Saad Kaikobaad
BRAC University | Dhaka

Abstract:
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.                                                             .                                                                     

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 and create scope of interaction. 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.

.                                                                                                       .
Choosing the study area:  
Dhaka is being said to be established 400 years ago. The character of the city has changed time to time but on an undeviating rhythm from Old Dhaka to Purbachal new city. Old Dhaka, Dhanmondi, Gulshan – all the residential areas have similar qualities but recreation and tradition is fading with the extension of Dhaka. Gulshan as a residential area was established in 1961 but still has no memory and history with less recreational facilities but restaurants and shopping centers welcoming more and more people of different income from outside to be used as a mixed use area as most of the offices prefer a location at Gulshan for marketing value. So this can be chosen as a study area as filters like time, season and users can be applied on the area. It’s a perfect example to showcase how to design our urban cities with the help of the context because of the different fabrics of the different areas.                                        .                                                              .                                                                                     
Approach towards Ideas:
 Gulshan 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 improvisation can make a promising change in the lifestyle of the dwellers. With a visible and strong connection and easy access, it 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.

The development of the programs inspired with the user’s behavior and several surveys what actually lacks in there. Either the functions come of the need or from future demand. Such as High income group of people with a good interest over art lives in the area, but there is no such place to exhibit art again low income group visits here for their livelihood mostly walking but there is no pleasant side walk. So a multipurpose hall and a shared side walk were introduced as for the demand 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.