Dhaka’s Urban

Morphology: The Evolution

Context
Dr. Qazi Azizul Mowla
Professor
Department of Architecture
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)
Dhaka-1000
Dhaka and its Environs
 Showing the growth of Dhaka city

Dhaka’s Urban Morphology: The Geographic Setting

 Evaluation of Dhaka during different phase

Dhaka’s Urban Morphology: Historical Context

Growth of Dhaka over last 400
years
Growth and Context of Dhaka’s Urban Morphology
Spatial Manifestation of Social Structure
Oldest pattern of settlement in Dhaka
 Showing the growth of Dhaka city

Sketch plan of Lalbag

fort by Civilian Clay
(1896)

Pre-Mughal period
Mughal period
Dhaka’s Urban Morphology: Indigenous and Mughal areas
 Dhaka River Front: Historic Situation

Zamindar Seson Jaj Principal sodor Dhaka collector’s Jibon babu`s A.H.Aratun`s House Mothur poddarer`s
hell`s House kook`s House Amin J Raili`s House House House Present Ruplal House ghut

Mirza Saint Thomas Nilkor Messer's Revenew Dhaka Nilkor jaminder

W.H Superintendent
Gulam Church Reverend Wais & Waise & comitionar Billiard E.K.Huem`s House surgeon
james
Peer’s Shefard`s gluse gluse j.denbar`s room
house Dr.Lamb`s House
house house house house house

Amiruddin Darogas Khaja alimullah`s house

Amiruddin darogah`s Arminan jomindar
house Present Ahsan Manzil
Mosque manuk`s house

Dhaka’s Urban Morphology: Sky line from the river

 Schematic layout of Muslim influenced cities in India:
The Guiding Principles

HYDERABAD : THE
THE ORIENTATION OF COMPLEX OF PUBLIC
ALIGNMENT OF THE APPLICATION IN THE BUILDINGS POSITIONED
THE MOSQUE
PRINCIPAL AXES AT SUBDIVISION OF LARGE AT THE INTERSECTION
DETERMINES THE
RIGHT ANGLES TO SPACES : GARDEN OF PRINCIPAL STREETS
DIRECTION OF THE
EACH OTHER LAYOUTS FORMS THE SINGLE
PRINCIPAL STREETS OF
THE CITY CENTRAL FOCUS OF THE
CITY

SHAHJAHANABAD DELHI - A MORE ELABORATE ARRANGEMENT OF AXES (DOUBLE FOCUS)

Settlement and Urban form with the community space as
the nucleus

Bazar (Suk)
Market
To defence out post
Mahalla
Mosque
Royal
Gardens

Govt
Govt Officers
Services Elite Mahalla
Services
Fort Mahalla
Schematic layout of an Urban centre of a Fort under constn.
Muslim dominated region.

Mosque Chouk
Bazar street
To
defence To
Principal shopping street defence
Palace out post
Fort Katra/ out post
Carvan
Seri
Police Station,
Carvan seri Axis
located around
chouk Mosque
River
Chouk
Bazars are loacted Schematic layout of Mughal Dhaka.
along all axes

Shahjahanabad (Delhi) : A mature city of Mughal typology

shows a more elaborate arrangement of axes

The pattern of Dhaka city core during the

Mughals satisfying traditional needs and the
local context
 Context of Dhaka’s Urban Morphology
Dhakeshwari Mandir – 1904
PARI BIBI’R Mazar – 1904 ( inside LaalBag Kella )
 The Spatial Module for Urban Design

THE NEED FOR PRIVATE THE COURTYARD ENCLOSURE

OR SEMI-PUBLIC SPACE A BASIC MODULE FOR SPACE THE GARDEN
DEFINED FROM ITS
THE MOSQUE
ORGANISATION
SURROUNDINGS

THE
PALACE
COMPLEX

INSTITUTIONS THE DWELLING

Urban Space from Indigenous Context
Urban form with the community space as the nucleus-
the urban core
Transformation of Chouk
 Context of Dhaka’s Urban Morphology

Chowk Bazar, Dhaka – 1885

A street scene of Dhaka – 1872

Chowk Bazar mor – 1904 ( Beside this

road today’s Sheikh Burhanuddin
College is Located…We know this road
as Nazimuddin Road today)
 Context of Dhaka’s Urban Morphology

Ramna: the Mughal Badshahi Bagh,

Race Course - First Major impact of

European Civilization

Deer Park of Nawab of Dhaka – 1875

(A place at Shahbag where perhaps
present day’s Ramna Park Located )
A scene of PURANA PALTAN, Dhaka – 1875
Tongi Bridge on TURAG River – 1885 ( This is the same road we
use now a days to communicate between Airport to Joydevpur ! )
The beginning of colonial impact
The Civil Lines
Buriganga River Side - 1880
Steel Bridge on Dholai Khal – 1904 (That BUS Conductors call LOHAR
POOL today)
 The growth of Dhaka city in 1924: Colonial Impact

Dhaka expanded toward north as

the colonial establishments like
recreational areas and European
factories were setup there.
During the Colonial period layout of
railway track demarcated the old
and the new town.

The river front was the most populated and

sought after area then.

Dhaka’s Urban Morphology: Divided between Old and New

The Civil Station
 Historic Dhaka River Front: Contemporary situation

Zamindar Dhaka
Khaja alimullah`s Nilkor Wais Hell`s House Collector A.H.Aratun`s
NorthBrook
Amiruddin house house Present House House
hall Nara
Darogah`s Present Present Fire service Present Present
Present Babur
Mosque Ahsan Manzil BAFA office Army camp Ruplal House
Lal kuthi mondir

Dhaka’s Urban Morphology: The River Front Heritage buildings

Evolving Architecture & Urban Design in Bangladesh
A British Officer’s Mess in Dhaka – 1934 (Picture taken from a Wireless Tower)
Old Dhaka college Campus – 1872
St. Thomas Church Dhaka - 1872
Narinda ( Present Day Old Dhaka ) Christian
Grave Yard - 1875
Settlement Morphology: The conceptual typology
Lanes-by lanes
 Old Town Spaces: Recent scenario

*Diversity of pattern set within a

harmonious setting stimulates the
moving people.

*Scale and proportion of void,

solid and void relationship, mild
bends etc. contributes towards
liveliness.
 Difference in Evolving Pattern

Pattern evolving out of Formal Pattern evolving out of informal or

Planning organic development

Common Traditional Types of Dwellings
Domain Interface
Semi-public Domain
Adolescent Domain
Street - Façade Relationship
 Historic Core: present situation

River.shp
Roads.shp
Structure.shp
Agriculture
Commercial Activity
Community Service
Education & Research
Governmental Services
Manufacturing and Processing Activity
Miscellaneous
Mixed Use
No_Info
Non Government Services
Open Space
Recreational Facilities
Residential
Restricted Area
Service Activity
Transport & Communication

Dhaka’s Urban Morphology: Oldest Core Land use pattern

 Historic Core: Present Situation

River.shp
Roads.shp
Structure.shp
Katcha
Pucca
Semi Pucca
Tin Shed

Dhaka’s Urban Morphology: Oldest Core Existing Structure type

 Historic Core: Present Situation

River.shp
Roads.shp
Structure.shp
1
2-3
4-5
6-9
10 - 21

Dhaka’s Urban Morphology: Oldest Core Existing Structure floor height

Contemporary Dhaka – Lost Identity

a) Massive unplanned development in

the first planned residential area ‘Wari’
of late colonial Period.
b) Crowded post colonial commercial
area at ‘Motijheel’
c) Post Independence ‘Karwanbazar-
Panthapath’ commercial area.
Contemporary Morphology of Dhaka
Evolving Pattern
 Conclusion
The guidelines implied here promote sustainable urban design.
It implies that the development must encompass three corner stones of Urban design,
that is, Development, Conservation and Public participation.

To improve the quality of urban life, the community should be encouraged to

appreciate the benefits of urban design as well as the broader environmental,
economic and social implications so as to lend their support.
In effect, the success in making a city responsive not only requires Government's
initiatives in public projects, but also relies on support from the industry
stakeholders and community throughout the development process.

In nutshell the morphology hooked up with the context is sustainable

Thank you