Using the Lost Space – as an Urban Regeneration Strategy: A Case Study of Sylhet, Bangladesh

Abstract

The rapid urbanization with uncontrolled urban growth and obsolete management process may generate a meaningless, misused or neglected space in urban area. In this paper these space is termed as lost space. It may be found anywhere unattached from a vibrant space and often in a commercial area that generally fails to catch people’s attraction though these spaces could be transformed to a potential public space with economic, social and ecological values. Urban lost space, due to unplanned development is a common scenario in the most of the cities of Bangladesh where Sylhet is one of them. But an attentive urban regeneration could be a process to open up new opportunities by using lost space for achieving future goals including the social and economic development of Sylhet. The aim of this paper is to address lost space in the heart of Sylhet city through a case study and analyze the responsiveness of the case as well. It will also provide some strategic guideline in order to regenerate the lost space. City super market at Bandar bazaar area has been taken in this paper as a case to demonstrate the evolution of a lost space and how it could be converted into a vibrant urban area through responsive intervention.