LAND, PEOPLE, PROFESSION : HOUSING FOR AN OLD FISHEMEN’S VILLAGE

Majhipara, Boroibari Village, Gazipur, bangladesh

This project explores the interrelationship among space, context, and profession. The site was a suburban area, not very far from the capital, Dhaka, which has experienced tremendous waves of change due to rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, and issues of socio-cultural discrimination. The primary focus group of the study was a disappearing fishing community living along the Turag River. Majhi para, though bearing the former name with the meaning village of fishermen, has been witnessing change of the traditional occupation more than ever before. To interpret the future of the settlement in this changed scenario, the traditional settlement patterns was minutely studied, analyzed and eventually reinterpreted incorporating the idea of compact township. The proposed master plan tries to infuse fishing based programs in a moderized version as well as exploring scopes of non fishing based professions. It tried to reincorporate the former concepts of intimate neighbourhood within the modern morphology , simultaneously infusing the potential of tourism based neo-economical prospects.

LEVEL -04/ TERM-02 / YEAR : 2015

1963: Communal Aggression

The Canal (Chotokhal) Shalban (The Shal

1980s: Industrial Pollution

The new roads initiated lots of unplanned development and environmental pollution risking the river halth severely.

Majhi Para Settlement

1971: Mass Migration

1988 : Grameen Bank

1974 Construction of Road

Majhi Para Settlement Road connectecting the

Tin Shed semi pacca, and pacca houses,

2002: Construction of Bridge

Bridge over the Turag, led to ultimate dying of the chotkhal, the fishing

Non Fishing Hub

The present trade of adopting non fishing based professions. The proposed hub will incorporate communal facilities like health facilities, relocation of school, vocational training center & other public facilities. The hub was proposed as the center of communal & public activities, to facilitate their flexibility of adopting professions other than fishing.

Fishing Hub

Analysis of the present trend of adopting non-fishing professions reveals mainly “Passive reasons” working behind it, the proposed hub will incorporate facilities like Communal Center for fishing business with temporary sheds for local fish market, Cold Storage & other facilities to link the fishing community with broader markets as influential fish suppliers.

CLUSTER FORMATION : THE FLUID HIERARCHY OF OPEN SPACES

Analysis of the present trend of settlement pattern reveals mainly “courtyard to courtyard informal connection” working behind it, the communal connection in between the yards is, in fact the most vibrant part of the tradition living pattern, these are the bridges of the pseudoseparated individuals, the families with their neighbors, the community with their surrounding.

Hydropod

Integrated Water Harvesting And Playscape Facilities

The “Hydro Pod: A Water Harvesting Playscape” project is housed in the “Megher Bari” orphanage, which is located in Sonaichori Village, Naikhongchari Upazila, Bandarban. The Chittagong Hill Tracts’ indigenous children are provided with adequate care, education, and training at the orphanage, which is run by the nonprofit “Bidyanondo Foundation.”

The chosen location, which is on a hill’s ridge, is devoid of proper electrical and communication infrastructure. The absence of clean drinking water at the location was one of the biggest problems. Usually, the closest stream was used to collect water. However, as the stream’s water level drops in the late summer and early winter, the situation worsens. The project was designed as a sizable water storage facility that can store rainwater for the duration of the dry season, along with rain catchers for rainwater collection during the wet season. Additionally, it provides a play area for the native kids at the orphanage on top of the reservoir. By purposefully avoiding the top-down method, the creation, collaboration, and making process of a local infrastructure ultimately resulted in an intervention that was warmly welcomed by the neighborhood and the children. This was likely due to the intervention’s unique formation, which included the use of local resources and techniques that reinforced the community’s cultural identity.

Status Built 2019-2020

Architectural Firm : Chorcha Sthapatijog

Team Work

Contribution to Team: Design Team Lead Design Decisions, Construction Documents Preparation, Workshop co-ordinator, Site Supervision

A VULNARABLE DITCH & EROSIVE HILLTOP

In the first attempt, the local in charge of the orphanage wanted to construct an underground water reservoir tank to reserve stream water for the dry season. They selected the highest pick of the ridge so the water distribution could be done by the gravitational force. Howerver, without support from a professional, they cut the edge of the hill slope in a way that caused a vulnerable ditch. To prevent the land erosion they needed a very unique design solution.

Water Crisis And The Steep Trail

Everyday the little kids at the orphanage used to go through this steep hilly trail, an extremly risky one, to the downhill stream to collect water. The path being slopy, posed great danger of fatal accidents, only for the cause of water crisis.

Streams Becaming Dried Up As Well

Due to natural degradation caused by stone collection, and planting non native trees that affect the underground water level, the stream is slowly dying as well, leading to opting for an all out solution to solve the intimidating future.

Local Built Form, Technique & Resources

Visiting a site, almost 400 km from the captial, only approachable by hilly trails, eventually led to discovery of newer knowledge of vernacular materials and making methods. Study and analysis of the local built form helped to opt for a design solution more contextual and community friendly.

Spatial Behavioral Observations

To trace back the Cultural linkage with their perception and formation of spaces, empirical methods had been adopted. The study of surrounding households eventually resulted into observations about the spatial organisation, pattern of the community. It was observed that the site lacked flat land and the children were using some existing bamboo platform (Machang) for their daily activity and play. Findings of the indigenous construction traditions were infused with non-native materials and methods