Lamisa-Nimo'r Dada Bari

Khulna University, Architecture Discipline, School of Science, Engineering & Technology, Khulna

Project idea

In Bangladeshi culture, "GRANDFATHER'S HOUSE" IS called "Dada Bari". Lamisa and Nimo both are siblings as well as children of the owner of this project. This project is their "DADA BARI". Usually children often visited their DADA BARI in the vacation time in Bangladeshi context. Memories of these occasions are very precious to every child in Bangladesh. Generally this DADA BARI is such a place which is consisting so many natural touches, where a child can play with birds tweet under natural green-field, enjoy the playful spiritual light and shadow, swimming in the pond and playing with fishes, enjoying the rain drops, get the smell and feel the texture of mud and so on. This project is consisting all this things with a metaphoric way.

Project description

PROJECT DETAIL
Name of the project: "Lamisa-Nimo'r Dada Bari"
Type of project: Single family residence,(vacation house)
Location: Khalishpur Housing State,Khulna,Bangladesh.
Site Area: 177.48 sq-m(2.65 katha)
Total built up area of the project: 146.70 sq-m (avg. per floor)
Year of Commencement: March,2014
Year of completion: September,2015
Project Cost in BD Taka: 9.8 Million

BACKGROUND:
Being situated parallel to the Voirob and rupsha rivers , Khulna City is renowned for its industrial developments and famous for the history of ‘Khalifatabad’; the Khan Jahan Style . Topographically it is flat in nature with full of green and water, Khulna embodies many colonial developments . The city being situated in the tropical region is environmentally very comfortable to live in.
The particular site is situated in Khalishpur Housing estate of Khulna . After the Liberation War in 1971 the Government of Bangladesh allotted these plots measuring 2.50-2.75 katha or 1800-1980 Sq. ft to the stranded Pakistani refuges which is later called as ‘Bihari Colony or Khema’ . As Per the building construction by laws such small land lots do not require any setback on the sides except on the front and Back .

THE SITE :
To be Précised the project is a vacation house constructed on a paternal plot by the client to reconnect with the roots of the client who is currently residing at Dhaka .Therefore, The name of the project "Lamisa-Nimo'r Dada Bari" has been derived from the client’s two children name 'Lamisa & Nimo' and the 'Dada Bari' (Grandfather's house in Bangladeshi context) . Introvert nature of architectural Layouts are Predominant is the area due to the regulations and the small size of the land lots that forces the designers to have almost no windows on the side walls. This results for the climatic consideration like light –ventilation are to be solved with either courtyard for low height Buildings and light well for multistoried building.
To relate to the imagery of a Grandfather’s house for the grand children ,the client agreed with having as much as possible natural elements to be incorporated in the design . The elements that were taken into consideration are greeneries , sound of rain drops, playing with water ,tweeting, fishes and the sun light.

ARCHITECTURE:
The Project has been designed on two fundamental perspectives. One is the context and other one is the functional demand .
The entry has been juxtaposed with water and greeneries specially bamboo bush, having an open loft. A Shaded wooden ramp has been incorporated for children and elderly persons . A water body flows through the back of the site and is accompanied with a exposed brick wall which is connected with the main building . The natural light –shadow ,exposed brick wall and water beneath all together create a dramatic environment . where the natural sun light comes directly from top and reaches the dramatic quality of space with the diagonal wooden frames that cast animated shadow . Since the side wall do not have any view to the outside , and intentional setback has been created on the sides to redefine the nature by means of Brick wall ,water and play of light . The sunken living area is on two sides is flanked by wide water body that act as metaphoric fish ponds and at the same time help in evaporative cooling for the whole area. The use of folding full height window turns the whole area into a pavilion connecting fully with the created nature blocked with the exposed brick wall with pigeon holes on the other hand the bricks Randomly extruded out of the wall play a drama of moving shadows. The centre water body and punch details help visually connecting the living and dining areas where the dining connects with the bird’s garden . Over this water body the triplex stair is terminated with the second atrium covered with clear glass and diagonal wooden frames hence creating a romantic interplay of light and shadow throughout the day . The building is split into two part, the rain –court is topped with Astroturf and surrounded with exposed brick walls. The rain –court and family living space is partitioned with clear glass wall. A verandah at family living with planters enhances the entry space quality at lower level .Master bedroom is situated on the road there are irregular wooden louvers that protect the bedroom from direct western sun light. The stair finally leads to a party space which is directly linked with the green roof terrace from where a wooden stair connects the mini wading pool with a waterfall, which enhances the aesthetics of the area. The project has been designed not as a bundle of rooms but as a natural retreat complying all requirements necessary for a house. Each and every space has its own expression where nature plays a great role.

Technical information

MATERIAL:
The proper sympathy to the materials is an important feature that could successfully use the exposed brick and concrete juxtaposing with wood which turns the building a very contemporary, filled with lots of natural happenings inside. True expression of material and the metaphoric use of mud wall is noticeable at ceiling detail. Clear glass at roof top merge inside spaces with outer environment although inner spaces.