A Breathing Space: Urban Development Of Dhupkhola Math | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration

Site Context

Site Location: The site location is central to the Ganderia area in Dhaka, and has connections to the surrounding neighbourhood. It’s where residents of nearby communities gather, hang out, and spend quality time with their loved ones. With time, the field has come to symbolise the community’s pride and history. Several notable landmarks can be found in the vicinity of the site, such as educational institutions, mosques, temples, historical sites, hospitals, train stations, and business districts.

Site Surroundings: Dhupkhola Math is surrounded by a variety of structures in Ganderia. The local community serves a variety of purposes, and the site itself is surrounded by a wide range of uses, from commercial to religious. Dhupkhola Math is surrounded by a mixed-use neighbourhood with commercial and residential buildings. The periphery of Dhupkhola Math is home to a fruit market, kacha bazaar, mobile vendors, retail stores, and a few food stores.

Today, the city has less open space because of high property values, overcrowding, poor maintenance, and insufficient security. People rarely go for walks just to get some fresh air. Although there are parks, ignorance and security concerns are dividing people based on class. Urban dwellers in Dhaka hardly ever get to enjoy recreational activities in urban open spaces. A more individuated, self-centred, and mechanistic society has resulted from people spending more time at home.

Design Process

Finding and Possibilities: The majority of today’s generation is desperate for independence and is estranged from their families. Since humans are social beings by nature, interaction and communication are essential to a child’s psychological development, according to research. Children who used to play in the field are now confined to their homes due to a lack of safe play areas, which makes them feel more alone in society and fosters negative perceptions of them.

Children’s development depends on their socialisation. They need to improve their ability to communicate with peers and adults alike. It all comes from having a good upbringing. Taking them to a playground is therefore crucial for their growth. By using those components, a cordial relationship with the surrounding neighbourhoods will be established. Additionally, children will have a private green space where they can play and hang out with friends.

Neighbourhood Connection: This place could be called the neighbourhood’s central hub. This location is a landmark for identifying other places. Furthermore, this is the neighbourhood’s only open green space. This place therefore contains a multitude of memories and cultural heritage.

Final Outcome

The layout is divided into three zones: Private space, Semi public space and Civic Space. While the semi-public area houses the community club, library, and multipurpose area, the private space houses the administration and security zone. With its playgrounds, gardens, stores, and food court, the civic space offers the most engaging areas.

An increased outdoor-indoor interaction is achieved by providing access to the green space from all directions. The bicycle and pedestrian path around the site’s edge promotes social interaction in the neighbourhood. Vegetation has been incorporated in order to filter airborne dust and lessen the amount of noise produced by vehicles.

Group activities that can unite neighbours and families, like obstacle courses, team sports, and group games, are promoted through the interactive playgrounds. In addition to providing entertainment, community events like outdoor movie nights, concerts, or art fairs will encourage people to gather and socialise.

Building a sense of community through green slope areas that encourage people to congregate and communicate with adjacent neighbourhoods is a great way to foster social interaction. To encourage socialisation and conversation among people, green slope areas can include the following features and activities:

1- Community gardens: It encourages pride and cooperation among gardeners by allowing residents to cultivate their own plots. Mutual gardening advice can strengthen relationships between people who have a passion for plants.

2- Picnic Areas: To put up benches and picnic tables so that people can congregate for relaxation or meals. In order to promote the sharing of culinary skills, these spaces can also hold neighbourhood potlucks or food festivals.

3- Sports Tournaments: Hosting athletic competitions in sports like basketball, cricket, and football. Participant cooperation and communication are fostered by team sports in addition to physical activity promotion.

Conclusion: Improving the quality of green spaces and pavements with some notable design choices can attract more people to engage in their activities. While some circumstances may require a different approach, it is imperative to preserve open space without interspersing it with urban green space.

[This Academic Project has been published with text submitted by the student]