A WALK THROUGH THE AGES

The Emerging Built Environment

Academic: Team Work ARC 401 Design Studio VII Duration: 06 weeks [Spring 2015]

Role: 60% Survey, 50% Conceptual Design, 60% Detail Design, 50% Drawing

Collaborator: Tasmia Kamal

Instructors: Timmy Aziz, MD Habib Reza and Farasha Zaman

Choto Katra is one of many caravanserai’s built during the Mughal era in Dhaka City to accommodate traveller traders and other visitors. It was built in 1663 by Shaista Khan, the then Governor (Subedar) of the province of Bengal and the remnants suggest that it was built following a classic form for caravanserai’s which is a courtyard based two or three story structure with axial gate buildings and corner towers. Communities and architects have a history of dealing processes of the erasure of urban history in the modern era. In the case of Choto Katra however not only the original structure disappeared but an intense social life has also grown around the ruins that itself calls to be preserved. This project will explore an approach where both the past and the present are respected and a coexistence of the two will be sought.

BRAC University

Site And Background Concept

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, well known as city of fine muslin, mosques and rickshaws has a fairly long history of evolution. Before it rose into prominence as Mughal capital of Bengal in 17th century and urban & commercial center, it was under the Sultanates from 14 century and it came under the British control in 1757. Dhaka with passage of time testify different faces of history. The main reason of failure emerges because of the way we proceed. We need to think that every heritage site has a story to be told and a mystery to be unfold. If we could create a connection among the heritage sites which narrates a mystical story along with historical impacts to the people, then only the preservation strategies and importance of the site can be well understood.

A heritage path is introduced through the choto katra that will guide people along the historical site near the sites. The significance of puran Dhaka heritage walks lies greatly in the storytelling and therefore, appreciation will start once you see the historical structures through the eyes and you will enjoy it once you feel that you are rediscovering history. Choto katra once had a court yard which acted as a civic space in that time. But it is lost now captured by warehouse shops and illegal slums our idea is to relocate existing buildings inside choto katra and introduced new functions inside choto katra and brought the previous essence of the monuments back.

Connectivity of the Path

Plaza pattern generation and programs

Zoning of Choto katra

Heritage map connecting all the historical landmarks

A path connecting the historical sites

The history needs to be preserved. It needs to be told and explained in the most interesting way possible.