From boxes to beauty: The uplifted character of Bangladesh’s real estate architecture

As a kid from the late 90s, passing down a road always made me wonder, why are buildings so boring to look at? They all looked almost similar, either with a series of windows or at most one or two solid grill boundary balconies. 

But if you look over now, in the bustling cities of Bangladesh, residential architecture is undergoing a quiet revolution. For decades, apartment buildings were nothing more than utilitarian boxes—plain, repetitive structures built quickly to meet soaring demand. But the landscape is changing.

The boxy era—why our buildings looked like that

If you walk through neighbourhoods like Shyamoli, Kalabagan, Malibagh or early Bashundhara blocks, you'll see rectangular apartment buildings with no setbacks, plain façades, repetitive windows, and barely any balconies, lacking lighting and ventilation. These structures, mostly built in the 1990s and early 2000s, represent what I call the boxy era of Bangladeshi real estate. But why did so many buildings look so bland and block-like?

The answer lies in a combination of rapid urban migration, developer economics, and a lack of design culture. Dhaka was absorbing thousands of new residents every month, and its only priority was to build fast and cheaply. Developers maximised every inch of land to generate profit, often cutting out elements like terraces, setbacks, or aesthetic detailing in favour of raw square footage.

There was little regulatory oversight—the Bangladesh National Building Code (1993) existed, but façade articulation or community space wasn't enforced. Most projects didn't involve architects at all. Instead, engineers and draftsmen used repeatable blueprints to mass-produce generic apartment buildings, more like a cookie-cutter concept. 

Public appreciation for good design was also low. People saw apartments as "investment boxes," not lifestyle spaces. This was due to a lack of knowledge about local design culture. Buildings were functional, not emotional. 

Ironically, these boxy buildings helped house a generation—but they also made our cities feel increasingly crowded, hot, and visually monotonous.

The shift came slowly—through global exposure, rising buyer awareness, and the emergence of a new generation of architects committed to aesthetics, climate responsiveness, and liveability. Today's residential buildings may still chase profit, but they now also reflect aspiration, lifestyle, and place-based identity—things the boxy era left behind. 

What is catalysing the shift?

With rising urban density, the visual fatigue increased. As cities grow vertically, monotonous high-rises dominate the skyline. People crave relief from visual congestion, and well-designed buildings break that clutter. With innovative façades, greenery, proper setbacks, and varied textures, the variations add visual pleasure. Buildings are now expected to contribute not just functionally but also aesthetically to the streetscape. Aesthetics has become a survival tool—helping both the city and its residents breathe and have visual sanity.

Psychological well-being is directly connected with the space you reside in. With more time spent indoors (especially post-COVID), people began to understand how design affects mood, focus, and comfort. 

"Biophilic" design (incorporating nature into architecture) is now a standard in premium residential apartments. According to a 2021 paper from BRAC University's Department of Architecture, "Apartment residents surrounded by natural ventilation, greenery, and pleasing building proportions report a 30% higher perception of well-being." Studies show people are willing to pay 15–25% more for homes with thoughtful design and natural elements.

Parallel, affluent urban middle-class buyers are now more design-aware, influenced by travel, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube. Buyers now demand identity and uniqueness, not just square footage. "Which architect designed your building?" "Is it LEED-certified?" or "Does it have a green terrace or fancy façade?" are a few common queries that pop up in their minds while looking for options. Aesthetic design is now tied to social status, resale value, and rental attractiveness.

As for branding and competition, real estate developers use design as brand capital. Eye-catching buildings help to stand out on crowded listing platforms for sales and justify higher per sq. ft. pricing. A 2022 survey by Bproperty.com found that 67% of urban middle-income homebuyers in Dhaka preferred paying higher prices for apartments with attractive designs. So, prominent real estate companies are now collaborating with named architects for prestige. 

From concrete to character: The rise of aesthetic homes

As the dust of the boxy boom began to settle, something shifted—quietly at first, then undeniably. Residential architecture in Bangladesh started to change. By the mid-2010s, a new generation of architects, developers, and buyers began rethinking what an apartment could be—not just a unit of shelter, but a space of identity, well-being, and experience.

Developers noticed and started hiring top architectural studios to create signature residential buildings—spaces that stood out, not just sold out. Façades grew softer and more expressive. Terraced balconies, sun-shading fins, rooftop gardens, and natural materials like brick and wood made a comeback, enhancing thermal comfort, cultural resonance, and sustainability. Even residential buildings on a compact plot leave over 60% open space for permeable ground levels, enhancing liveability and reducing heat impact. These projects often comply with RAJUK zoning codes (setbacks, ground coverage limits) while creatively maximising usable greenery and ventilation.

The architects balance aesthetic elegance with climate-sensitive design, which includes rooftop gardens, community spaces on the ground floor, waterbody elements, and shared amenities. Natural ventilation, passive cooling strategies, and optimised daylighting are widely used across these projects to suit Bangladesh's subtropical climate. 

The buildings introduced thoughtful elements: green breathing walls, natural airflow design, climate-conscious orientation, and flexible interior layouts. Apartment blocks wrapped in green terraces and latticed screens that reduce heat and provide privacy are often seen around Gulshan, Banani, and Dhanmondi. These promote and prioritise comfort and passive cooling with a natural air-filtration system.

Even at night, the exterior lighting is very dramatically designed to uplift the aesthetic outlook. The ground floors are designed with a lobby and waiting zone, just like elegant and sophisticated hotels. Suddenly, the city's skyline had rhythm, and homes began to tell stories.

This aesthetic shift is not just cosmetic—it's cultural. Where once apartments were built to contain life, today's designed homes are made to enhance it. They reflect a city trying to breathe better, and live smarter—not just for functional purposes, but for the future.