Transit Module

/ 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

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/ 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

Transit Module Architecture for enhancing mobility A M Najem

SITE: Farmgate, Dhaka BUILT AREA: 25,0000 sqf In a densely populated city like Dhaka, a proper transport solution is a prime demand as well as difficult to achieve. Through years, numerous infrastructural developments took place in Dhaka which is considered as neither a failure nor appropriate. Most of the plans costs great tolls in order to provide facilities; Tangible and intangible tolls. This thesis is about generating a process which will be an answer to the present transport malfunction of Dhaka city by identifying one of these grey infrastructural proposals and an attempt to provide an appropriate system in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, economy and publicness according to the context of a contemporary city. The sample site to undergo the research process is Farmgate since it is a major transitional node of the transportation system in Dhaka city. This thesis envisions the transitional node of Farmgate as a multi-modal transportation hub which will be a modular approach for other nodes with same characteristics. Analysing the existing context within 1 km radius as sample and from these data, a thorough comparative analysis was done from 3 probable possibilities in 3 different location in terms of appropriateness. The outcome challenges the existing location of MRT station over Sher E Bangla Nagar park and rethinks its position over the transitional space which is over the main road and has not enough open space. The adjacent buildings of the transportation node are all commercial marketplace. This thesis proposes of merging the multi-modal hub with the existing

commercial buildings. A macro level study and a micro level study of the site is was done to support this hypothesis. In macro level mapping, the connection of farmgate with other transportation hubs was shown. A structural survey was done to determine the existing situation of the buildings that adjacent to the node. The total count of existing registered vehicle is needed to determine the vehicular pressure at the node. It will also determine the modal change of people. A thorough survey of pedestrian movement was done to understand the pedestrian movement pattern and public behaviour. A mixed method questionnaire survey on regular passers-by of Farmgate helped to understand the nature of user-friendliness of the transitional node. After analysing all the gathered data, a tangible intervention of the idea which is a multimodal hub containing transportation, recreational, educational, healthcare facilities and civic space is being designed.

/ 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

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Figure 1: Multicut Section

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/ 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

This thesis indicated that the transitional node of Farmgate is appropriate location for a multi-modal transportation hub in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, user-friendliness, economy and publicness to improve the present transportation system in Dhaka.

/ 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

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Figure 2: Existing transfer points, vehicle type map, pedestrian, vending point and crowd map.

STUDY Importance of the idea [Why?] • Farmgate is now a major uni-modal transitional hub that connects the northern, western and the southern part do Dhaka.

• Every part of Dhaka has a bus transit through farmgate.

• This idea proposes a multi-modal system that has shorter transfer time.

• This node has adjacent commercial buildings which is high potential for generating activities around civic space. .

• This node has maximum number of transfer points which leads this place into a hi potential location for public function • Same placement saves the urban open green which has high potential serving the communal neighbourhood as a breathing space.

• This node has recreational facility

Figure 3: Activity pattern map

The possibility of the idea [How?] • Creating a multi-modal system that complements the existing marketplace by juxtapositioning the both functions • There may be a need for multi-level pedestrian or vehicular circulation to deal the congested circulation.

• An evidence-based architecture may be introduced to generate healing-built environment.

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/ 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

Figure 4: Potential nodes and connections

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Figure 5: Catchment area for vehicular accessibility from the

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Figure 6: Structural Survey of adjacent buildings

The very first approach of this research is to find out the existing condition for 1km radius from the node of the site through mapping. From the knowledge of all the mappings, the following master diagram is generated where it clearly shows that the transitional node of farmgate is the appropriate location for MRT station and eventually it is proven by the parameters and operators that this place have those characteristics which a multi-modal transportation hub has. / 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

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Figure 7: Master analysis of the three location based on facilitative comparison

Dhaka seems chaotic

Arrangment of collective function are juxtaposed

This arrangeement of collective form looks chaotic from the outside

Figure 8: Chaos Vs Complexity and the concept of strategic megaform 8

/ 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

The system looks chaotic!

The system is just complex.

Combination of these 4 elements is strategic megaform

Figure 9: Existing landuse pattern and bus root

Figure 10: Function and space relation pattern considering present situation and the modified.

The modern city is never static, dynamic, unstable, and increasingly difficult to trace as a linear process. In the past, cities have offered stable, hierarchical spatial arrangements that were suitable for the homogeneous social structure and centralized political authority. However, modern cities have transformed into diffused urbanities, a a constellation of poly-nucleated attractors, where architecture functions as a mere network and infrastructure serves as the primary means of transportation. Disregarding biological evolution, which over time generates progressively more sophisticated life forms, the city is a field of perpetual genesis. Its social structure is always changing and becoming more complex. Systems never gets simpler.

“The true territory for innovation in urban architecture, then, is not in the production of platonic solids, but rather in the design of operational strategies that deal with the multiple and overlapping forces of a highly complex and entirely uncertain ‘collective form.’” (Maki, 1964)

Figure 11: Strategic Megaform

Figure 12: Concentrated political power / 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

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Figure 13: Vehicular road rerouting and underground bus stand

DESIGN GENERATION

Firstly the green area shifted in south re routing the road over north thus the park connects with the street shops and the crowd of indira road. The park will utilize the fullest because of this. Street vendors will get more space not interrupting the pedestrian. The park will also get utilized to the fillest. Secondly the vernacular movement and the bus stop shifts from surface to underground.

It connects north, south and west roads. There is rickshaw stand at east also connects with a node. As the road to and from is on different levels, vehicles will move without signals (figure 13) Both roads utilizes adjacent building as core for vertical movement which were predicted to get demolished within 5-10 years.

Figure 14: Ground level connections and potential nodes

In Figure 14, we can see there are three major nodes in this site which connects in every direction. Keeping these three spaces open and connecting with paths, the site starts offering spaces for the required programs. Since ground floor becoming pedestrian, all commercial, recreational functions and library will serve here best. (Figure 15) 10

/ 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

Figure 15: Ground level public functions respecting the paths and nodes and cores

Figure 16: Connection with adjacent buildings

Figure 17: MRT level

Over ground level and under MRT level, there are two levels which will connect with adjacent building at that level. This is how multilevel space sharing enables benefitting both party (figure 16) The MRT is at the top level, each side has two cores. The whole structure is covered with a super roof. This roof area is optimum acknowledging the pedestrian movement of every level.

Figure 18: Super roof

/ 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

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Figure 19: Axonometric view with activity

Programs Transportation

-MRT station -Bus stoppage -Car ride sharing stand -Motorcycle Ride sharing -Path towards other trans 12

/ 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

g stand sfer points

Figure 18: Ground level public functions

Recreational

Educational

Shops

-Multiplex -Foodcourt -Sports club

-Library -Book shop -Commercial

-Kitchen market -Vendor’s plaza -Bank booth -Various shops

Figure 20: Function and Interaction / 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

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Figure 21 14

/ 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

Ground Floor Plan / 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

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Figure 22: Floor plans

Figure 23: Transverse Section 16

/ 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

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Plan at +50’

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Plan at +15’

This thesis needed a study of future prediction of adjacent building conditions. Through a structural survey, it is determined that a great number of building around this site will be demolished and rebuild within 50 years. There is also a possibility of add multiple land constructing large buildings. Using this prediction, the design decision was creating a multi-modal transportation hub partnering with the adjacent land owners as a PPP project. Both party would logically benefited commercially since more traffic will ensure more profit an on the other side government gets a functional city with redused congestion enhancing workability which will in the end, will effect on national GDP.

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Roof Plan

/ 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

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Figure 24: Photograph of Model

Figure 25: Transverse section B

The system of this multi-modal hub is envisioned as modular; Multiple hub at multiple transitional space will deal the density of Dhaka city in an organized way. These modular hubs will work as a filtration process of using appropriate amount of public and private vehicle. The user-friendliness of public transportation can limit the number of private transportation. People between 15-40 will prefer to use public transportation thus a balance will create reducing the congestion.

Figure 26: Transverse section A 18

/ 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

Figure 17: Exploded Axono

Figure 27: Photograph of Model

Figure 28: Exploded Axono / 2023 / Department of Architecture . BRACU /

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