of this community and vise-versa. Both spatial arrangement and building technology of dwellings derive from their social activity and living pattern. The most integrated spaces of their settlement welcome more interaction and interaction allows them to be more united as well as collaborative. Living in an adverse mobile situation enables them to be more creative and adaptive. The research examined, whether the mobilityand lifestyle of Bede community enhance the scope of an adaptive and collaborative life in their physical settlements as well as enables them to be more resilient both socially and ecologically.