Belayat Hossain from Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST) said that the Chittagong Court Building that was built towards the end of the 19th century was unique in symmetry and his design aimed at holding on to this uniqueness while maintaining its aesthetic beauty.

This is the only building in the entire subcontinent atop a mountain built during the Colonial period and carries great historical value, he said.

Describing the old building further, Hossain said that people flocked the courts at that time to listen to sensational cases heard while some others went to the rooftop to take a look at the weather ahead.

The place to stroll within the premises too has disappeared and Hossain's project aims at brining back its original form.

In his design Hossain has preserved the grand entrance in the south and extended the northern side and linked both sides by a plaza.

"The Court Building is in the heart of Chittagong and the hub of business activities. The Public Works Department assured me of some space currently occupied by the Zahirul Haq market which I will utilise in my extension programme," he said.

Other participants were from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Khulna University (KU) and the University of Asia Pacific (UAP).

"Although a seemingly dead city, yet consisting 52 buildings (the last one built in 1905) is a part of world heritage and was developed during the transitional period of around 100 years from Sultanate to the British era has not lost its traditional radiance," said Pushpita Eshika, of KU, whose project is to conserve Panam City in Sonargaon.

The city has two traditional features, which she maintains in her design -- the spatial quality of the buildings and the open places in the premises that was intentionally created so that residents could enjoy a breath of fresh air outdoors.

"Panam is encircled by a canal, working both as a trench for security and a part of the sanitation system. In my project I proposed the re-development of the buildings and revitalising the water body," she said adding that it can be a potential tourism spot with rowing facilities.

"Many historical places, like Shankhari Bazar, have changed over time but Panam City stills holds on to its originality. The structures still reflect both colonial and Sultanate style," said the budding architect.

Speaking at the inauguration Nizamuddin Ahmed, head of BUET's department of Architecture said that the exhibition aims at increasing cooperation, understanding and exchange of ideas among teachers and students of different architecture departments within the country.

"Open space is very important in construction and it was focused in this exhibition," he said. "We are facing an acute shortage of open space in the city and is one reason why land value and house rents are soaring," he added.

"According to the new construction rules 50 percent space should be left open before constructing a residential building in the metropolis, but is not put into practice and he previous rule is yet to be made defunct," Ahmed said emphasising on the effect of nature and open space on human behaviour.

When asked the reason of the existence of the previous law he said: "The new law has had bad publicity and stirred up sharp reaction."

"This exhibition is arranged to share with people what our students are doing. We want public participation and build internal relation among the architecture departments of various universities," said Abu Sayeed M Ahmed, head, department of architecture, UAP and convener of the exhibition, with Bijon Bihari Sharma and M Abdul Muktadir, heads, Architecture Discipline, KU and head, Department of Architecture, AUST respectively being other conveners.

Among other projects were -- Redevelopment of Hazaribagh Tannery Area (KU), Civic Centre at Narayanganj (UAP), Country Boat Museum and Research Centre at Narayanganj (UAP), War Museum at Bijoy Sarani (BUET), Cricket Village at Purbachal (UAP), Film Institute & Archive at Agargaon (AUST), Launch Terminal at Shyampur (BUET), Multimodal Terminal at Narayanganj (AUST) and many others.

The exhibition held at the national Museum inaugurated by Sadeque Hossain Khoka, Mayour Dhaka City Corporation as chief guest and sponsored by Neer Ltd and will end today.