A STUDY OF ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE MANAGEMENT BY THE INFORMAL COMMUNITY BODIES IN TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS OF OLD DHAKA IFTEKHAR AHMED (B.Arch.), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Master of Urban Design), The University of Hong Kong A THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE 2012 Acknowledgements Writing this dissertation has been a rigorous yet enjoyable experience. It wouldn’t have been possible without the valuable support of a number of individuals to whom I am sincerely grateful. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to my supervisor Dr Johannes Widodo and my co-supervisor Dr Wong Yunn Chii for their valuable guidance, continuous support and encouragement in conducting this research. Their guidance and support has been a great inspiration for me. I thank Dr. Fuad H. Mallick from BRAC University and Dr. Mahtab-uz-Zaman for their support and recommendation which helped to pursue my studies at NUS. I thank all those kind individuals who have supported me and rendered their assistance during my field study in Old Dhaka. I like to thank all the participants in the field study for their warmth and hospitality and making me feel like one of their own. Thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge about the heritage of Old Dhaka. I like to thank all the colleagues that I have met during the conferences and seminars that I attended during this study. The conversations and shared knowledge was a great support for this study. Finally, I like to thank the members of my family, my mother Tayebun nesa, my brother Taslim, my wife Tania and my daughter Nusayba. I am grateful for their love and understanding, without which this study wouldn’t have been possible. Iftekhar Ahmed January, 2012 ii Table of contents Acknowledgements……………………………….……………………………. ii Summary……………………………………………………………………….. ix List of Tables…………………………………………………………………… xi List of Figures…………………………………………………………………... xii List of Maps…………………………………………………………………….. xvi Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Research Background …………………….…………………………….... 1 1.1.1 Research Focus: Informal Heritage Management in Old Dhaka….... 3 1.1.2 Problem Statement………….………………………………………. 6 1.1.3 Gaps in Existing Studies on Urban Heritage……………………….. 8 1.2 Research Objective……………………………….……………………….. 13 1.3 Research Questions……………………………….……………………….. 13 1.4 Importance of the Research……………………………….………………. 14 1.4.1 Contribution to Theory……………………………….……………... 16 1.4.2 Contribution to Practice……………………………………….……. 16 1.5 Delimitations……………………………….……………………………... 17 1.6 Organization of Thesis…............................................................................ 18 1.7 Research Methodology………………………………………………….... 21 1.7.1 Observation as Research Tool…………………………………….... 24 1.7.2 Interview as Research Tool…………………………………………. 25 1.7.3 Grounded Theory Method…………………………………………... 28 1.7.4 Summary of Research Methodology…………………………….…... 32 Chapter 2 URBAN HERITAGE CONSERVATION 2.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………. 33 2.2 The Importance of Heritage Conservation……………………….………. 33 2.3 Definition of Relevant Terms…………………………………………….. 36 2.3.1 Heritage…………………………………………………………...... 36 2.3.2 Architectural Heritage……………………………………………… 37 2.3.3 Heritage Conservation……………………………………………… 38 2.3.4 Heritage Management…………………………………………….... 40 2.4 History of Urban Heritage Conservation…………………………………. 40 2.5 Evolution of the Concept of Urban Conservation………………………… 43 2.5.1 Shift of Paradigm: Recognizing the Intangible Values……………... 44 iii 2.5.2 Heritage and Authenticity…………………………………………... 47 2.6 Theoretical and Conceptual Developments: International Charters of Heritage Conservation…………………………………………………... 48 2.7 A Brief Critical Review of the Heritage Conservation Charters…………. 52 2.8 Urban Heritage Conservation: the Key Issues………………………….…. 55 2.9 Historic City Centers: Some Common Elements……………………….… 56 2.10 Traditional Neighborhoods in Historic City Centers…………………….. 60 2.11 Case Studies of Urban Heritage Conservation in Historic Cities of Asia 62 2.11.1 Georgetown, Penang..……………………………………………... 62 2.11.2 Lahore Walled City………………………………………………... 68 2.11.3 Lucknow…………………………………………………………... 74 2.12 Chapter Conclusion……………………………………………………... 80 Chapter 3 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND INFORMAL HERITAGE MANAGEMENT 3.1 History and Concepts of Public Participation…………………………….. 81 3.1.1 The Concept and Development of Public Participation……….…… 81 3.1.2 Essential Elements and Procedures of Public Participation……..… 86 3.1.3 Public Participation: Factors that Work For (or Against) it……..… 88 3.2 Types of Public Participation …………………………………………… 92 3.2.1 Formal Public Participation……………………..…………………. 92 a. Role of Facilitators and Authorities…………………………… 95 b. Role of Civil Society……………………………………….…. 96 3.2.2 Informal Public Participation……………………..………….…….. 98 3.3 Definitions of Relevant Terms…………………………………………… 100 3.3.1 Informal Heritage Management……………………………………. 100 3.3.2 Public………………………………………………………..……… 101 3.3.3 Public Participation…………………………………………..…….. 101 3.3.4 Community…………………………………………..…………….. 102 3.3.5 Informal Community Bodies………………………………………. 103 3.4 Heritage, Meaning and Collective Memory……………………………... 104 3.5 Community Identity and Cultural Continuity……………………………. 107 3.6 Social Value of Heritage…....................................................................... 109 3.7 Importance of Public Participation in Heritage Conservation…………… 111 3.8 Contemporary Concepts of Participatory Heritage Conservation……….. 112 3.8.1 Contemporary Ideas and Public Participation in Heritage Conservation……………………………..…………….. 112 3.8.2 Elements of Participatory Heritage Conservation………………..... 115 3.8.3 Steps and Processes of Participatory Heritage Conservation……… 117 3.9 Informal Heritage Management………………………………….………. 120 3.10 Case Studies of Community Heritage Conservation………………....... 123 3.10.1 Krishan Temple, India………………………………….………… 124 3.10.2 Astana of Syed Mir Muhammad, Pakistan………………............ 128 3.11 General Observations……………………………………..….………… 131 3.12 Chapter Conclusion………………………….……………….………… 132 iv Chapter 4 URBANISM AND HERITAGE OF OLD DHAKA 4.1 History and Overview of Dhaka city…………………………………….. 133 4.2 Urbanism of Old Dhaka: Elements………………………………………. 141 4.3 Traditional Neighborhoods of Old Dhaka: the Mahalla………………..... 144 4.4 Chronology of the Development of Traditional Neighborhoods………… 145 4.5 Mahalla, Community and Urban Form…………………………………... 146 4.5.1 Relationship of Mahalla and Community………………………….. 146 4.5.2 Sociocultural Influence on Space Formation in Mahalla…………. 147 4.5.3 Mahalla: Formation, Transformation and Continuity…………….. 151 4.5.4 Social Unit Formed by Crafts and Trade: Role of Economic Activities…………………………………………………………………. 155 4.6 Heritage of Old Dhaka: Elements………………………………........ 157 4.7 History and Living Heritage…………………………………….............. 161 4.8 Heritage as Cultural, Political and Economic Resource…………………. 163 4.9 Types of Heritage…………………………………….............................. 165 4.9.1 Community Buildings…………………………….......................... 165 4.9.2 Private Property……………….………………............................... 168 4.10 Culture and Religion: Influence of Intangible Elements on Tangible Heritage……………….………………..................................... 170 4.10.1 Cultural and Religious Events in Old Dhaka and the Continuity of Heritage……………….……………….................................... 170 4.10.2 Social, Cultural and Religious Events as Platform for Informal Heritage Management of Built Heritage…………....................... 172 4.11 Traditional Crafts of Old Dhaka….………………................................. 173 4.12 General Observations: Collective Ownership, Informal Heritage Management and Community Coordinated Continuity of Heritage…... 178 4.13 Chapter Conclusion……………………………………............................ 179 Chapter 5 FORMAL HERITAGE CONSERVATION IN DHAKA 5.1 Background of Formal Heritage Conservation in Dhaka…………………….. 181 5.2 Formal Heritage Conservation: The ‘Top Down’ Approach…………………. 182 5.3 Background of the Department of Archeology……………………………..... 183 5.4 Legislations for Heritage Conservation…………………………………........ 187 5.5 Methods of Listing Architectural Heritage…………………………………... 190 5.6 Heritage Status and Ownership…………………………………................... 193 5.7 Formal Approach to Conserving Intangible Heritage……………………….. 194 5.8 Limitations of Formal Heritage Conservation in Dhaka…………………….. 195 5.9 Case studies of Formal Heritage Conservation by Department of Archaeology……………………………………………………………………… 198 5.9.1 Formal Heritage Conservation in Panamnagar……………………. 198 5.9.2 Formal Heritage Conservation in Lalbagh fort……………………. 204 v 5.9.3 Formal Heritage Conservation of Khan Mohammad Mridha's Mosque……………………………………………………………... 211 5.9.4 Formal Heritage Conservation of Northbrook Hall……………….. 216 5.9.5 Comparison of Case Studies of Formal Heritage Conservation…… 219 5.10 Recent Steps by Formal Authorities to Protect Local Heritage……………. 221 5.11 Present Scenario after the List: Vulnerable Local Heritage………………... 224 5.12 General Observations……………………………………............................ 227 5.13 Chapter Conclusion……………………………………............................... 229 Chapter 6 COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN HERITAGE MANAGEMENT IN OLD DHAKA 6.1 Heritage Management in Old Dhaka: Active Participation of the Community 231 6.2 Stakeholders’ Role and Participation in Informal Heritage Management……. 232 6.3 Informal Heritage Management and Continuity of Use……………………...