5.9 Movement and Community
Community Discussions and Critical Responses
The critical discussion that New Contextualism has received so far, and how to add a response to the record.
In this section5 · Movement and Community
The critical discussion of New Contextualism documented so far has taken place at its own events, in lectures given by colleagues of the founder.
At the workshops
The 2023 workshop included a lecture on the possibilities and challenges of the approach, which ‘critically analysed the ten key parameters of the approach and marked which has more scope to work on’ (BRAC University 2023).
- 2023 Possibilities and Challenges of the New Contextual ApproachSource ↗
Md Samiur Rahman Bhuiyan Workshop ‘Exploring New Contextualism: An Approach to Architecture and Urban Design’
The programme of the 2024 workshop announced discussion of ‘New Contextualism’s potential and limitations’ (Context BD 2024a). At that workshop, Md Samiur Rahman Bhuiyan addressed the challenges and prospects of the approach and its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, suggesting that it ‘could be termed SDG+ (Sustainable Development Goal Plus)’ (Arch-Bangla 2024c).
Independent responses
When this page was last updated, the editors had not found published reviews or critiques of New Contextualism by authors outside the circle of its proponents. A 2026 column in the Dhaka Courier responds to the founder’s historical writing, not to New Contextualism (Latif 2026).
Questions that the approach has yet to settle are set out under Critical Perspectives and Open Questions.
Adding a response
Published responses, whether in agreement or disagreement, can be proposed for the archive through Community Submissions. The platform does not host comments or a discussion forum; responses are recorded once they have been published elsewhere, so that they can be cited.
Sources
New Contextualism
- Arch-Bangla 2024cArch-Bangla. 2024c. “Unveiling New Contextualism 2.0: Shaping the Future of Architecture and Urban Design.” Arch-Bangla, February 21, 2024. https://arch-bangla.com/unveiling-new-contextualism-2-0-shaping-the-future-of-architecture-and-urban-design/. Record
- 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
Further reading (editorial selection)
- Latif 2026Latif, Asad. 2026. “Reza’s Bengal.” Dhaka Courier, July 3, 2026. https://dhakacourier.com.bd/news/Column/Reza%E2%80%99s-Bengal/10294. Record
Documentary sources
- Context BD 2024aContext BD. 2024a. “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