URBAN OASIS WITHIN A COMMERCIAL TOWER : DESCO HEAD OFFICE

New Airport Road, Nikunja, Khilkhet, Dhaka, Bangladesh

The uniqueness and contribution of DESCO, the country’s leading energy regulatory organization, demands the challenge of making an identifying, bold, and statement-oriented physical entity. The design of the project intends to meet the demand and explore a new approach to visualizing a corporate icon.

The design evolved around a central courtyard - a place attracting and accumulating people sharing the festivity, unifying the commonalities, strengthening the corporation into a tight urban enclave-where the drama of hori-zonal arrangement experiences in to vertical staggering, free flowing spaces, inter level physical connections, windering bridges and sculptural framing of the sky ensures the feeling of being together. The changing mood of daylight and its various patterns throughout the whole year have been an integral part of the composition of the main building facade. The building stands out of firm base, evokes from the ground, becomes light as it grow up and floats as it reaches its top. The manicured garden at the top level offers a corporate crown within a busy urban context. While developing the design, there were three different scales in the play.

The first is the urban scale that connects the building to the busy highway in front of it or the airport area as an urban icon. Second, the neighboring scale connects the building to its neighbors, who live with it every day. The DESCO self-corporate identity scale is third. The building’s expression was all three scales. Each floor was designed to create a large, uninterrupted horizontal space for the entire office under a roof. The uniform column layout with a large span gives the office space maximum flexibility, energy efficiency, building support system optimization, and optimal car parking, which improves the building’s operation and central maintenance. The elegant building’s interior, with its high ceiling, inner walls, exterior glass surface, and climatic responsive fins (lamella), creates a subtle and ample ambiance, enhances the space, and transcends into a higher dimension. The loft’s central courtyard, bridges, and Airport Road views create a human-centered environment for workers. The exterior facade, glass, interwoven bridges, deep recess, ground promenade, and structural beauty create a sculptural landmark.

Competition Winning Entry, Selected for Constrcution Competition Timeline : 2016

Construction On-Going

Architectural Firm : Roofliners-Studio of Architecture

Team Work

Contribution to Team:

Design Team member, Competition Phase Project Architect (2017-2020), Constrction Phase Design Decisions, Presentation, Collaboartion with Other Consultants, Construction Drawings Preparation

SITE PREPARATION & SHORE PILING

Terrace Details : Level 10

DETAILS : GREEN TERRACE ON THE BRIDGES

REFLECTING POOL

Terrace Details : Level 7

Blow Up 1

SUBSTURCTURE TOP DOWN METHOD

Refelected Pool Plan

Refelected Pool Blow Up 1

Sculture : Elevation

SUPERSTRUCTURE

FACADE INSTALLATION

Constrcution Process

DESCO Head Office consists of 12 stories with 6 basements. The latest top down construction method is used for the building. Alternate floors from the top are constructed first without excavating up to approximately 65 feet so that the surrounding buildings are not hampered. Then the ground floor and the rest of the floors are constructed in ascending order. The connecting bridges are constructed after all the floor slabs, columns, and beams. These pre-fabricated metal structures are made at different workshops simultaneously with the building construction so that the total construction time is decreased. After all the civil construction works are done, the façade glasses and lovers are assembled to complete the building The construction technique of this building is expected to be a milestone in Bangladesh.

MIRZA BARI : VILLAGE HOME RETROFIT AND REFURBISHMENT

MADARGANJ, JAMALPUR DISTRICT, BANGLADESH

The project was completed in a suburban region where individuals construct structures without the assistance of an architect. As the heir to his parents’ home and one of eight siblings, he sought to expand his portion and hired a local mason to construct a beam, column, and slab. Eventually he realized that he was unable to make it functional and was unsure whether he should dismantle the entire structure in order to achieve adequate natural light and ventilation.

When the client came to us, we took few decisions methodologically, as we also had to complete the retrofitting work, exterior outlook and interior refurbishment within eight months.

Firstly, we expanded shaded areas in the west and south retrofitting the structures considering the essential climatic considerations (sun and rain) of our region; for this, we provided large openings for proper lighting and ventilation in the house’s double height living room, dining and family space. Then we converted the shaded slab to usable large common varanda. For designing the exterior view we used low-maintenance materials and attempted to experiment with the modular nature of the bricks. We tried to devise a blend of ancient classical style with a touch of contemporary design to give the client the feeling of living in his village home. We transformed the interior of the ancient structure in light hues so that it may be well-lit even with the low light it receives from the east, as we were unable to modify the eastern portion of the structure because it could have an adverse effect in the future. Throughout the day, the curved brick walls play with the sun’s light, and at night, the entire home serves as a lamp for the compound. This project was effective in informing the public that it is not always required to demolish an entire structure and build a new one; rather, minor adjustments with delicate crafted touch as an architect in accordance with fundamental climatic considerations can create a solemn atmosphere for both clients and surroundings.

Construction Completed

2022

Architectural Firm : Plural Works

Team Work

Contribution to Team:

One of the Principal Architects Design Decisions, Render, Construction Drawings, Site Supervision