Vertical Lane-scape: Co-design of Participatory Block Development in Bangshal

Project idea

Old Dhaka is the historic heart of Bangladesh's capital city. With its densely packed buildings and high population density, Old Dhaka embodies a rich social mosaic of diverse occupations and communities, interspersed with heritages. However, observations confirm that Old Dhaka's livability needs improvement. This project proposal is in Bangshal, a sub-district within Old Dhaka.
The government proposed block development as a solution to improve Old Dhaka. However, small private plots lack development potential under current building rules, challenging the viability of this approach. Our project challenges this viability issue and proposes an alternative participatory block development approach.

The project pursued two key stages: fieldwork and co-design. It included surveys, resident interviews, and a stakeholder's workshop to identify design goals for participatory development in Bangshal. The survey aimed to analyse both the tangible and intangible resources in the existing community. Analysis of tangible elements exposes congestion issues, prompting vertical expansion with increased stories. The limited space has driven a rise in mixed-use buildings. Unplanned vertical growth stems partly from plot size reduction through inheritance division. Financial feasibility comes from tenancy and shops on the ground floor.
Observation of intangible factors helped understand the social dynamics. Lanes connecting shops, houses, and informal activities serve as the main interaction spaces. Elderly residents socialize at tea stalls beside lanes. With no open fields, children use the lanes as pseudo-playgrounds. Families are conservative, with stay-at-home wives socializing through domestic work while men work outdoors. This community has an autonomous pride and is hostile to third-party (developer) intervention. Therefore, architectural interventions must be culturally sensitive, as occupants share conservative values and tight community bonds.

This led to the conclusion that co-design with a participatory approach was necessary, involving users and stakeholders in the design process.

Project description

The goal was to formulate a program for affordable housing, addressing the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Old Dhaka while abiding by building codes. Situated within a tropical monsoon-type climate zone, the layout ensures optimal exposure to daylight and cross-ventilation in the dwelling units. It addresses social values through corridors and activity spaces. Vertically linked corridors, communal areas, and roofs serve as flexible interaction hubs, imitating lane characteristics. Kitchen windows open to corridors, allowing women's interaction. Seating areas suit elderly residents. The design is suitable for Old Dhaka's conservative, close-knit community.
In summary, the project aims to improve Old Dhaka's livability through participatory development in Bangshal. Design priorities emerged from surveying residents and co-designing to meet cultural and communal needs. The result reconnects neighbors in communal spaces tailored to values. This community-involved ideology may spread to turn it into a better neighborhood.

Technical information

The design proposes accumulating 2 private plots to create a 2528 sqm block. 30% of the land is designated as soakable green space (15% for public use) as per building codes. Increasing floor area ratio incentives could encourage developer involvement. The proposal uses a modified FAR value to propose a 9-storey building accommodating 112 dwelling units, 20 shops, and 4 godowns (in the basement), ensuring users' financial feasibility.