About
About
A digital home for New Contextualism, organised as much as an archive as a publication.
01 The platform
An archive as much as a publication.
This website is intended as the digital home of New Contextualism: a place to read its philosophy, consult its framework, follow its applications and trace its published record.
It is organised as an archive as much as a publication. Statements about the movement are linked to their sources, and every record has a persistent address so that it can be cited. Where the record is incomplete, the site says so rather than filling the gap.
The platform is in a pre-publication phase. Its texts have been compiled from published sources and editorial drafts. The statement of the philosophy, the founder’s profile and the platform’s branding are awaiting the founder’s approval.
Proposed statement Awaiting the founder’s approval
02 The founder
Originator of New Contextualism
Mohammad Habib Reza
Editorial summary Awaiting the founder’s approval Compiled from published sources
Mohammad Habib Reza is an architect and architectural historian, and an Associate Professor at the School of Architecture and Design, BRAC University, Dhaka, specialising in architectural and urban design history and theory and in heritage management (Reza 2025). He completed a Bachelor of Architecture at Khulna University in 2001 and a PhD in architectural history and theory at Nottingham Trent University in 2013 (BRAC University n.d.).
Before his academic career he worked as an architect for the Barisal City Corporation (BRAC University n.d.), the experience he identifies as the point at which he first felt the need for a contextual approach (Reza 2023b). At Nottingham Trent University he was a Research Fellow on projects funded by the university and Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Culture, documenting traditional oasis settlements in central Oman for heritage management plans (BRAC University n.d.). He is a founding member of ArCHIAM, the Centre for the Study of Architecture and Cultural Heritage in India, Arabia and the Maghreb (BRAC University n.d.; Reza and Nitu 2025).
His research addresses the geometric and morphological development of architecture and settlements and their connection with cultural, social and religious processes, with a particular focus on the ancient and medieval Buddhist architecture of Bengal (BRAC University n.d.). Over the past decade he has developed New Contextualism through teaching, writing, workshops and symposia (Reza and Nitu 2025).
Appointments
- Associate Professor, School of Architecture and Design, BRAC University, Dhaka
- Research Fellow, Nottingham Trent University
- Assistant Professor, State University of Bangladesh
- Architect, Barisal City Corporation
Education
- PhD, architectural history and theory, Nottingham Trent University, UK
- Bachelor of Architecture, Khulna University, Bangladesh
Affiliations, as stated in published biographies
- Founding member, ArCHIAM (Centre for the Study of Architecture and Cultural Heritage in India, Arabia and the Maghreb)
- Vice President, ICOMOS-PRERICO
- Co-Director, UIA Heritage & Cultural Identity Work Programme (as listed in 2023)
Selected lectures and presentations
- Introduction to New Contextualism and its Principles, Workshop ‘Exploring New Contextualism’, BRAC University, Dhaka
- Preserving the Past, Designing for the Future (roundtable), 28th UIA World Congress of Architects, Copenhagen
- Facilitator, ‘Exploring New Contextualism 2.0’, Department of Architecture, BRAC University, Dhaka
- Bengal Gupta Viharas: Did such a Phenomenon Exist?, Third International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, Prato, Italy
Writing on New Contextualism
Selected earlier scholarship
- A community-involved strategic management plan for Chhoto Katra
- Re-Imagining Bengal: Architecture, Built Environment and Cultural Heritage
- Rethinking the Post-Gupta Bengal: Settlement and architecture
- Evaluating morphological changes of household environment: A case study of migration in Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Bahla: Harat al-Aqr, documentation and heritage management plan
- Bengal Gupta Viharas: Did such a Phenomenon Exist?
03 Contributors
Contributors to the public record.
Compiled automatically from the records, projects and events on this platform. Names are given as they appear in the sources. Inclusion records a contribution; it does not imply membership of any organisation.
- Kazi Akif
- Md Samiur Rahman Bhuiyan
- Ishtiaque Hossain Chowdhury
- Upama Das
- Ananna Hossain
- Itminan
- S M Kaikobad
- Tanjina Khan
- Sohana Khan
- Monishita Mumtahina
- Upama Das Nitu
- Oindriza Reza Nodi
- Tasmia Kamal Proma
- Mohammad Zillur Rahman
- Athena Rahman
- Nuzhat Shama
- Golam Ahammad Sunny
- Tanima Uddin
- Rafa Mashiyat Zahid
04 Editorial governance
Every text says where it comes from.
The platform distinguishes verified statements from published sources, editorial summaries, proposed statements, founder-approved text and interpretation. Each substantial text carries one of these labels:
- A statement, quotation or record taken from a published and cited source.
- Written by the editors from the cited sources; not itself a statement by the founder.
- A draft put forward for discussion. It has no official status until approved.
- Text approved by the founder for publication on this platform.
- Editorial interpretation or critical commentary, offered for discussion.
The statement of the philosophy, the founder’s profile and the platform’s branding require the founder’s approval before the platform is formally launched.
Sources
New Contextualism
- BRAC University 2023BRAC University. 2023. “Daylong workshop and lecture sessions held on ‘Exploring New Contextualism: An Approach to Architecture and Urban Design’.” BRAC University News, June 21, 2023. https://www.bracu.ac.bd/news/daylong-workshop-and-lecture-sessions-held-exploring-new-contextualism-approach-architecture. Record
- Reza 2023bReza, Mohammad Habib. 2023b. “New contextualism: A path to a sustainable and equitable future.” The Business Standard, December 19, 2023. https://www.tbsnews.net/features/habitat/new-contextualism-path-sustainable-and-equitable-future-760366. Record
- Reza 2025Reza, Mohammad Habib. 2025. “New Contextualism: An architectural philosophy for deltaic Bangladesh.” The Daily Star, April 23, 2025. https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/focus/news/new-contextualism-architectural-philosophy-deltaic-bangladesh-3878456. Record
- Reza and Nitu 2025Reza, Mohammad Habib, and Upama Das Nitu. 2025. “New Contextualism: Architecture and Urbanism for People, Place, and Justice.” Context BD, September 16, 2025. https://contextbd.com/new-contextualism-architecture-and-urbanism-for-people-place-and-justice/. Record
Documentary sources
- BRAC University n.d.BRAC University. n.d. “Mohammad Habib Reza, PhD.” Faculty profile, BRAC University. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://www.bracu.ac.bd/node/1077. Record
- Context BD 2024Context BD. 2024. “Exploring New Contextualism 2.0: An Approach to Architecture and Urban Design.” Context BD (events). Accessed October 19, 2026. https://contextbd.com/events/event/exploring-new-contextualism-2-0-an-approach-to-architecture-and-urban-design/. Record
- UIA World Congress of Architects 2023UIA World Congress of Architects. 2023. “Mohammad Habib Reza.” Speaker profile, 28th UIA World Congress of Architects, Copenhagen. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://uia2023cph.org/speaker/mohammad-habib-reza/. Record