Paraa, an architectural design and research studio based in Dhaka is very excited to invite you to the opening of Bamboo Playspace. The playspace is a result of Paraa’s frst short course, CADSE; Critical Architecture, Design and Sustainable Environment, a new short course designed to address the need for widened critical education in the built environment. This is a very new way of making architecture, and thinking about public space in Bangladesh. The playspace will exist for two years, with a series of innovative programmes to accompany it over the year.

Paraa’s approach to design education is focused on learning through doing, a practical learning programme structured to address societal issues along with the development of the student in leadership, management and design. The live project was to design and build a playspace to be inclusive and accessible for all, especially those children whom are differently-abled, residing at the LEEDO Peace Home. LEEDO is a children’s charity based in Dhaka, Bangladesh since 2000.

Along with the space being dedicated to the children of LEEDO Peace Home, we have organised and invited a variety of leading creatives from Bangladesh to respond the new place. This will span from experimental fashion performances, led by Jatra, who will showcase their ’Rongbaji’ collection, in a fashion performance by dancers, curated by Anusheh Anadil. Afsana Ferdousi will be showcasing her upcycled T-shirt collection, and Maheen of Monokrome will also be presenting a capsule collection related to indigo.

Alongside this, Paraa collaborated with Epiphania Visuals to put forward an Open Call to Fine Artists. There will be an opportunity to engage and see a response to this along the concept of ‘Heerak Rajar Deshe’ by Epiphania Visuals.These will be short propositions developed by individual artists on site.

Additionally, there will be a new short production of theatre, developed by Prachyanat Theatre, with fourteen children of LEEDO Peace Home. This has been developed with the children in a series of intense workshops, to develop the story on site and will feature costumes, along with all the children performing.

Finally, the evening will end with live musical performance by some prominent artists and Beatmosphere doing a live acapella.

As part of the making of the Bamboo Playspace process Paraa held an architectural design competition, with the children of Leedo selecting two winning groups of architecture students from BUET and Brac University. They jointly developed the final design and helped building with support from Paraa and a team of skilled bamboo craftsmen.

When: 4pm – 8pm, Friday 3rd May 2019

Where: LEEDO Peace Home, Washpur Garden City, Bosilla, Mohammadpur, Dhaka

Schedule:

4.00 onwards arrive to explore, play, engage

5.00 Introduction / Opening by Paraa / LEEDO / Students of CADSE / Design Charrette winners

Element 1: Artists on Site (tbc) ( 5.15 – 5.45 ) curated by Epiphania Visuals.

Element 2: Theatre led by a team from Prachyanat Theatre & the children of LEEDO (6.00 -6.25)

Element 3: Fashion performances, led by Jatra / Afsana Ferdousi / Monokrome ( 6.45 – 7.15 )

Element 4: Live Music ( 7.30 – 8.15 )

End: 8.30

About Paraa

www.paraa.org.uk/about

Paraa is an architectural and research studio, focusing on enhancing spaces with communities through multidisciplinary practice. Paraa is led by Bangladeshi architect Kazi Aarefn and UK based artist/urban researcher Ruhul Abdin and film producer Abbas Nokhasteh. It was set up as a process driven design studio focusing on enhancing communities, through architectural and urban projects in Bangladesh. Fundamental to Paraa’s studio practice is research, training & participatory workshops that feed into and complement its architecture and design developments.

In its evolution, Paraa has been able to explore potential avenues for creative interventions; design research along with the potential for radically changing the processes available for a more human centred approach.

About Leedo

https://leedobd.org/about-us/

Local Education and Economic Development Organization (LEEDO) is a not-for-profit, voluntary-based development organization founded in 2000. The organization was initiated by a group of educated social and human rights activists and educators aiming to improve the life chances of children forced to live in extreme difficulties on the streets and also to address the needs of the growing number of vulnerable street children in Bangladesh.