Reviving Gulistan Park: a public realm of culture, commerce and community

Abstract

“Gulistan” played a significant role in Dhaka’s rapid urbanization and rich cultural history dating back to the colonial times. The first cinema halls started its journey at Gulistan which later got overshadowed due to the area converting itself into a commercial hub. Gulistan Park stands amidst a dense population of urban neighborhood, so it must be preserved as a breathing space of the neighborhood. The Park has a cultural sector that has been overshadowed over time, which needs to be refurbished and brought back to life like the older times since there is a recreational need in that neighborhood. The Park also has a religious complex dedicated for a mosque and a madrasa. The cultural block consists of movie theatres, exhibition spaces, auditorium, food court and retail zones for vendors. An urban plaza connects all the blocks spatially, visually and functionally while also maintaining the privacy and of each function. This project is a mean of connecting people of all types in the community to experience different activities in the same space, while coexisting and exploring their interests. This project enhances the park’s potential to be a cultural and commercial hub amidst a green bay as a breathing space for the dense urban network.