Shelter on the Surma Riverbank

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?

Master Thesis (2025)
Author(s)

M.M.M. Gerrits (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)

Contributor(s)

N.J. Amorim Mota – Mentor (TU Delft - Public Building and Housing Design)

L. Cassina – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / AE+T)

A. Paoletti – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / A)

M. Tabassum – Mentor (TU Delft - Public Building and Housing Design)

Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment
More Info
expand_more
Publication Year
2025
Language
English
Coordinates
24.886649, 91.868013
Graduation Date
03-07-2025
Awarding Institution
Delft University of Technology
Programme
Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences, Global Housing
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment
Downloads counter
98
Reuse Rights

Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.

Abstract

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 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.