Being located in the heart of Old Dhaka, the Central Jail of Dhaka is bearing the footmarks of all the cultural, social, political changes that took place for more than 200 years. It exists as an integral part of the morphology and infrastructure of old Dhaka and yet detached from its surroundings, with its boundaries. The 22’ high boundary walls of colonial period create a mixed sense of curiosity, fear and safety among the citizens.

While reintegrating the core jail area with the surrounding context, our intention is to facilitate the area conserving and preserving the ‘Cultural Heritage’ of Old Dhaka, ensuring new developments not coming in conflict with the heritage site with all preserved buildings for adaptive reuses, trees and intimate open spaces. Reintegrating the central jail area will establish the connection between individual interest, communal facilities and the time-honored culture. The social values, norms, knowledge, language customs, manners, foods, streets, celebrations, gatherings, lifestyles all these together are the identity of the “Old Dhaka”.

The landscape of Bangladesh, as if, looks like a magical tapestry in green woven intricately by nature which is absent from the old Dhaka city. As the Central Jail of Bangladesh is relocated from Najim-Ud-Din Road (23°43’9.10″N, 90°23’48.14″E) to Keraniganj (23°39’30.46″N, 90°22’52.27″E) after 228 years of running, the vast land has no more use as its previous purpose but has the potentiality to be a breathing space for the densely populated Old Dhaka city. In Old Dhaka open spaces are scattered here & there which may not be used to their full potential and not sufficient for that area. We designed this site not merely as an urban space but also conserved the historical essence of the previous central jail.

Design Process

We zoned the site into two public spaces along with Najim-Ud-din Road and Urdu Road on both side of the historical zone providing public facilities( restaurant, parking, open field for celebrating any kind of festivals).These public spaces are connected with a foot-over over bridge.

Historical Zone: There is a historical zone between these two public spaces where we conserved 6 historically important buildings. Four British colonial buildings (Padma, Meghna and Surma, were used as cells for the prisoners, a hospital) and two museums known as “Char Neta Museum” and the Bangabandhu Museum.

Commercial zone: A multi-storied building at the north of the site which provides shopping complex, recreational and leisure activities for the urban dwellers.

Educational zone: There is a school with a playground at north.

Community space: Near the historical Chawk bazar a gathering & community meeting space (Chawk plaza) is provided with green roof to hold the urban crowd.

N.B. The project wins the first prize in ACA’s 4^th International Design Competition in Global category.

<< Image gallery >>

Save

Save

Save

Save