Shelter on the Surma Riverbank

Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated urban areas globally. Due to environmental, social, political, demographic and economic migration drivers still half a million individuals are migrating to the urban areas annually. In this research the combination of seasonal adaptable housing, affordable housing and high-density housing are investigated to reduce impoverished people from moving to other areas. This research is conducted on the Surma Riverbank, because while certain hazard-prone regions receive considerable assistance from the government, erosion-prone areas, such as riverbanks, are often neglected. Furthermore, the impoverished population living on the riverbanks of Bangladesh faces significant challenges due to land loss caused by erosion, which has left many without secure
housing. This research aims to investigate the question: “How can environmentally driven migration be reduced by implementing a high-density and seasonal-adaptable housing design for the impoverished Hindu and Muslim communities living on the erosion-prone Surma riverbank in Sylhet?” The methodologies, fieldwork and case studies are used to address this issue and implemented in an Architectural Design.