DESIGNING PUBLICNESS: A Workshop on Assessing and Enhancing the Publicness of Urban Spaces

Faculty: Arfar Razi with a special lecture by Prof. Bjørn Sletto, University of Texas at Austin

Public spaces play a crucial role in the social, cultural, and economic life of a city. Those spaces provide opportunities for community interaction, socialization, and exchange. However, not all public spaces are created equal, and some can be more inviting, accessible, and inclusive than others. And in some cases, publicness is often missing from public spaces.

The two-week-long immersive workshop offers an opportunity to explore the various dimensions of publicness in designated public spaces in the context of Dhaka city. The workshop will help participants learn how to assess the publicness of public spaces and develop proposals for enhancing their qualities, including accessibility and inclusiveness. Through practical exercises, site visits, and group discussions, participants will explore how to create public spaces that reflect the diverse needs and interests of the surrounding community. The workshop will also look deeper into the complexities of power, equity, and diversity in relation to public spaces. By the end of the workshop, participants will have gained practical skills and tools for assessing and enhancing the publicness of public spaces. They will also have a deeper appreciation for the social and cultural significance of public space in urban environments. Join us at the workshop in unveiling the soul of the city and enriching public spaces for all.

Arfar Razi is a Fulbright Fellow at the Department of Community and Regional Planning, University of Texas at Austin, specializing in environmental and land use planning. Driven by a passion for urban and environmental issues, Razi has previously led geographic research at the Bengal Institute for Architecture, Landscapes, and Settlements (BI) in Bangladesh, where he developed innovative methodologies for understanding urban areas within a hydro-geomorphic region. Razi has lectured on aquagraphy during Bengal Institute’s joint studio programs with TU-Delft based in the Netherlands, and led an international workshop facilitated by the University of Westminster, exploring city design in the context of hydrological basins and watershed regions. Currently, Razi applies his expertise to facilitate decision-making in land use and environmental planning for deltaic cities like Dhaka, with the potential to inform future urban planning efforts globally.