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The multidisciplinary International OSA ASRO KUleuven– BUET – IAB Workshop explores public space in Ramna and surroundings areas in the heart of the Dhaka, Bangladesh. During its long history, Ramna – a name that originates with the Mughal – accumulated material representation of the great societal and political forces: its Mughal origins, numerous phases of British colonialism, late and post-colonial manifestations and other major cultural assertions. Today, the area has become an in-between space: between the traditional indigenous and modern colonial part of the city; between old and new; between park and city; between nature and culture. In a certain way, this in between condition turns it into the real (empty) center of (over densified) Dhaka.
As over dense city with very few (new) public spaces, this in-between open space surely acts as an exception in Dhaka’s dense urban condition. And due to its central place in the expanded city - as well as for its cultural-historical significance – Ramna and its surrounding area is intensively used by all, regardless of class, exclusion and gender specific factors in the society. It is a major theater of all kinds of practices of everyday live, as well as for socio-cultural and political events of major significance.
Despite its privileged position and the extraordinary accumulation of practices that it hosts, this ‘everyday public space’ by excellence of Dhaka has rarely been the focus of attention for architects, urban designers and planners. In this respect, the International OSA ASRO KULeuven- IAB BUET workshop aims to explore the significance of everyday public space in Dhaka. The workshop will make this exploration on Ramna (and its surroundings). The workshop participants will challenge traditional readings of place, and aim to discover new interpretations, via a mix of trans (multi) disciplinary processes of data collection, interpretation and (graphical) representation. The aim of the workshop is to contribute to the development of new understandings about the evolution, challenges, issues and opportunities of this in-between public space.
The International workshop is financed by Vlaamse Interuniversitaire Raad, University Development Co-operation Belgium and OSA ASRO KULeuven Belgium. Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) with Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) will provide hospitality and logistic support to conduct the International workshop .Along with the local experts, Prof. Nazrul Islam, Prof. Sahrifuddin Ahmed, Prof. Ainoon Naher, Ar. Salma Shafi, and Prof. Qazi Azizul Mowla from the Department of Architecture BUET, guidance for the workshop will be provided by Prof. Bruno De Meulder , Prof. Hildegarde Heynen and Kishwar Habib from OSA, ASRO, KULeuven, Belgium. A participation certificate of the workshop will be provided after the workshop. And the workshop output will be published from OSA, ASRO KULeuven.
Interested Academicians/ Post graduate/ Masters Students, Young Professionals from substantial working experience are encouraged to express their interest by submitting the online form by 5th August 2011 at www4.asro.kuleuven.be/remappingtheplace/
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