PORTFOLIO Md Mostasim Billah | 2022
Since 2015, I have been a professional architect in Bangladesh who likes to focus on architecture to create a sustainable built environment. I believe in rational thinking of the context rather than aesthetic appearance. To enhance building performance and to ensure co-existence between living organisms is my objective through my architectural practice.
CONTENTS Academic Works (UWM) ARCH 850- Design Studio_ Daylighting Honey Creek ARCH 516- Building Construction
Professional Works Residence at Joypurhat Affordable Housing For Lower Middle Income Group Tepakhola Lake Development Delwar Hossain Playground
Academic Works (NSU) Institute of Fine Arts Incremental Housing For Duaripara Slum Rebuilding Ramu Shima Bihara Nature Interpretation Center
Daylighting Honey Creek Academic project_ UWM Course: ARCH 850 Timeline: Fall’ 2022 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Course Teacher: Professor James Wasley The fundamental goal of this project is to create a harmonious co-existence between humans and nature. It was achieved by following the new urbanism movement, creating a regional flood management system and a huge park system comprising a dense forest area on the north side. Both systems will be able to connect inhabitants with nature. The project will mitigate the urban heat island effect and act as a lung in the Honey Creek watershed. The 22-acre waterbody is designed to alleviate the pressure of the city’s stormwater management system is in emergency situations. On top of that, another objective was to minimize the human intervention and use of the existing structure as much as possible. This is done by using the existing platform as a public space. And the state fairground area will be used as a multi-purpose facility and generate solar power for the district as well.
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Academic project_ UWM Course: ARCH 516 Timeline: Fall’ 2022 Project: Exercise 03_Metal Cladding and Timber Frame Course Teacher: Professor James W Shields, FAIA
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Academic project_ UWM Course: ARCH 516 Timeline: Fall’ 2022 Project: Exercise 04_ Glazing Systems Course Teacher: Professor James W Shields, FAIA
Residence at Joypurhat Single Family Residence Timeline: 2017-present Location: Joypurhat, Bangladesh. Architect: Mostasim Billah Role: Design and project management. A fundamental concept of ecological society is the harmonious co-existence between humans and nature. The separation we have produced through our isolated designs over time has not come without costs. Obesity, ADHD, and a reduction in imagination are attributed to a lack of interaction with the world. Unfortunately, this estrangement from nature directly affected our well-being. It has affected our ability to respond to vital contemporary issues, such as climate change, waste management, human rights violation, etc. This family residence built in Joypurhat district of Bangladesh. Situated in a fast-growing peri-urban area, predominantly agricultural land, holding a heritage of village’s socio-cultural values. The design objective was to create a symbiotic relationship within living organisms, with a sustainable approach to revive the local socio-cultural norm integrated with economy and ecology.
The land with site line
Sandwiched the building between the extruded land and earth
The amount of land that has been used for buildable surface, nearly the same amount of area, is created on top of the building for the vegetable garden. The green spaces are arranged in multi-layer. In addition to that, almost half of the ground floor area has direct and indirect soak-able green. The materials used were locally available, and manual human labor was used to construct the house, which promoted local craftsmanship, helped the local economy, reduced costs and ecological footprint.
Layering the extruded land different level
Two masses elongated in north south orientation
Connecting the two masses, which also creates a courtyard space
Extended roof and cutting the half of front masses
Including services in different level
Incorporating waterbody
The final outcome
Keeping the climate of that area in thoughts the building’s longer side has to be north south orientated. However, the site was longer on the east-west side. So the design has a composition in a module where the longer facades of the building fall in north-south. The cabinet of bedrooms has been taken recessed on the outer side to reduce the heat gain so that the heat takes time to get in. For natural ventilation, the monsoon windows are integrated. Therefore, the air passes inside the rooms, even when it rains.
Traditionally, women do not feel comfortable going in front of strangers, so they do their daily activities either inside the house or in a separated space from the house’s entrance. Respecting the social norms, the different hierarchy of spaces like semi-private courtyard merged with the front deck, and a private back yard has incorporated, which echoes this country’s local cultural norms. These integrated interactive spaces as a backyard where women and children feel safe to perform day-to-day activities, children play and women chatter with neighboring people increase interaction between people. There is a wash zone at service entry in the back, which is highly effective in this Covid-19 situation.
The pond in front of the house is also good enough to fulfill the protein requirement. The tertiary level of grey water filtration goes to the pond. The pond also helps in rainwater harvesting and earth water refilling. Rooftop Vegetable garden, multi-purpose backyard, and wooden front deck are the spaces that connect humans with nature in the day to day life. Multi-layered green and the pond will help to balance the ecosystem of the small space. The ratio of indoor and outdoor spaces creates a soothing atmosphere for the family.
A beautiful courtyard type space called “Orboroi Tola” is working as the house’s soul, as direct sunlight enters through the roof above the space. A striking play of light and shadow can be seen at different times of the day.The idea of co-existence has been tried to achieve by combining economy, ecology, and society on a small scale to create an impactful outcome.
The produce vegetable from the roof garden would be sufficient to meet the family’s need for the whole year. The rooftop garden helps in reducing the heat gain and energy requirements of the house. This small-scale urban agriculture will cut off the extra cost, labor, and pollution due to the process after growing the food for the consumers. The food that will be produced would directly go to the family, and the waste will also be used as organic fertilizer that reduces the cost of inorganic fertilizer. On top of that, it helps in better waste management. In the time of GMO and chemical pesticide used food, having fresh organic home-grown food is a blessing. Sharing home-grown vegetables with neighbors is a cultural norm that generates better bonding with surrounding people.
Vegetables Cauliflower Cabbages Red Amaranth Spinach Potato Eggplant Pepper Tomato Sweet gourd Lettuce Carrot Bottle gourd Bitter melon Okra Giant Taro Taro Indian shot Water lily Allamanda
Fruits Brassica oleracea var. botrytis Brassica oleracea Amaranthus gangeticus Spinacia oleracea Solanum tuberosum Solanum melongena Capsicum annuum Solanum lycopersicum Cucurbita maxima Lactuca sativa Daucus carota sativus Lagenaria siceraria Momordica charantia Abelmoschus esculentus Alocasia Macrorrhiroz Colocasia esculenta Canna indica Nymphaea nouchali Allamanda cathartica
Sugar-apple Lychees Star Gooseberry Cucumber tree Lemon Orange Wood Apple Star fruit Papaya Banana Guava Burmese grape Pomelo Java Plum Olive
Herbs Annona squamosa Star Gooseberry Litchi chinensis Aloe vera Phyllanthus acidus Holy basil Averrhoa bilimbi Dheki shak Citrus aurantifolia Wild mint Citrus aurantium Indian Pennywort Limonia acidissima Turmeric Averrhoa carambola Water spinach Carica papaya Musa paradisiaca Psidium guajava Baccaurea ramiflora Citrus maxima Syzygium cumini Olea europaea
Fish Phyllanthus acidus Aloe vera Ocimum tenuiflorum Lygodium flexuosum Mentha arvensis Centella asiatica Curcuma longa L. Ipomoea aquatica
Magur/Shing Golden barb Climbing gourami Mola Carplet Indian Rui Indian Tilapia
Gagata youssoufi Puntius gelius Anabas cobojius Amblypharyngodon microlepis Labeo rohita Oreochromis mossambicus
multi-level interaction
minimum food wastage
moonsoon window
courtyard space
grey water management
culturally appropiate spaces
self sustaining food production
sanitization at entrance
Micro Spaces
Ground Floor Plan
First Floor Plan
This project was very hard to render into reality because of the locality, which is far away from the capital city. I had to design the building taking into account the materials available locally, and more than 50 construction workers had to be trained. Nevertheless, by overcoming a plenty of hurdles this project is nearly on finishing stage and will be available to use within a few months.
Construction Images
Affordable Housing For Lower Middle Income Group Competition Project Timeline: September 2019 - December 2019 Location: Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh Chief Architect: Md Rabiul Islam,GoAaT Role: Worked as a part of design team and presentation team With the growing population and industrialized society, our living pattern evolved, and a need to sprawl vertically increased to accommodate the large population. The vertical urban sprawl resulted in compact living boxes, isolated apartments, and more solid and paved surfaces disconnection from the ground. As the population grew, accommodation capacity kept shrinking, and the culture of communal living, social interaction, and community gatherings disappeared. This proposal aims to revive the traditional rural dwelling concept that allows multiple uses of a singular space, flexible spatial layout to maintain old living style in an urban landscape while maintaining a physical connection with the natural surroundings.
Flexible layout of the rural dwelling offeres generous living spaces to accommodate the residents and the various activities.
Early government designed standard housing with grid iron pattern.
Recent large scale land development projects with large areas and very little public facilities and interaction between tenants.
A walkable community where everyone goes through various interaction points to reach their unit.
Combined Unit The living units vary in size following the rural characteristics of Bari. It makes maximum use of sunlight and wind flow within a cozy layout. The toilet is broken down in two parts separating the shower from toilet. The shower space doubles as a veranda when necessary, the residents have option to open it up and close it when needed. Having a private veranda in dense housing is a luxury which is gradually getting lost to accommodate growing population. A veranda in small units acts as a breathing space or an interaction spot within each unit, a space for cloth drying or merely a spot to lookout. Such arrangement allows flexibility and option to use a single space in more than one way. The spatial layout of each unit is designed to enhance flexibility, increase usability making optimum use of the footprint. The bedrooms and living rooms are oriented facing courtyards and exterior views ensuring privacy, natural ventilation, sunlight and visibility from inside to outside.
Village
Colony Buildings
Unit Option 01
Modern Apartments
Unit Option 02
Type 01
Type 02
Type 03
The landscaping is carefully formulated so that common food items are produced within the complex. The rooftop gardens allow planting activities, facilitates the residents with homegrown fresh produce and makes the complex self-sufficient. We inherited the site with abundant mango, jackfruit and olives trees. The scattered location of trees segmented the courtyard creating negative spaces around the residential buildings, hence relocation of the fruit trees from the center of the court close to the community building on the east is proposed. Acacia trees are replaced with additional fruit trees to attract diverse birds and mammals.
Tepakhola Lake Development Masterplan project Timeline: 2019 - present Location: Faridpur, Bangladesh Chief Architect: Md Rabiul Islam,GoAaT Role: Lake bank detail design Tepakhola is an old lake situated in Faridpur city. The project intended to design public amenities surrounded by the lake. Age-based recreational facilities, bus counter, amphitheater, iconic tower are the noteworthy features incorporated in the masterplan. The lake is located in a significant node of Faridpur city. While going through the main spine road, the iconic tower can be seen from very far.
Road
Footpath Green Buffer Walkway
Water Edge
Lake
Integrating the lake into this project and maintaining a sustainable environment were key concerns for this project. Almost the entire lakefront area is surrounded by walkways because the city does not have adequate public park facilities like the walkway. Considering the geolocation of the lake this walkway has been kept detached from the ground in order not to interrupt the horizontal water filling as well as the ecosystem.
Delwar Hossain Playground Playground project Timeline: 2016-present Location: Lalbagh, Dhaka, Bangladesh Chief Architect: Md Rabiul Islam,GoAaT Role: Design and Construction drawing Delowar Hossian playground is located in a residential area surrounded by various functions. The park act as a breathing space for the community but lack of safety, lack of vegetation, and unhygienic condition around the park makes it unattractive to the locals. The temple, crematorium as well as the graveyard shall be merged and raised into a common platform above the street level. Revitalizing the water body for its proper use as well as to attract local birds can improve the surrounding environment positively.
Some major functions include, School, a temple, a crematorium, a graveyard with a water body across the street, a public toilet, some slums, residential apartment. However, the temple and the crematoriums were not well planned and creates congestion. The park is commonly used during Eid-ul-Adha to sell sacrificial animals which makes surrounding environment remains unhygienic. Because of boundary walls segregation drug trafficking and other illegal activities after dark take place. The water body for the crematorium is used by local Hindus for funeral ritual however, the surrounding area of this water body is occupied by rickshaw and van parking as well as waste disposal zone. The crematorium chimney of narrow and short which causes to circulate in the air creating hazardous environment for the locals. To regenerate the ambiance of the park and increase the use of the functions around, some of the major changes include: The area around the crematorium can be converted into a common gathering space for the locals by establishing physical connection of the water body with the crematorium. To ensure children’s safety and their fluid movement in and around the park, two of the roads needs to have limited access to heavy vehicles. The school for deprived kids located inside the slum shall be replaced with a dedicated play zone for the deprived kids. The playground inside the park will be segregated on purpose using plantation. The leftover space beside Dome colony can be replaced by various stores to keep the area vibrant and alive after sunset. The temporary shops will be replaced with pharmacies and convenience store. After completion a nursery is proposed to help maintain the landscape and vegetation inside the park. The local community will be responsible for the overall maintenance.
Faculty of Fine Arts Academic project Course: Final year project Timeline: 2015 Location: Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh Course Teacher: Haroon Ur Rashid As undergrad thesis project the main objective was to design the project in climate responsive way. The location is ecologically significant and also has a well-balanced ecosystem. To preserve the ecological value, while designing the project, the aim was to do minimum interference. Creating an open learning environment within nature is essential for an art institution, along with wall-bounded classrooms.
Faculty of Fine Arts is a part of Jahangir Nagar University, and the site as well. Muzharul Islam designed the original masterplan, but that has not been followed in most cases. The site is somewhat contoured and surrounded by water bodies at the south, east, and west. The site’s edges have green vegetation and plantation, and the goal was to incorporate the existing trees instead of cutting them. The site was east-west elongated, which creates a design challenge for a tropical climate like Bangladesh. To cut the glare of direct sunlight and reduce heat gain, the buildings’ masses have been designed north-south orientated as lighting is a vital element for art learning classrooms. All the masses are joined with a connecting corridor, which connects all masses and separates the functions. Also, to minimize the sunlight glare, roofs are extended on both sides of classrooms; this also works as a circulation corridor and in time of need that can be used as extended classrooms. While zoning the programs, public functions are kept in front, and private functions like classrooms were taken to the back. The department that requires services from outside that were also kept close to the roadside. The ground floor wall had longer sides on the east-west side that reduces heat gain. Full height bi-fold windows were incorporated so that when the windows are open, the ground floors are visually open and can be seen from one end to another end. The design tried to achieve a climatically solved must needed functions blended with the exiting ecology of that site.
Section
Masterplan
Incremental Housing For Duaripara Slum Academic project Course: Studio IX Timeline: 2013 Duration: 8 weeks Location: Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh Course Teacher: Shaila Joarder Duaripara is old and one of the biggest low-cost housing areas, also known as slum settlement located in the north-west part (under Mirpur Thana) of Dhaka city, capital of Bangladesh. The present living situation of this settlement suffers from the congestion of residents, unorganized planning condition, inadequate accommodation, limited access to basic utilities, safe water and sanitation, lack of proper waste management system, less green and vegetation and finally bad air quality. The goal of this project is to design and develop an Incremental housing environment and guide the housing society to become more sustainable.
Corrogated Sheet Styrofoam
Hollow brick Wall
2” Slab The proposed housing development will improve the problems which this settlement currently suffers from. Improvement will take place in living conditions, sanitation, utilities, surrounding environment, and finally through this development sustainable living can be achieved. The development will introduce the idea of a new adaptable, affordable and sustainable housing design and development which will be beneficial not only for Duaripara but also for other low cost housing settlements.
Beam
8”x16”x8” Brick Blocks
Rebuilding Ramu Shima Bihara Academic project Course: Studio VII Timeline: 2012 Duration: 4 weeks Location: Ramu, Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Bangladesh Course Teacher: Ismat Hossain, Md Rabiul Islam “Ramu Shima Bihara” is an old and small Bihara (Buddhist temple) situated in a little town in Cox’s Bazar District of Bangladesh. Earlier in 2012, that Bihara came under the attack of religious goon based on hearsay. And had been burned over the night, except for the Buddha sculpture and some small ancient shrines as structure. This project was taken to re-conceptualize the demolished Bihara. The Buddhist “Dharma Wheel” was at the heart of the conceptual philosophy. Their minimalistic lifestyle, lotus pond, and eastern light had been given priority. The main shrine, including the old structures had been guarded under a single lotus pond. Additionally, a large “Buddi Tree” was considered for meditation.
Nature Interpretation Center Academic project Course: Studio VII Timeline: 2012 Duration: 4 weeks Location: Karamjal, Sundarban, Khulna, Bangladesh Course Teacher: Ismat Hossaint “Sundarban” is the largest mangrove forest in the world. To design any physical structure within this mighty forest is really challenging considering its ecological values. “Karamjal” is an artificial crocodile-breeding center located at the very beginning of Sundarban. This nature interpretation center at Karamjal is designed to facilitate that crocodile-breeding center. The primary purpose of this project was to construct as less as possible. Keeping in mind the minimal functional requirement, the whole structure was kept elevated in order not to interfere with the ecosystem and not to disturb the movement of the animal.
Md Mostasim Billah
mostasim.billah@northsouth.edu