Open spaces are essential elements of the city having importance for different functional and leisure activities of the urban dwellers. Cities as well have hierarchy of spaces and always engaged in welcoming different events. In spite of growing densification there are some space left as urban gray which can turn into urban positive interactive space as large scale civic space is hardly to be found. Public open spaces are important to improve the social ties and social control for future generations and create a sense of satisfaction among the city dwellers.

Interaction is one of the essential psychological needs of human being for mental growth. Due to lack of public space and factors like security, privacy moreover changes in life style causing limitation of using these spaces and limiting the users.

This thesis aims at illustrating the meaning and purpose of open urban gray space in the context of Dhaka focusing on the future CBD and its role towards the life of its users. How to improve the daily used routes for better entertainment purpose and scope of interaction as most of the city dwellers are too busy with works or have less time and space for recreation. This will also refer how unused urban negative spaces can be re-used and produce as a referential framework of some convincing approaches to integrate the sense of open space within the built form for both public and private. Finally results may come how to generate responsive spaces and bring life into them solving the public realm issue with a pedestrian corridor.

Approach towards Ideas: Gulshan area has primary connection from Kamal Atatuk to Notun Bazar and Mohakhali to Badda Link road with only secondary connection from Banani 11 and Badda Jhilpar. These secondary connections have weak pedestrian linkages where some improvisation can make a promising change in the lifestyle of the dwellers. With a visible and strong connection and easy access for the user can generate interest in people with some activity space where users can stop or take a pause. So with the target to connect the pedestrians using the government land and sharing policies a walk able environment can be ensured with some entertainment facilities for the users and residents.

Banani 11 no Bridge: Banani 11 no bridge is the secondary connection linking Gulshan and Banani itself. This is one of the most important nodes where the edges of both side of the bridge determine different types of characters. One side of the bridge is covered with trees on the government land and other side is residence and mixed use building ignoring the lake. The adjacent pathway beside the lake is not properly planned and remain un-used. A Ghat and a dedicated pedestrian bridge a little far from the chaotic vehicular bridge can add an experiential cum functional zone out of the requirement.

Gulshan Central Mosque: A pedestrian connection straight from Banani Lake Bridge to central mosque walkway can make an easy connection between two areas. Using the mosque land a shared sidewalk and cycle route can ensure easy movement for the users.

Rajuk Park, Gulshan: Rajuk park, previously wonderland and converted into a park which did not work functionally. Presently it is being used by local children and boys as a play filed at the evening and most of the time unused. This can be turned into a place for all age groups and introducing required functions and amenities.  As the area lacks of proper exhibition cum multipurpose hall can be introduced here along with a amphitheater, underground parking, mostly open field as before, exercise zone and extension of Gulshan Youth club.

Badda Jhilpar: Badda jhilpar is most used secondary entrance for pedestrian user linking Badda and Gulshan. There are lots of vendor of the lake blocked illegal bridge. This bridge is mostly used during weekdays. Both side of the lake is very much different from each other compared to residence quality and livelihood but both depends on each-others. Ghat and proper vending zone is the basic requirement of the area.

City is a place where people get fascinated by its availability of resources and different opportunities of earning livelihood. For a congested city like Dhaka it is very much hard-hitting to control the over population and meet their demand. In the path of involuntary life, urban civic space adds a resting point to the people‘s life. Dhaka city with hundred complains from the dwellers contains actions of festivals, food, architecture, customs and rituals and most importantly its own people. But what it lacks is interventions of small or big civic spaces throughout the city, mostly in the newly emerged and growing side to give people an environment in the city context which can ensure better, happy and healthy living environment.

Walkthrough animation of the project

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