EDITORIAL _ Vol-17, Issue-1 _ 2019
Abstract
Protibesh, the research journal of the Department of Architecture of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) focuses on the scholarly articles of Architecture and allied disciplines. The Editorial Team invited papers from a wide range of researchers and professionals home and abroad. The team has worked hard to enhance the overall standard as International journal. This issue of Protibesh included papers both from National and International. The Editorial Board has also involved a big group of national and international scholars as reviewers.
This first issue, under the current Editorial Board, has four articles which covered researches on Informal Sector Housing, Placemaking, Disaster Resilience, Built environment Mapping and Quality of Life Framework for Settlement Upgradation. The first paper titled “Placemaking through Transformation and Adaptation within Informal Settlements: A case of Ershadnagar Resettlement Camp”, by Tazrin Islam and Enam Rabbi Adnan, discusses the transformation process of an existing peri-urban informal settlement located at Tongi, Dhaka. The paper shows the scope of looking at informal settlements in Bangladesh through the lenses of ‘Place’ and ‘Placemaking’, which will ensure ideas to develop comprehensive ideas for slum dwellers.
The second paper titled “Challenges of Upgrading Urban Informal Settlements for Improving Quality of Life: Case of Rupsa Slum, Khulna, by Sk. Kabir Ahmed and Sarder Shakil Ahmed, presents the case of Rupsa Slum in Khulna. This study attempts to identify the challenges of participatory slum upgradation projects that have attempted to improve the quality of life in informal settlement. The paper proposes a Quality of life (QoL) framework of the community as a means while addressing the of informal settlement upgradation by adopting a participatory approach by the community.
The third paper titled “Dwelling Unit Prototypes for Rural Bangladesh for Greater Adaptability to Changing Socio-economic and Environments Needs”, by Mujtaba Ahasan, Md. Nafizur Rahman, Shahriar Iqbal Raj and Maruf Hossain, refers to the vast informal sector dwelling units specifically in rural Bangladesh which are severely vulnerable to natural disasters. This research has examined six dwelling prototypes to address the challenges of using locally available organic material and traditional construction methods. Such effort will encourage improvement at least in three categories: constructional improvement for resilient structure, supplementary energy technologies to meet growing energy demand and improved health and sanitation of the occupants.
The last and the fourth paper titled “Storytelling and Built Environment : Mapping the Literal with the Metaphorical”, by Sulagna De and Dr. Manik Ghosh, argues on the relationship between sociological concept of storytelling and built environment in architecture. The concept elaborates how the intangible expressions and perceptions that a story creates on our minds can be transformed into tangible form through spatial experience and providing a sense of place. The paper brings out the vast scope of further research by detailed study of ‘narrative’ and the parameters namely Knowledge Appreciation, Transformation and Hermeneutics; their functional role to connect storytelling and architecture and practical implementation in design process.
On behalf of all the members of the Editorial board, I express sincere gratitude to all the reviewers and technical members who reviewed the articles and advised amendments to the authors. My heartfelt regards to all the members of the Editorial Board and other Committees related to formatting, printing and publishing for their countless effort and time to bring this Issue of Protibesh in light.
