VISION 2030 FOR CHAWKBAZAR
Md. Golam Mohiuddin
student
North South University, Department of Architecture, Dhaka
Bangladesh
Architecture
Because of rapid urbanization, Dhaka city is becoming unhabitable day by day. Chawkbazar developed through many socio-economic and structural changes over the… more
Golam has presented a very interesting project for the revitalization of an inner city space that is characterized by its very small scale, high density and vibrant retail function.
The project presentation offers a very extensive and detailed analysis of the many aspects that influence the form and function of this specific area. The honesty with which Golam approaches this analysis is to be admired. He is very correct in noting the wider links to the city as a whole and the historical development. He recognises that without regulation of the area, its values may be destroyed, either by indiscriminate development or by the destruction of existing buildings. It highlights the small scale and vertical massing as one of the valuable features of the site. It notes the traffic situation, the major pedestrian axes, the functional layout, congestion and traffic character and other aspects. It observes the characteristics of the area and their problems, for which it analyses in detail the causes and effects. What I consider important is that it also looks at the business side of things.
The qualities of the analysis of the territory can therefore be highly commended; it is a well done and well presented work.
What I appreciate about the proposal itself is the strategy for the layout and development of the territory, which emphasises the main axes in the territory, and which breaks down and clarifies the parcelling out. It shows very clearly what is intended for the area, how much and where it will be demolished, what new buildings will be built. The key by which the buildings to be demolished are evaluated is probably only about the creation of free space, which is determined by the intention in the territory (path widennig, land readjustment), not by the evaluation of the condition of a specific building. The condition of the buildings would also be good to consider.
The proposed opening up of the space and making way for green space to help improve the environment is a major environmental benefit. The actual form, system and composition of the newly designed buildings is very sensitively and tastefully chosen.
In the presentation I would recommend that more attention is given to the stacked cell system and less to, for example, the phasing of construction, which could be given a much smaller drawing area. On the other hand, the material, structural, spatial and other aspects of each cell could be presented in more detail, as these are the ones that are interesting and very creatively designed. It is a pity that these ideas are not more fully presented and introduced to the viewer.
The floor plans and especially the spatial model with the different section views is beautifully done and you can see the amount of work well done. It is easy for the viewer to imagine how the whole organism is woven together from small cells. The visuals are not as photorealistic as they can be today, but in my opinion this is not a bad thing. On the contrary, they are very clear and one can feel the atmosphere that the author has created here.
What is a little lacking for me is the presentation of starting points and solutions that are based on deep analysis. I feel that this is present in the design, that it is well thought out and responds well to the problems found. However, there is not enough presentation of what positives this proposal actually offers for the area. For example, I have a problem with the overly cramped and uncluttered streets here. Therefore, the author has chosen to emphasise the main axes in the area and to extend them spatially to free up space for pedestrians and free movement. For the area this will mean an improved environment, people will feel better and business will go much better than before :-)
Overall, the proposal can be assessed more than positively. A great deal of work has been done, a great deal of effort, analytical thinking and a very creative and appropriate approach to the design itself. I was delighted with the evaluation of this proposal and wish Golam every success in his studies.
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