EDITORIAL _ Vol-13, Issue-1 _ 2009

Abstract

Protibesh, the research journal of the Department of Architecture of BUET, is the leading publication in Bangladesh in
the field of Architecture. It has been offering a platform for researchers in the region as well as from abroad who think
of similar state of affairs. This issue of Protibesh consists of five papers, each one with diversified concerns. Among
these, one paper focuses on climate and tradition; one on globalization and domestic space; one on the deltaic force
and urban development; one on visibility and open space; and the last one on the indigenous building material and
sustainability.
The first paper tilted “Transformation of Traditional Building Stocks in the historic core of Kathmandu: looking through
the prism of culture and climate”, by Dr. Bijaya K. Shrestha and Sushmita Shrestha, discusses on cultural and climatic
responsiveness of the traditional building stocks in the historic core of Kathmandu. Taking the challenge of considering
scientific issues of climate and creative and collective issues of culture in the same platform, the authors show an
excellent quality to reinstate the value attached to the historic buildings of Kathmandu. This paper seems to be an
example of architectural research involving a multidisciplinary stance.
The second paper titled “Tracing Globalization: reflection of changes in lifestyle in domestic architecture” by Dr. Zebun
Nasreen Ahmed takes the opportunity to reflect the engrossed social changes among the Bangladeshi families with
the progressive influence of globalization of knowledge. This paper comes across chronologically how the infusing
influences of globalization has been transforming the life style of Bangladeshi families and tries to reflect the
corresponding changes in the house plan or in the domestic spaces. Although this paper does not imitate from any
rigorous research background, the wealth lies in its uniqueness and in-depth observations made by individual
academic. It is also important to note the attempt to relate the role of women in the layout of domestic architecture in a
social-environment which is changing at the same time keeping it’s traditional hooks strong to it’s past.
The third paper published here is titled as “DELTA FORCE: New Cartographies of the Sundarbans- Alternative Design
Concepts for Khulnâ & Environs” by Kelly Shannon and Ward Verbakel, two visiting scholars from Belgium. This paper
is the result of a research work undertaken as part of Master’s class of KULeuven in Khulna, Bangladesh. It seems a
unique observation by the researchers into the local context of Bangladesh. It re-assesses the proposed master plan of
Khulna and presents an alternative design approach for simultaneous operation at the larger regional scale, the city
scale and the local scale.
The fourth paper in the list is “Integrating Open Space in Compact Layout: Study of a High-Density Residential
Development in Hong Kong” by Afroza Parvin. The author here represents urban design character of a high density
area in Hong Kong and analyses the situation with Space Syntax methodology. The rigorous investigation is explained
here with systematic accounts and tried to develop a model for visibility analysis in tight urban context. It has been
revealed that in spite of various limitations, the spatial configuration has significant effect on the patterns of open space
use in high-density compact built environment.
The last and fifth paper titled as “Towards Sustainable Rural Development: an Investigation on Clay based Materials,
their Appropriateness and Potential” by Fatema Meher Khan, Saimum Kabir and Shajjad Hossain presents the case of
clay based indigenous building materials and assess their sustainability in the context of rural Bangladesh. The paper
is rich with it’s first hand observations, although limited in terms of variety. It reviews the traditional materials, the mud
wall and clay roof tiles, their potential use and technical aspects with an attempt to reappraise the use of indigenous
materials towards the goal of sustainability. This sort of observations is always welcome to reorient the society and the
professionals with the progressively developing local techniques and locally made building materials.
Since last few years, Protibesh has been attempting to maintain a notable standard and offered a platform for the
upcoming authors to express their ideas and be prepared for academic writing. Nevertheless, publication of Protibesh
could be left in dream, if we could not get the lively response from our authors and reviewers. We are thankful to our
eminent and diligent reviewers who spent their valuable hours in this painstaking process. For the late publication of
this volume we take the responsibility and apologise for any inconveniences created to others. We, the present
Editorial board and the Protibesh Committee, take leave from our readers and authors with the hope of more enthused
progress of Protibesh in future. Thanks