[ From the Architect ]

‘In the experience of art, a peculiar exchange takes place; I lend my emotions and associations to the space and the space lends me its aura, which entices and emancipates my perceptions and thoughts. An Architectural work is not experienced as a series of isolated retinal pictures, but in its fully integrated material, embodied and spiritual essence. It offers pleasurable shapes and surfaces moulded for the touch of the eye and other senses, but it also incorporates and integrates physical and mental structures, giving our existential experience a strengthened coherence and significance.’ [ The Eyes Of The Skin:  Architecture and the Senses _ Juhani Pallasmaa]

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A few days back we got a chance to have a conversation with Juhani Pallasmaa regarding this project. Going through the images of the project, he suggested to use ‘literature’ instead of ‘drawings’ and stretched on the use of the term ‘metaphors’ instead of ‘concept’ while explaining the project which eventually reinforced our intention to express the ‘existential experiences’ this architectural intervention has to offer.

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Surrounded by significant landmarks like Central Mosque, Central Library, DUCSU, Modhur Canteen and also the new building of the Faculty of Social Science, the open space failed to create any significance regarding the usage. Despite of being located at the heart of university of Dhaka, the area remained ‘unattended’ for years. The place itself had nothing to offer to the users, and was being used for shortcuts and dumping zone of construction debris for several years. Natural setting was random but guided by the influences like sunlight, condition of the soil and less human intervention.

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The objective of the project was to create a meeting place for the young mind, holding small gatherings which may act as a place for contemplation and reflection to the students and faculties. Maintenance of a open landscape in a prominent area like this demands additional attention and the requirement of a semi-open food kiosk emerged as the catalyst to maintain the site as well as making the space lively.

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The project, from the moment of inception to the phase of completion, can be expressed through multiple ‘metaphors’:

Choreographed Encounter >> The design approach focused on creating a place for contemplation where the users, primarily consisting of young age group, can take a ‘momentary pause’ in between their campus life. Mainly based on the very basic idea of ‘Dig and Mound’, traditionally used in our context, topographical layers are created within a range of 3 feet below and above ground to create a landscape terrain. The shapes and spaces in the land formation emerged from the unique site specific pattern of existing trees and the surrounding built forms of distinct characteristics in terms of both aesthetic and program. The design intervention offers a ‘place’ for ‘choreographed encounter’ to the users through creating an extended reading area from the central library, gathering place after prayer at central mosque, extended discussion ground adjacent to DUCSU and Modhur Canteen.

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The design approach focused on creating a place for contemplation where the users, primarily consisting of young age group, can take a ‘momentary pause’ in between their campus life. Mainly based on the very basic idea of ‘Dig and Mound’, traditionally used in our context, topographical layers are created within a range of 3 feet below and above ground to create a landscape terrain. The shapes and spaces in the land formation emerged from the unique site specific pattern of existing trees and the surrounding built forms of distinct characteristics in terms of both aesthetic and program. The design intervention offers a ‘place’ for ‘choreographed encounter’ to the users through creating an extended reading area from the central library, gathering place after prayer at central mosque, extended discussion ground adjacent to DUCSU and Modhur Canteen.

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An Archive of Memories >> For transforming a ‘non-place’ into a ‘place’ that is able to create an impact to the users, the design strategy focused on creating ‘an archive of memories’. A sunken reflecting water body holds the reflection of the big Rain Tree, part of the library façade from certain angles, the ever-changing phenomena of light and shade, the sky, the cloud, offers a place for contemplation. The ‘Hijol Tree’ planted at the center of the water embodies an image to recall memories of the village pond. Use of materials is explored to create a multi-sensory experience infused with nostalgia.   

Material Compatibility >> Perforated bricks were used with a patterned combination of soft-pave to hard-pave. Red Oxide coated metal installations combined with turquoise colored neat cement finish infuses an essence of ‘ruins’ and creates a rich ‘peripheral image’.

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Elements ‘Placed’ in the Terrain >> The semi-open café emerges within the gap created by the changes in topographical layers which start from the sunken steps surrounding the water body and ends near the intermediate level of the large ‘Kanakchura tree’. The continuous surface takes the form of a stepped gallery facing the sunken water body with the façade of the central library as the backdrop. Hanging metal bridge enhances the directionality towards the node of the mosque, library, and social science faculty. It allows the free flowing growth of the shrubs, an interplay of lights and shades through its porous body. All of these elements creating ‘pause’ or ‘thresholds’ generates from or terminates towards the existing trees of unique species and foliage.

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The Animated Terrain >> Focus has been given to enhancing the essence of the ‘place’ itself by a deliberate design strategy of evolving the ultimate landscape formation from on-site design decisions responding to its immediate surrounding structures of cultural, historic and programmatic significance as well as existing biodiversity. The shadow of the trees, flickers through the leaves spreads through the stepped theater surrounding the water body and continues up to the stepped gallery and in certain moments of a day stretches up to the turquoise-blue roof of the pavilion-café. The place becomes animated with the ‘aparajita’ fallen from the metal shade on the metal benches while sipping the early morning tea. The soft-paved brick covered platform gets covered with the yellow kanakchura flowers.     

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Enhanced Biodiversity >> As a climatic attribute it varies with the presence of elements like water, vegetation, quality of surfaces around, also describes the morphology of a space. The shades, the permeability of light, flow of the wind all can imitate a particular memory or memories, a deep sensory perception.

The site was filled with large trees such as Rain Trees, Kanakchura, Mango, Jackfruit, Mahagony, Neem, Kadam, Bakul etc along with rare species of Figs. Fruits from fig trees attract the rare ‘BoshontoBauri’ in the site along with other common birds like doyel, chorui etc. Beji(mongoose), Kathbirali (squirrel), were to be ensured their natural habitat to retain the existing biodiversity and hence the ‘design intervention’ also includes ‘places’ for them besides humans. Fruits and Flower bearing plants such as Dalim, Kamini, Radhachura, lantana, Joba are planted to attract butterflies and birds. The central water body has water loving plants and small fishes to ecologically sustain the cleanliness of the water. Ever since the water body is created, it is being used as a bird’s bath for the birds of the locality. Flights of birds in pairs touching the body of water are now a common phenomenon occurring at the site.

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** The word ‘Non-place’ used in the title refers to the term coined by French anthropologist Marc Augé. He used this term to refer to spaces of transience where the human beings remain anonymous and that do not hold enough significance to be regarded as “places”.

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<< Project Information >>

Architectural Consultant: SthaNiK Consultants

Lead Architects: Saiqa Iqbal Meghna and Suvro Sovon Chowdhury

Construction: Nazmul Ahsan Rajan, Arcadia Architects and Engineers

Associates: Saad Ben Mostafa

Location: Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Dhaka

Area: 22,200 square feet (approx.)

Project Year: 2016

Photographs: Doyeedt Annahaal, Amlin Iqbal Eshita, Noufel Sharif Sojol

Client: Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Dhaka

 << Image Gallery >>