Morphological Transformation of Gulshan Area: Cause and Effects

Abstract

Cities are vigorous in nature. It has a habit of grow and change depending on its interface among diverse social, economic and political environment. It is the common nature of cities to embrace changes with time which create entirely new kinds of fabric and with this the basics of urban form have changed a lot. The city of Dhaka has its long history since 17th century which had experienced dramatic changes over the last few decades. Over the time, Plots, low lands and water body and open spaces have been transformed into different developed areas. It has been grown in a natural way without any rigid planning proposal although it has some parts deliberately designed by the city authority for residential purpose. As a result, the growing city seems to have exhibited a series of organic and formal spatial pattern at the same time. Furthermore, to meet the demand of increasing residents the city has stretched in diverse parts, shifted its core and formed new urban activities. As a result, single family house plot has been transformed into multi-layer residential unit and in some parts of the city the residential plots have been converted into commercial purpose which is the consequences of the transformation process. Logically, it has become a vital to articulate Detailed Area Plan for Dhaka and this bold decision by RAJUK may prove to be constructive for the city in the long run. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the cause and effect of social, functional and spatial changes of the residential area of Gulshan area, Dhaka due to morphological transformation of plot and land use pattern for various reasons. As well as to explore how the development control planning organizations involvement can mitigate the situations.