Evaluation Method for the Exploration of Old Buildings in Architectural Design Studio

Abstract

Bachelor of Architecture is a five-year course, where each design studio has its own goal. Curriculum of fourth year is primarily concerned with social and urban issues. The history of Bangladesh is significant because it stands with a very long cultural legacy of hundreds of years. Awareness to the traditional architecture and the concept of architectural conservation has less focus in profession. However, it is our moral obligation as architects, to preserve these rich inheritances through the exploration of old buildings. Therefore, study of historical buildings is of utmost important in fourth year design studio. This is practiced in various schools of architecture in numerous ways. A structured method and training helps to inspire not only students, but also researchers and academics to assess old buildings in a precise way. Thus, promising conservation projects in design studios will help to develop a system for evaluating the old buildings, which will guide us to fix some strategies to conserve our heritages for the future. This paper is an approach to that ways and means of encouraging conservation of old buildings in architectural design studios. The main objective of this paper is to propose a design process in architectural studios, based on some literature reviews. Itwill help students to address the issues [social, historical, psychological and emotional contents of built form and environment] easily and thus make a clear understanding of overall aspects of their projects. As most of the old buildings in the country are derelict and are now abandoned, the paper also proposes some recommendations to develop a research cell in every department, where the information can be preserved and accessed by all. A data base and inventory will be developed, which also encourages future researchers to work in this potential sector of the country.