Physical Density and Urban Sprawl: A Case of Dhaka City - KTH

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
This study analyses selected formal and informal housing blocks of Dhaka city. The focus of
the analysis is on the physical densities and spatial qualities of housing block addresses urban
sprawl. The formal settlements in the inner part of the Dhaka are densely developed.
However, the area of the city is expanding horizontally because a lot of informal settlements
are developing in the inner part or periphery of the city. If urban sprawl in Dhaka is to be
addressed, housing solution that can accommodate the increasing population and with good
spatial qualities is very important. The present study will investigate physical densities and
spatial qualities of formal and informal settlements of Dhaka city and recommend such
housing block for urban low income people.
1.1 Real life problem
Urban sprawl is one of the contemporary issues of cities all over the world. It contributes to
the inefficient use of land resources, energy and large scale absorption of open space that can
otherwise be used more effectively for activities which can contribute to the development of a
city. Dhaka is the capital and the biggest city of Bangladesh which is the main center of
education, administration, trade and commerce. The population is growing rapidly due to the
massive rural urban migration. The city is experiencing an increase in the rate of housing
development. The private developers or government housing companies are constructing
houses for the high or middle income people while the low income people do not have
provision in the housing market, though most of the people in Dhaka city are poor. As a
result a lot of informal settlements have developed in the inner part or in the periphery of the
city. The development of such informal settlements is causing inefficient use of space; hence
the city is expanding horizontally. It is difficult to provide infrastructure facilities to the city
dwellers due to this horizontal expansion. The present study intends to explore the
relationship between the physical densities of the housing settlements and urban sprawl.
Most of the informal settlements are being developed on the government vacant land and
wetlands inside or in the periphery of the city which have been reserved by the government
for different purposes. In order to stop the encroachment by the informal settlers, there is a
need to develop housing block with high physical densities and good spatial qualities.
Most of the informal settlements in Dhaka city are comprised of single storied houses and
mostly dense due to the close distance among the houses. The usability of spaces inside the
block is not efficient because most of the spaces inside the block are covered by buildings. In
order to increase the efficiency of space there is a need to analyze the physical density, in
terms of Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and percentage of land coverage by buildings. Here FAR
means the ratio between the built up area and the total land area including communal spaces
and streets belonging to the block.
The close distance among the houses and inefficient use of spaces inside the block hinder the
spatial qualities of the houses. The analysis of spatial qualities, in terms of cross ventilation,
provision of daylight and possibility to use outdoor space inside the block are necessary to
recommend the housing block with good spatial qualities
On the other hand most of the people in the informal housing settlements are poor. They are
not able to afford high cost houses. So there is a need to recommend houses which are low in
cost and can be affordable by the urban low income people.
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