_

‘I have never produced something saying that this is a work of modern architecture, and I never told anyone that this is what you should do. I have always spoken about creating something contemporary, and in the context of Bangladesh.’ _ Ar. Muzharul Islam

The former library was situated at the western zone of the linear top floor of Faculty of Business Studies (formerly known as NIPA Bhaban) at Dhaka University Campus, a significant architecture, both in terms of Ar. Islam’s one of the master works and a heritage building in chronology of architectural history of Bangladesh. The task was to extend and transform the existing one into an E-Library, first of its kind in context of Bangladesh.

_

_

To rejuvenate the very openness of the pavilion structure the first step was to remove all the unplanned walls that were built inside the building to accommodate the faculty’s growing need over time. Two parts, separated with blank walls of an internal staircase,is connected by removing the solid walls and bridging them by transparent glass box containing a glass bridge floating over the void of the stair-case. The Interior of small compartmental spaces, thus, is transformed into a continuous fluid space having the double height sky-lit volume in the middle.

_

_

_

_

The organization and allocation of spaces are done in a way which will encourage a spacious and volumetric public scale inside the library. Large continuous open spaces are introduced throughout the two-hundred-and-six-feet length of the floor spanning west to east. The areas required to be closed are kept inside patterned glass boxes through which green filigree of outside trees filters inside. The main color scheme is decided to be white to maximize light inside the library. Dark patches in defined areas floats amidst the whiteness of the continuous open plan.Dark Entry-way made with metal sheets etched with the text of history of the Faculty of Business Studies unfolds to a bright open fluid space inside. Module design of the function-specific-furniture ensures maximum openness.

_

_

_

_

_

The double height space with the clear-story lighting is enhanced by a bright red floating mezzanine floor. The mezzanine holds the information and issue counter underneath and a silent reading area on the upper level. The mezzanine floor turns into a stepped continuous surface offering informal reading area amidst a somewhat ‘unusual’ volume of space and initiates dialog with the twisted fluid space generated around an elliptical geometry designed as a sculptural installation tohouse the journal section.The ‘Trimmed Egg’ holding the ‘functionality of the journal shelves and reading tables, increases fluidity by changing the geometry of the space and opens towards west to celebrate the dramatic west light double-filtered through densely placed white window grills and the lush green of nature.

_

_

_

_

_

The ceiling of the library is designed as light as possible using metal mesh and white boards to enhance the exposed beam-column structures rather than hiding them. The composition of the ‘elements’ on the ceiling  follows the existing grids in most zones except the open space around the ‘trimmed egg’ and stepped reading area where diagonal lines in random direction unfolds the zones into multidirectional  openness.

Project Title:  E-Library | Faculty of Business Studies, University of Dhaka

Architectural Consultant:  SthaNiK

Project Team:

_ Lead Architects: Ar. Saiqa Iqbal Meghna and Ar. Suvro Sovon Chowdhury

_ Collaboration: SthaNiK Architectural Consultants collaborated with Ar. Mohammed Emran Hossain and Ar. Shahidullah Faruq for the Construction of Journal Section and Main Entry-way

_ Associates: Saad Ben Mostafa (B.Arch student, BUET), Bin Sayeed bakhti (B.Arch student, BUET)

Location: Top floor of Faculty of Business Studies (Former NIPA Building), University of Dhaka

Area: 12,000 square feet

Project Year: 2015

Photographs: Ar.Mahfuzul Hasan Rana

Client: Faculty of Business Studies, University of Dhaka