Architecture of Bangladesh

Structures in Somapura Mahavihara complex

The Pala Empire was an early Indian empire of Bengali Buddhist dynasty ruling from Bengal (which included present-day Bangladesh) from the 8th to the 12th centuries. The Palas created a distinctive form of Bengali architecture and art known as the "Pala School of Sculptural Art." The central shrine of the Paharpur vihara was the mature form of a cruciform Buddhist shrine and Śikhara-śirsha-bhadra type.[3] The gigantic structures of Vikramashila Vihar, Odantpuri Vihar, and Jagaddal Vihar were masterpieces of the Palas. These mammoth structures were destroyed by the forces of the infamous Bakhtiar Khilji. The Somapura Mahavihara, a creation of Dharmapala, at Paharpur, Bangladesh, is the largest Buddhist Vihara in the Indian subcontinent and has been described as a "pleasure to the eyes of the world." UNESCO made it a World Heritage Site in 1985. The Pala architectural style was followed throughout south-eastern Asia and China, Japan, and Tibet. Bengal rightfully earned the name "Mistress of the East". Dr. Stella Kramrisch says: "The art of Bihar and Bengal exercised a lasting influence on that of Nepal, Burma, Ceylon and Java." Dhiman and Vittpala were two celebrated Pala sculptors. About Somapura Mahavihara, Mr J.C. French says with grief: "For the research of the Pyramids of Egypt we spend millions of dollars every year. But had we spent only one per cent of that money for the excavation of Somapura Mahavihara, who knows what extraordinary discoveries could have been made".[4]

The Sultanate of Bengal was an era of the Central Asian origin Muslim Nawab dynasty that ruled independently of the Mughal Empire from 1342 to 1576. Most of the Muslim architecture of the period is found in the historic Gaur region, today's Rajshahi division and Malda district in West Bengal. The architecture of the period is noted for the development of a uniquely local style influenced by Bengali architectural traditions. Sonargaon was also a Sultanate capital (capital of the Baro-Bhuyan Confederacy) before the arrival of the Mughals and Dhaka within the confines of Dholai Khal was their trading outpost Sultanate architecture is exemplified in structures such as the Shat Gombuj Masjid, the Shona Masjid and the Kusumba Masjid.[5]

Much of the terracotta temple architecture in Bangladesh dates to the late Islamic period and early British period during which wealthy Hindu zamindars commissioned these structures.

• Root top architecture styles:
  • ek-bangla, have a curved roof with two sloping sides
  • Jor-bangla, has a roof of the ek-Bangla (or do-Chala) style, with two curved segments that meet at a curved ridge
  • ek-chala, single-story or has a second story built into a sloping roof
  • Do-chala, have a curved roof with two sloping sides
  • Char-chala, have a curved roof composed of four triangular segments
  • At-chala, the base structure is similar to the four-sided char-Chala temple style, but with a small replica of the base temple on top
  • Deul, were generally smaller and included features influenced by Islamic architecture
  • Ek-ratna, the base structure is similar to the four-sided char-Chala temple style, but the roof is quite different, flat with a tower in the centre.
  • Pancharatna, has five pavilions or towers on the roof; four stands at the corners of the main level, and one above.
  • Navaratna, incorporates two main levels, each with four spired corner pavilions, and a central pavilion above, for a total of nine spires.

Choto Shona Mosque having the "ek-chala" roof

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  The Pancharatna Gobinda Temple at Puthia Temple Complex, Rajshahi
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  Terracotta designs outside the Kantajew Temple, Dinajpur
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  Sonarang Twin Temples Munshiganj

In the modern context, Bangladeshi architecture has become more diversified comprising reflections of contemporary architectural attributes, aesthetic and technologically advanced aspects. Since the inception of Bangladesh, economical advancement has boosted the architecture from its traditional forms to contemporary context. With the growing urbanization and modernization, the architectural form is turning into modernity covering a wide range of its heritage and tradition.[2] The architecture of Bangladesh can provide insight into the history and lives of the Bangladeshi people.[9]

Fazlur Rahman Khan was a structural engineer and architect, who initiated structural systems that are fundamental to tall building design today.[10][11][12] Regarded as the "Einstein of structural engineering",[13][14] his "tubular designs" for high rises revolutionized tall building design.[15][16] Most buildings over 40-storeys constructed since the 1960s now use a tube design derived from Khan's structural engineering principles. He is the designer of Willis Tower – the second tallest building in the United States (once tallest and tallest in the world for many years), John Hancock Centre, Hajj Terminal, etc. Fazlur Rahman's innovations not only make the buildings structurally stronger and more efficient, they significantly reduce the usage of materials (economically much more efficient) while simultaneously allow buildings to reach even greater heights. Tubular systems allow greater interior space and further enable buildings to take on various shapes, offering unprecedented freedom to architects.[17][18] He also invented the sky lobby for high rises and helped in initiating the widespread usage of computers for structural engineering. Fazlur Rahman is the foremost structural engineer-architect of the 20th century who left an unprecedented and lasting influence on the profession, both nationally and internationally.[13] Fazlur Rahman, more than any other individual, ushered in a renaissance in skyscraper construction during the second half of the 20th century[19] and made it possible for people to live and work in "cities in the sky".[20] Khan created a legacy of innovations by blending the articulation of interior spaces with the evolved structural systems that are unparalleled and became an icon in both architecture and structural engineering.[21][22]

Moreover, US architect Louis Kahn is also a notable influencer of modern Bangladeshi architecture. Several buildings in Bangladesh contains influence from the style of architecture as practised by Louis Kahn, most notable of which is the Jatiya Sangshad Bhaban.[23]

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  1752 Kantajew Temple, prominent temple architecture of Bangladesh.
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  Sonargaon, the historical capital of the Baro-Bhuyan Confederacy.
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  Lalbagh Fort, the center of Mughal military power in Dhaka.
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  Curzon Hall of the University of Dhaka built in Indian style during British Raj-era
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  Dhaka Westin
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  Jatiyo Smriti Soudho, a tribute to liberation war martyrs is also an architectural landmark
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  Outer view of Bashundhara City, Dhaka
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  Bangabandhu Novo Theatre (Planetarium)
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  Jamuna Future Park, the 12th largest shopping mall in the world
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  Dargah of Shah Jalal
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  City Centre Bangladesh
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  Aziz Court Imperial,Chittagong
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  Islamic Development Bank (and BCS Computer City)
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  Bangabandhu International Conference Center, Dhaka

• Architecture of Bengal
• List of Bangladeshi architects
• Muzharul Islam
• Shahbaz Khan Mosque
• Shona Mosque
• Bagha Mosque
• Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque

• Zahiruddin, S. A., Mowla, Q. A., Helaluzzaman, A.K.M. 1985, Role of Government in Architecture, in Robert Powell (Ed.) Regionalism in Architecture – Exploring Architecture in Islamic Cultures, Singapore: Concept Media Pvt. Ltd., 1985. 156–161.
• Mowla, Q A. 2017, Conservation Tools of Contemporary Architecture and Settlements in Bangladesh, Massimo Visone and Ugo Carughi (Eds), 'Time Frames: Conservation Policies for Twentieth-Century Architectural Heritage' published for the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ICCROM, University of Naples Federico II, by Routledge in 2017.
• Qazi Azizul Mowla and Q. A. Zahra, "Historic Settlement of Panamnagar: A Case for Conservation", Bagha, Bagha & Chaudhary (Eds), 'Contemporary Architecture Beyond Corbusierism' MACMILLAN Advanced Research Series Publication, New Delhi, 2011.pp. 236–246.
• Mowla, Q.A. 2011:'Urban Aesthetics: A Study on Dhaka' in 'The History Heritage and Urban Issues of Capital Dhaka', Vol.III, published by the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, to celebrate the 400 years of Capital Dhaka. pp. 167–186.
• Mowla, Q.A. 2012: Dhaka: A Mega-City of Persistence and Change, (Chapter 12) in Misra, R.P. (Ed): Urbanization in South Asia – Focus on Mega Cities, Cambridge University Press, New Delhi. pp 341–372.
• Mowla, Q A and Reza, ATM, 2000 Stylistic Evolution of Architecture in Bangladesh: From a Colony to a Free Country, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh Journal, Dhaka, 45(1), 2000, 31–58.
• Mowla, Q A & Sheik, Z U. 2009 Documenting the Architectural Style of the Antiquity Buildings in Panam Street, Pratnatatva: the Journal of the Dept. of Archaeology, JU Vol.15; June 2009, pp. 79–97. (Journal: ISSN 1560-7593)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Architecture of Bangladesh.

• Mosque architecture of Bangladesh on Banglapedia.
• Architecture BD, an online magazine about the architecture of Bangladesh
• Architecture in Bangladesh