From indigeneity to homogeneity: impact of urban transformation on residential neighbourhood spaces in Dhaka

The built vernacular heritage of Bangladesh has historically been pluralistic, characterized by informality, multi-functional use of spaces, and intermediate shared areas within residential systems that facilitated communal living. Until the colonial period, the capital city Dhaka remained largely confined to its historic core, where an indigenous urban neighborhood evolved. In the post-colonial era, socio-economic transformations, influenced by the colonial past and Western capitalist ideals, led to new residential planning and design inspired by Western typologies which metamorphosed the new urban residential fabric and spaces. As a result, contemporary residential developments, especially in formally planned areas, have compromised traditional intermediate community spaces, gradually becoming homogeneous elite enclaves or restricted gated communities for the affluent. Through ethnographic and desk research, this study documents how neighborhood spaces in formally developed residential projects of Dhaka have transformed over time, redefining communal living and contributing to the decline of broader social cohesion.