INTRODUCTION: THE WALK-UPS Walk-up flats hold a ‘non-elitist’ typological building status, and a somewhat de-glorified position in the modern Dhaka city. Nevertheless, these mundane examples are appreciated as socio-spatially enlivened forms by a large section of middle-class urban dwellers in the contemporary city. Evidently, it is one of the dominant forms of multi-unit housing in Dhaka — a prominence similar to other parallel prototypes in rapidly urbanising developing Asian megacities, 1 though none of the world’s megacities comes close to Dhaka’s population density, allied to diverse localised housing solutions. The capital city of Bangladesh, Dhaka’s 14.6 million people live in just  Henry Stewart Publications 1752-9638 (2015) Vol. 9, 1, 65–79 Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal 65 ‘Urban-vernacular’ walk-ups: Mapping form, spaces and technology in an urban private housing typology in Dhaka Received (in revised form): 27th October, 2014 Dilshad Ara joined United Arab Emirates University as Assistant Professor of Architectural Engineering in 2008. Prior to this appointment, she held MIRS and MIFRS PhD scholarships from the University of Melbourne. She has a broad interest in regional and urban conservation issues. Her research focuses mainly on design, building technology and social issues of architecture. Dilshad has also been a practising architect in Bangladesh since 1994. Mamun Rashid is assistant professor of Architectural Engineering at the University of Sharjah. He completed his PhD from the University of New South Wales, Australia, in 2012 (recipient of New South Global Scholarship, 2004). His research interests include sustainable design, building technology and urban form. Mamun is also a licensed architect in Bangladesh. Abstract Though a popular form in many developing cities in Asia, a lack of research on particular walk-up typology makes it difficult to conclude on its dispersion and evolving features. Drawing on case studies, this paper analyses different aspects of contemporary and old walk-up house forms in Dhaka. In particular, it focuses on the evolution and transformation in spaces and physical features, and looks into various factors that act as catalysts. Factors discussed are spaces, transitional features such as entry and verandah, and technology. In addition, the theoretical framework offers grounds to speculate on the resilience of this urban form. Speculating on the stereotypical benefits of extreme verticality, this paper proposes that walk-ups — a socially and spatially sculpted housing form — should resurface as an option as a sustainable housing solution in growing suburbs and variegated dense urban areas. For speculation, assumption and analysis, a historical lens is used. Keywords: Evolution, walk-up house form, settlement pattern, building technology, layout and spaces, socio-physical space, housing diversity Dilshad Ara United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates E-mail: dilshadrara@yahoo.com.au