Are we safe in the city’s urban architecture?

Although public places like Suhrawardy Udyan are meant to be fun and social, many residential areas suffer from major design problems that make them unsafe and unhealthy. Fast-paced apartment buildings in Dhaka’s scattered neighborhoods have led to buildings that do not always take into account basic issues such as fire safety, structural stability and air. The terrible FR Tower fire in Banani in 2019 brought this issue to light in the saddest way possible, killing 25 people and showing how deadly carelessness can be. The accident revealed problems such as lack of fire escapes, stairs that are too narrow and not being prepared for situations in general. Unfortunately, these types of deaths show how important safety is in building design. However, Dhaka’s rapid growth has meant that rules are often broken, resulting in money being quickly spent on the safety and well-being of residents.

The fact that Dhaka’s infrastructure is not helping the most vulnerable populations is also worrying. Accessibility is still a major problem in many buildings and outdoor areas. Take the case of Rahman, a wheelchair-bound resident of Dhaka who finds it difficult to get around every day because the sidewalks are narrow, poorly maintained and often blocked. Public places such as schools, hospitals and government buildings usually do not have the right equipment to help people with disabilities do things that they should easily do themselves. There’s a bigger problem with architectural planning that doesn’t take people into account: Dhaka wants to be a great city, but it doesn’t have simple inclusive design.

Dhaka is one of the most polluted cities in the world and the lack of greenery in the city only compounds these problems. The construction boom has turned green areas into concrete buildings, which is bad for residents’ mental health, air quality and cities’ biodiversity. Green design is important to make places healthy and less polluting. One project that shows how this kind of planning can improve things is Hatirjheel, which has converted a neglected canal into a vibrant public space. But while the project made the city look better and reduced pollution, it also showed how important it is to maintain and grow open spaces throughout the city to create healthy, balanced cities.

By using Environmental Experience Design (EXD) ideas it is possible to make spaces safer and more inclusive. EXD is a new idea in a building that focuses on creating places that are good for people’s mental and physical health. This method takes into account things like natural light, airflow, temperature, comfort and room layout, recognizing that these all influence how people feel. For example, a well-designed hospital in Dhaka could include green areas, natural light and noise-reducing materials to help people heal, just as hospitals in other parts of the world have done. Research shows time and time again that well-designed places help patients heal faster and feel less stressed. Dhaka could use an EXD method to turn its schools, hospitals and other public buildings into places that promote health, safety and connection with others.

Dhaka’s architecture often reveals how unequal the social and economic conditions are in the city. The construction of luxury apartments next to informal settlements and large shopping centers opposite busy street markets is a clear difference. These differences damage people’s safety and sense of worth, making public spaces feel like problems rather than useful places for everyone. We see this difference clearly in the story of Shirin, a garment worker who lives with her family in a one-room apartment. Located in a busy part of old Dhaka, her block lacks simple amenities such as clean water or proper ventilation, endangering her family’s health. Shirin’s story shows that design is more than just building things; it should also be about making lives safe and respectable.

Because of these problems, some architects and urban planners in Bangladesh are looking for new ways to make the built world safer and more humane. This includes designing buildings that use less energy, reusing old buildings in new ways and using natural elements in the design. For example, some architects are now focusing on creating community-oriented places in high-residential areas. They do this by adding things like roof gardens, communal areas and play areas that are safe for children. These small but effective treatments give people a sense of belonging and improve their quality of life by allowing them to communicate with others and no longer be alone.

Also, both government and private developers can learn from great examples around the world to make Dhaka’s architecture safer and more accessible to all. To reduce crime in cities, many countries, including Japan and the US, are using the idea of ​​Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). CPTED can make Dhaka’s public places safer by focusing on issues such as natural supervision, controlled access and activity support. This makes these areas more welcoming and safer for everyone. Using the same methods in Dhaka’s parks, transit stops and busy market areas could make the city a lot safer.

Dhaka can become a model of people-centered and resilient urban growth by putting safety, diversity and environmental awareness at the top of the list when designing buildings. Small changes, such as making high-rise buildings safe, making public places easier to access and promoting green spaces, can have a big impact on the future of the city in the long term. By using thoughtful, human architecture, Dhaka can become a city where people not only live but grow, changing the way people feel safe and welcome in cities for generations to come.

Dr. Sajal Chowdhury is an architect, lecturer at the Department of Architecture, CUET and researcher focused on Environmental Experience Design, Architectural Sciences and Wellbeing.