New Contextualism
New Contextualism

Architecture. Context. Relationships.

5.2 Movement and Community

Timeline and Milestones

A dated record of the development of New Contextualism, from the founder’s early practice to its latest publications. Every entry cites its sources.

In this section5 · Movement and Community

Editorial summary Awaiting the founder’s approval

Updated 31 October 2026

Dates are given as precisely as the sources allow. Entries are added when an event, publication or presentation can be documented from a published source.

  1. 2004–2007

    Architect, Barisal City Corporation

    Early work on area development in a deltaic city, including the Bibir Pukur region and the Multipurpose City Market, later identified by the founder as the point at which he first felt the need for this approach.

    BRAC University n.d.a; Reza 2023c

  2. 2013

    Doctoral research on the early Buddhist architecture of Bengal

    PhD in architectural history and theory, Nottingham Trent University. The founder describes this research as reinforcing his conviction that context shapes successful architecture.

    BRAC University n.d.a; Reza 2023c

  3. September 2013

    Teaching at BRAC University

    The founder joins BRAC University, where the philosophy is cultivated in design studios over the following decade.

    BRAC University n.d.a; Reza 2023c

  4. 10 June 2023

    First public workshop

    ‘Exploring New Contextualism: An Approach to Architecture and Urban Design’, a lecture series and hands-on exercise at the School of Architecture and Design, BRAC University, Dhaka.

    BRAC University 2023; Arch-Bangla 2023a

  5. 19 December 2023

    ‘A path to a sustainable and equitable future’

    Essay setting out the approach's principles and origins, published in The Business Standard and by Arch-Bangla.

    Reza 2023c

  6. 17 February 2024

    Workshop on New Contextualism 2.0

    ‘Exploring New Contextualism 2.0: An Approach to Architecture and Urban Design’, Department of Architecture, BRAC University.

    Context BD 2024a

  7. 23 April 2025

    ‘An architectural philosophy for deltaic Bangladesh’

    Essay in The Daily Star defining the ten dimensions as a ‘tenfold matrix’ and describing New Contextualism 2.0.

    Reza 2025

  8. 13 May 2025

    New Contextualism at the State Heritage Conference 2025

    ‘Sustainability, Equity and Heritage: Exploring New Contextualism in the heritage sites’, listed in the programme of the conference in Fremantle, Western Australia.

    Heritage Council of Western Australia 2025

  9. 16 August 2025

    Online symposium

    ‘Reflections on New Contextualism: Voices from Practice and Academia’, organised by the New Contextual Group.

    Context BD 2025

  10. 16 September 2025

    ‘Architecture and Urbanism for People, Place, and Justice’

    Essay by Reza and Nitu presenting five guiding principles, the ten-layer lens and a set of case studies.

    Reza and Nitu 2025

  11. 3 February 2026

    A New Contextual heritage management

    An article by Reza and Rahman in Esempi di Architettura proposes a New Contextualist framework for managing Somapura Mahavihara as sacred heritage.

    Reza and Rahman 2026

For the development of the ideas themselves, see Origins and Evolution.

Sources

New Contextualism

  1. Arch-Bangla 2023aArch-Bangla. 2023a. “Exploring New Contextualism: an approach to Architecture and Urban Design.” Arch-Bangla, June 12, 2023. https://arch-bangla.com/exploring-new-contextualism-an-approach-to-architecture-and-urban-design/. Record
  2. 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
  3. Reza 2023cReza, Mohammad Habib. 2023c. “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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. Reza and Rahman 2026Reza, Mohammad Habib, and Athena Rahman. 2026. “Re-Establishing the Sacredness of Somapura Mahavihara: A New Contextual Heritage Management of a Buddhist Sacred Land.” Esempi di Architettura 13 (2): 195–207. https://doi.org/10.53136/97912218247662. Record

Documentary sources

  1. BRAC University n.d.aBRAC University. n.d.a. “Mohammad Habib Reza, PhD.” Faculty profile, BRAC University. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://www.bracu.ac.bd/node/1077. Record
  2. 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
  3. Context BD 2025Context BD. 2025. “Reflections on New Contextualism: Voices from Practice and Academia.” Context BD (events). Accessed October 19, 2026. https://contextbd.com/events/event/reflections-on-new-contextualism-voices-from-practice-and-academia/. Record
  4. Heritage Council of Western Australia 2025Heritage Council of Western Australia. 2025. “State Heritage Conference 2025: The Heritage Ecosystem. Program.” Government of Western Australia. Accessed October 31, 2026. https://www.wa.gov.au/system/files/2025-05/state-heritage-conference-2025-2.pdf. Record

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