Research
An Investigation of the Densification Process of the Residential Areas of Dhaka
Dhaka is one of the most densely populated megacities of the world with demography of over 20 million people. With an annual population growth rate of 4.2% Dhaka is set to face the challenges of habitat crisis, lack of communal facilities, and constant pressure on transportation and infrastructure. In response to the demand of the rapidly growing population and scarcity of developable land, urban consolidation through vertical expansion was carried out without any proper diagnosis of the sites or any contextually appropriate densification policy. The unguided nature of densification not only brought a transformation in the urban landscape but also in the built form itself by infusing the concept of compactness into them. The compactness of multistoried dwellings is often found to compromise with the livability condition posing questions on residential sustainability. Drawing on three residential areas of varied density, age and, settlement type this paper, therefore attempts to investigate the trend of densification of the densifying residential areas of Dhaka in terms of the spatial quality of the built form its effect on the built environment. Key methods of data collection employed extensive field surveys, observations, measurements, map analysis, satellite imagery analysis, interviews with officials, and block surveys for detailed analysis of FAR, land coverage in plot and block level, height, land use pattern, and other design aspects of the built form. The survey findings were analyzed through descriptive statistical methods including frequency distribution and presented through tables, charts, and cross-analysis charts contributing to a better understanding of the ongoing trend of densification.
Balancing Economic Sustainability with Densification: A Case Study of Dhaka.
Economically sustainable urban residential neighborhoods are characterized by adequate provision of physical infrastructure including transport facilities and utility services. The built urban fabric of residential areas of Dhaka has been undergoing densification operation over the past decades without considering the physical infrastructure capacity of these areas in terms of accessibility and provision of transportation and utility services. This intervention eventually exerted pressure on the existing infrastructure and caused negative externalities like traffic congestion, pollution, and water clogging. Thus, this paper aims to investigate the impact of densification on residential areas of Dhaka through the lens of economic sustainability. Seven residential areas from Old and New Dhaka that underwent various degrees of densification were selected as the study areas. Primary data was collected through a random sampling household questionnaire survey, fieldwork, and informal qualitative interviews with the residents and officials. Various published literature, newspaper articles, plans, and reports from government archives, Capital Development Authority (RAJUK), Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) provided the secondary data. The analysis is carried out in two parts. In the first part the impact of densification on accessibility to transportation facilities and utility services is analyzed in terms of availability of the services, distance to the bus stops, average travel time, modal choice, and residents’ satisfaction level. The second part explores the relationship between density and aspects of economic sustainability through Pearson’s correlation test. The findings revealed that public transportation is more accessible in lower-density areas than the higher-density residential areas owing to the road network pattern.
Densification vs Environmental Sustainability: A Study of the Residential Areas of Dhaka
The fast-evolving scenario of the global economy of the past few decades has contributed to the transformation of cities into prime economic hubs providing sustenance for the growing urban populace. In keeping pace with economic development and subsequent demand for shelter, cities are densifying through vertical expansion to avoid urban sprawl. Given the rapid urbanization along with the scarcity of developable urban land, open spaces have become a highly contested commodity, particularly in the residential of the Dhaka megacity. Driven by the profit-maximizing agenda of the developers the ongoing process of residential densification is exacerbating the situation. Urban densification of Dhaka is faced with the challenge in keeping the residential areas sustainable and environmentally friendly. This study attempts to investigate the impact of the densification process on the spatial quality of the residential built environment of Dhaka through the lens of environmental sustainability. The explorative research was conducted through a questionnaire survey, informal interviews, and field survey across seven residential areas of Dhaka undergoing the densification process.
Urban Densification and Social Sustainability: A Case Study of Dhaka
Dhaka is regarded as a thriving megacity of South Asia. The key challenges that the bustling hub is confronted with are land scarcity and the growing population. With limited land supply, the city is copping to accommodate its ever-growing population through two development strategies, namely densification and vertical expansion. Densification is regarded as an effective tool in guiding the urbanization process, while vertical expansion can be considered as a complementary part of this strategy. When it comes to application in an urban environment as a strategy, the subjective attributes of density need to be taken into consideration along with its objective aspects. As the concept of crowdedness differs generally among people belonging to different cultures, statuses, ethnicity, and geographic location, the livable density standard is also supposed to vary accordingly. The concept of habitable density for any community is profoundly related to the various aspects of social sustainability. Since densification has been taking place in Dhaka without any guidelines, the livability conditions with regards to the social sustainability of the city dwellers are largely compromised. Therefore, there is an urgent need to assess the sustainability of the residential areas of Dhaka, which have been developing as a by-product of the unguided densification process taking place over the recent decades.
