The project “Hidden Heritage: Homes in Dhaka” forms part of a larger research initiative on “Silent Heritage: Buildings in Bangladesh” focusing on homes and other significant buildings, from the rural to the urban, and from the Mughal to the Modern. A heritage building need not be a monument or landmark building – it can be representative of an epoch or period in the history of the city or a distinctive living style. Buildings included in this project are not immediately identified or recognized as heritage buildings or landmark structures, but they do represent a particular architectural order or hold historical and social significance for the city.
A heritage building need not be a monument or landmark building; it can be representative of an epoch or period in the history of the city in many ways. Through this project, we have captured various perspectives in the form of virtual tours, timelines, stories, photographs, architectural features, and locations.
The entire project has been published online and can be accessed via the Hidden Heritage project website. The URL of the webiste is https://hiddenheritage.org. For each house there 6 separate pages where we presented the house-specific information. Please visit the website and let us know your feedback.
The project “Hidden Heritage: Homes in Dhaka” is part of a larger research framework on “Silent Heritage: Buildings in Bangladesh” focusing on homes and other significant buildings. In this inaugural phase, Bengal Institute for Architecture, Landscapes and Settlements (BI) has undertaken the documentation and presentation of selected buildings/spaces within the perimeter of greater Dhaka city, along with their historical, societal and environmental context.
Residential buildings are an essential component of any city, providing it with an urban and architectural fabric, lifestyle practices and domestic order. Several historic buildings in Dhaka have gained popularity, garnering interest for their now fading architectural qualities. However, with social and economic changes, many of the buildings are now being replaced by newer types, or often transformed with limited sensitivity to the original context. If an enriched city is an ensemble of the old and the new, Dhaka fares poorly in both the appreciation and preservation of its heritage buildings. A heritage building need not be a monument or landmark building; it can be representative of an epoch or period in the history of the city. Buildings included in this project represent an architectural order of a particular time and hold historic social significance for the city.
The project has been conceived of as an archive and a ‘digital exhibition’ on the web, with provisions for future physical exhibitions and publications. Five projects have been selected from the greater Dhaka Metropolitan area for this phase of the project.
