Living with Water explores the perennial, dynamic relationship between water and the built environment in South Asia. This interdisciplinary survey of the unique urban and ecological landscapes of the region presents a diverse selection of cities and projects, and offers practical, contextual strategies for the design and protection of these sites against emergent impacts of climate change and population growth. Water resources in South Asia are some of the most vulnerable to the effects of global warming. In the many historic urban centres that have grown over time along the rivers and waterfronts of the region, deteriorating water systems and rapid population expansion have contributed to problems such as water insecurity, exposure of built structures to weather damage, floods, and erosion.
Case studies drawn from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka illustrate a range of contemporary and traditional approaches to living with water within the ecosystems, floodplains, wetlands, waterfronts, river systems, and water networks of the region. Chapters authored by architects, planners, historians, sociologists, geographers, and environmentalists combine insights into analytical methods and processes of urban planning and development, with critical attention to the importance of cultural heritage, vernacular construction, traditional water systems, and indigenous knowledge in shaping climate-resilient built and natural environments. This context supports resilient ecology and a sustainable approach to building and resource management, offering guidance in the creation of water-sensitive development, integrated urban design, wetlands restoration, and more.
Living with Water is an essential read for researchers and professionals in architecture, urban planning, water management, environmental conservation, real estate development, tourism, and local governance, and will appeal to broad range of readers interested in the history, geography, and culture of South Asia.
Edited by:
Mohammed Mahbubur Rahman (Kingdom University Bahrain),
Nawrose Fatemi
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 254mm,
Width: 178mm,
ISBN: 9781041004813
ISBN 10: 1041004818
Pages: 392
Publication Date: 31 July 2025
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
List of Contributors Introduction PART I Water and Urbanism 1 Population, Urbanization, and Water in South Asia: A General Prospective Asad Aziz and Muhammad Mushahid Anwar 2 Living on Water’s Edge: Prospects of Hydrological Urbanism in Bangladesh Iftekhar Ahmed 3 Factors Influencing Integration of Waterfront in the City through Urban Waterfront Transformation Phenomenon Bhavna Vimawala 4 One River, Many Incarnations: Revisiting the Interplay of City, Water and Culture in the Delhi Triangle Jyoti Pandey Sharma 5 Landscape of Land-Water Interface: Sustainable Water Sensitive Development of Eastern Periphery of Dhaka Metropolitan Area Ayasha Siddiqua and Farida Nilufar PART II Water and Nature 6 The Making of a Hydro-Hazardscape: A Historical Geography of the Ravi River in Lahore James L. Wescoat Jr. 7 Wetlands, Urbanization, and Climate Change in Colombo, Sri Lanka Elizabeth Dean Hermann 8 Co-learning, Unlearning, and Relearning from the Experiences of the Communities ‘Living with and on Water’ in Bangladesh Md. Nawrose Fatemi and Tahmina Rahman 9 Braided River Ecosystems of India: A Conundrum to Coexisting with Rivers That Meander Manju Rajeev Kanchan, Vishakha Jha, and Jyoti Verma PART III Water and Culture 10 Waterfront Development and Disaster Management in the Vernacular Settlement of the Mountainous Region in Remakri, Bangladesh Anindita Laz Banti 11 A Vernacular Response to River-erosion: The Traditional Houses of Munshiganj, Bangladesh Dilruba F Shuvra 12 Yamuna and The Sacred Urban Landscape of Vrindavan, India Amita Sinha, Nidhi Kapri, and Neha Goyal Tater 13 Delving into the Hiti System- the traditional water system of Kathmandu Valley Padma Sunder Joshi 14 Meaning of Insularity and Isolation for Karachi’s Manora Island Suneela Ahmed and Sarah Athar Khan PART VI Water and Development 15 Objectively Verifiable Indicators to Analyze the Impact of Urban Wetland Management System in The Colombo Metropolitan Region Dilshan Remaz Ossen and Surangi Gunawardena 16 How Urban River Integrates or Disintegrates a City: A Case of Mongla Town, Bangladesh Imon Chowdhooree, Tasfin Aziz, Md. Jubaer Rashid, and Meherab Hossain 17 On the Water’s Edge: Rural Migrants and Continuum of Livelihood Vulnerabilities in the Waterfront Informal Settlements of Khulna Sheikh Serajul Hakim, Apurba K. Podder, and Md Toukir Hossain 18 Greywater Recycling at Household Level to Mitigate Water Scarcity Issues in Pakistan Muhammad Mohsin Shafique and Naeem Shahzad Index
Mohammed Mahbubur Rahman, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Ahsanullah University, has taught in Canada, Malaysia, Bahrain, KSA, Oman, and Bangladesh, and led academic and professional entities. A Nottingham University PhD-holder, Commonwealth Scholar, and McNamara Fellow, Mohammed studied architecture and urban development. During a World Bank fellowship, he researched housing NGOs. Mohammed has published on and appeared at conferences on the global city, the waterfront, housing, liveability, traditional architecture, conservation, and the like. He has seven books on various urban development and design issues to his credit, and is a reviewer for several international journals on architecture, planning, vernacular settlements, environment, sustainable development, and construction. Mohammed edited the Handbook of Waterfront Cities and Urbanism, published by Routledge in October 2022. Md. Nawrose Fatemi is the Head of the Department of Architecture, University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka. A Monbukagakusho Scholar, Prof. Fatemi completed his PhD research at the Urban Design and Development Studio of the Department of Global Architecture at Osaka University, Japan. His research interests include urban resilience, urban water management, canal restoration, and riverfront development. He earned his Master of Architecture degree from the Department of Architecture at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. Prof. Fatemi is also actively connected as a member of the International Water Association—a UK-based nonprofit organization and knowledge hub for the water sector.
