EXPLORING THE UNCHARTED PATHWAYS

Habitat With People

Academic: Team Work ARC 402 Design Studio VIII Duration: 06 weeks [Fall 2015]

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

Collaborator: Tasmia Kamal

Instructors: MD Faruk, Khondaker Hasibul Kabir and Cyrus S Khan

Shatbaria, a tribal settlement of approx 1,70,000 sq-ft by the river Nabaganga has an approx population of 150 families. This is a community of low-income families of a Hindu majority population. The project was divided into two phases, the first phase included an analysis of the existing households, their needs, demands and the second phase was implementation of issues found in the study phase and giving design solutions. We focused on creating a relationship of the people with the river through generating intermingled pathways. Also, river-front development was another issue that we focused here. Different income generating activities could boost their economy as well as strengthen their community bond.

Existing conditions

Analysis and rearrangement

Pathway generation

Concept and considerations

The road being the main spine of the community, represents the activities of the people everyday. The houses are rearranged with openings towards the road and river, giving respect to privacy and other issues. This street is always active and holds the community together.

Focus areas of the community

This project gave us an unique experience of how to ‘design with people’ rather than ‘design for people’. The community participated in survey and shared their aspirations.

Mapping with community people

Model and Exhibition images proposed master plan and house typology