Urban Domestic Courtyards in the Twenty-First Century: A Study of Changing Spatial Design and Activities

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study examines the impact of rapid urbanization and modern lifestyle changes on traditional urban courtyard houses in Mymensingh City, Bangladesh. Focusing on eight household-level courtyards established in the late twentieth century, the research analyzes their transformations in spatial design and activities from the 1970s to the 2023s. Through qualitative case studies and interviews, the study identifies that the existing courtyards are in a state of endangerment due to the rapid urban growth of the city. The study tracks the evolution of courtyards through three distinctive phases, reflecting changes in family dynamics, lifestyle preferences, and urbanization pressures. In Mymensingh city, traditional courtyard houses are gradually giving way to more compact household designs, with dining spaces taking precedence over the outdoor courtyard. The study highlights a significant shift in traditional courtyard activities and the emergence of new ones in response to changing lifestyles. However, accommodating these new activities within courtyards is also a challenge due to urban land constraints and surrounding tall constructions that limit courtyards’ original spatial quality and climatic performance. The findings emphasize the need for a balanced coexistence of vertical urbanization and traditional courtyard-based living. Architects and urban planners can use these insights to preserve traditional courtyards amidst rapid urban development, locally and in other regions where courtyard architecture is also threatened by rapid urbanization.