Negotiating modernity on the periphery: Daniel c. Dunham’s architectural legacy in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study investigates Daniel C. Dunham's architectural legacy in Bangladesh using Peripheral Modernism, a concept proposed by Ákos Moravánszky. As an American architect working in East Pakistan in the 1960s, Dunham's work shows the complicated interplay of Western modernist ideals with local cultural, environmental, and technical settings. The research examines one of Dunham's significant projects, the EPUET(East Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology) Faculty Housing, as a case study. The study examines Dunham's method critically to see how he applied modernist principles to the specific constraints of East Pakistan, resulting in a distinct architectural language that merged global inspirations with local traditions. The study demonstrates Dunham's triumphs and limits, emphasizing the difficulties inherent in cross-cultural architectural practice. By situating Dunham's contributions within the broader discourse of regionally responsive modernisms, this research provides insights into the evolution of contextual architectural practices and their relevance to contemporary global design. The study concludes by discussing Dunham's lasting impact and the implications for negotiating the tensions between global trends and local identities in architectural design.