2.1 Overview
Methodologies and Frameworks
How New Contextualism is applied, from the foundational framework of ten layers to the reading, planning and processing of a project, in architecture, urbanism and heritage.
In this section2 · Methodologies and Frameworks
In practice, New Contextualism is presented as a process before it is a form. Every project is said to begin with three phases, Read, Plan and Process, with particular weight given to the first: ‘Before form or function, it is necessary to understand the context’ (Reza and Nitu 2025). The ten contextual layers give that reading its structure.
This section sets out the framework and the method as the published texts describe them, and how they bear on architectural design, urbanism and heritage management. It also gathers the analytical tools and resources offered on this platform.
The published texts describe the framework and the phase of reading in some detail. They say less about planning, design development and evaluation, and the related methodologies named in this platform’s structure have not yet been defined in print. Each page states what the sources say and marks what awaits documentation.
- 2.2 Foundational Framework Applying the ten layers, their relations and the scales of context.
- 2.3 Read–Plan–Process The three phases with which every project is said to begin.
- 2.4 Architectural Design Reading architectural context and making context-informed decisions.
- 2.5 Urbanism and Urban Design Morphology, urban systems and equitable transformation.
- 2.6 Heritage Management Continuity, values and the assessment of heritage in context.
- 2.7 Contextual Intelligence Contextual knowledge and decision-making.
- 2.8 Analytical Tools and Methods Mapping, social and historical analysis, diagrams and participation.
- 2.9 Evaluation and Trade-offs Weighing layers, equity, scenarios and learning.
- 2.10 Tools and Resources Diagrams, templates, instruments and guidance.
Sources
New Contextualism
- 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