1.4 Philosophy
Foundational Propositions and Key Principles
The propositions on which the approach rests, and the principles derived from them, as they have been formulated in published texts.
In this section1 · Philosophy
The founder presents the principles of New Contextualism as ‘not rigid dogmas, but guiding principles for a more thoughtful and responsible design process’ (Reza 2025). They have been stated several times, with different emphases, and no single formulation has yet been approved as definitive.
Three formulations
The table aligns three published formulations by theme, quoting the principles as they appear in each source. Reading across a row shows how an idea has been carried forward; empty cells show where a formulation does not name it as a principle.
| Theme | June 2023Workshop at BRAC University (BRAC University 2023) | April 2025The Daily Star (Reza 2025) | September 2025Context BD (Reza and Nitu 2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anticipating the future | Forward-looking design informed by accurate predictions of the future | Forward-Thinking Design Anchored in Prediction | Forward-thinking design; Informed by prediction |
| Learning from history | A profound understanding of historical trends | Historical Grounding as Foundational Knowledge | Learning from the past |
| A broad reading of context | Recognition of the diverse and extensive nature of context | Holistic Context Understanding – The Tenfold Matrix | A broad sense of context |
| The universal and the particular | Not named as a principle | Balancing the Universal and the Particular – The Art of Hybridization | Not named as a principle |
| Adaptability and resilience | Not named as a principle | Designing for Adaptability and Resilience | Not named as a principle |
| Equity and justice | A focus on equity and justice through inclusive and diverse designs | Not named as a principle | Equity and justice |
In April 2025 equity and justice are described as ‘central to its ethos’ rather than listed among the tenets (Reza 2025). The September 2025 essay adds a sequence of three phases (Read, Plan and Process) and a ten-layer lens that differs slightly from the ten layers listed in April 2025 (Reza and Nitu 2025).
Interpretation Editorial alignment of quoted principles
Five guiding principles
The most recent formulation, in the essay of September 2025, sets out five principles under the heading ‘Designing with Time, Data, and Justice’ (Reza and Nitu 2025):
- Forward-thinking design. ‘Architecture and urban design is for the future, not the present, because by the time a building opens, the present has already passed.’
- Informed by prediction. ‘Big data and AI provide tools to model scenarios, forecast stresses, and anticipate needs.’ Used responsibly, they allow design to remain relevant over time.
- Learning from the past. ‘Every site carries historical and cultural layers that shape identity.’
- A broad sense of context. ‘Context spans more than form or style.’ It operates across scales and across ten overlapping layers.
- Equity and justice. ‘Design must protect the “right to the city,” ensuring that no project strips away people’s access to space, belonging, or shared resources.’
Three aims
The same essay sums up the approach in three aims, quoted here in full:
Three aims, as summarised by Reza and Nitu (2025)
- 01
Sense of place and identity
‘Sense of place and identity, honoring culture and memory while embracing contemporary design.’
- 02
Sustainability
‘Sustainability minimizes energy, carbon, and waste while adapting to the local climate.’
- 03
Social engagement
‘Social engagement creates inclusive, life-giving spaces that encourage interaction and well-being.’
Quoted from Reza and Nitu 2025.
Propositions behind the principles
Read together, the texts rest on a small number of propositions, summarised here by the editors:
- Context is wider than the site. It ‘transcends the immediate physical site’ and ‘encompasses a complex, interwoven matrix of factors’ (Reza 2025).
- The past is the basis for anticipating the future. History ‘is not an optional academic pursuit for the architect; it is fundamental’, and ‘the past provides the essential data set’ on which prediction can be built (Reza 2025).
- Design should be adaptable. Buildings and settlements are to be designed ‘not as static objects, but as adaptable systems’ (Reza 2025).
- The universal and the particular can be reconciled. Global knowledge is embraced, but with ‘its critical adaptation to the specificities of the local’ (Reza 2025).
- Justice is part of design. The approach places ‘equity and justice’ at its centre (Reza 2023c; Reza 2025).
Interpretation Editorial reading of the published texts
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 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
- 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