Sustaining the identity of Farashgonj through the integration of development, disaster management and preservation

Abstract

In the development process of Old Dhaka (The old part of Dhaka), the inherent issues of the area, like social value, heritage, culture and vulnerability, are often ignored. Including all these issues is commonly practiced in efficient city planning during urbanization. As an integral part of Old Dhaka embedded in the old historical sites, history must be considered as the area's socio-architectural resources and cultural value. The city developers often forget the history and heritage of Old Dhaka and ignore the history of the city's development and the inhabitants' social value. At the same time, they plan for the development of the city. So, heritage structures and historic sites must be included in the city planning. Natural or artificial hazards are another issue that significantly disrupts Old Dhaka's settlement. The study intends to explore how to develop Old Dhaka by including efficient approaches to mitigate existing hazards and prominent heritage structures following the efficient method of preservation, restoration and retrofitting. The study was conducted in Farashganj, a crucial mixed-use hub of Old Dhaka, which is very resourceful and has several historic sites. The research will show how the existing landmark sites can be sustained through the integration of development, disaster management and preservation of historic buildings.