‘’RE-THINKING TOWNHALL MARKET AS AN URBAN MARKETPLACE TO MEET THE FUTURE WITH IT’S LOST VIBRANT‘’

Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology

Project idea

A CITY IS INTRODUCED BY THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE. A CULTURAL COMMUNITY IS FORMED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WITH TIME BEING, THE GROWING TECHNOLOGY AND EVER GROWING DEMANDS, THE RURAL FABRIC OF BANGLADESH IS SET TO TRANSFER INTO CITIES FASTER THAN WE CAN IMAGINE WHERE IT ACCOMMODATES THE TRADITIONAL FUNCTIONS OF BAZAR INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. IN BANGLADESH, BAZAR HAVE BEEN A FOCUS OF CULTURAL AND PHYSICAL ELEMENTS OF A RURAL AREA WHERE THE OTHER PUBLIC FUNCTIONS GROW SURROUNDING IT TO PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN CREATING A COMMUNITY. IN RURAL AREA BAZAR FAILS TO MEET THE URBAN SCALE, DEMAND AND CONTEXT. THUS IT LOOSES ITS TRADITIONAL IMAGE AND NO LONGER THE HEART OF A COMMUNITY AS IT ONCE USED TO BE. THE IDEA IS TO RENEW THE AREA BY ORGANIZING THE FUNCTIONS OF TOWN HALL AND MARKETPLACE WITH REDEVELOPMENT AND CONNECTING THEM WITH PUBLIC SPACES THAT AN URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD DESPERATELY DEMANDS WITH ALL NECESSARY OBJECTIVES TO MEET THE UPCOMING FUTURE.

Project description

DCC OWNS 36 MARKETS IN THE CAPITAL. IN 2004 DCC DECIDED TO RENOVATE 13 MARKETS THAT WERE BUILT IN 1950’S AND ARE STRUCTURALLY FAILING, POSING THREAT TO USERS. TOWN HALL BAZAR IN MOHAMMADPUR IS ONE OF THE SUPERMARKETS WHICH ARE TO BE DEMOLISHED AND REBUILT AS A MULTISTORIED MODERN MARKET. THE TWO STORIED SUPERMARKET WHICH ESTABLISHED IN 1950’S CONTAINS KACHA-BAZAR, WARD COUNCILOR OFFICE ALONG WITH OTHER MIXED USED SHOPS AND OFFICES. HOWEVER THIS MARKET HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE MORE THAN A MARKET BUT A CENTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
TOWN HALL IS A MUNICIPAL BUILDING USED FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHERE MEETINGS ARE HELD AT WHICH A POLITICIAN OR PUBLIC OFFICIAL ANSWERS QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.THE MAIN FUNCTION OF A TOWN HALL IS TOWN HALL MEETINGS WHERE THE GOVERNMENT INTERACTS WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE PUBLIC.
TOWN HALL STANDS AT THE MIDDLE OF ASADAVENUE AND MOHAMMADPUR BUS STAND. IT IS ALSO THE FRONT AND GATEWAY TO MOHAMMADPUR WITH ITS LANDMARK SHAHEEDPARK MOQSUE AND TOWNHALL BUILDING. AZAMROAD AND SHERSHAH SURIROAD INTERSECTS AT THE MIDDLE OF THE MOSQUE AND MARKET. THIS PART OF MOHAMMADPUR HAS BEEN CALLED WARD NO 42 HOWEVER, RECENTLY THE WARD NUMBER HAS CHANGED AND IT IS NOW WARD NO 31.
AFTER TOWNHALL BUILDING WAS ESTABLISHED IT FUNCTIONED AS A MARKET NOT AS THE OFFICIAL CIVIC BUILDING A TOWN HALL IS SUPPOSED TO BE. DURING 1970-71 KACHA BAZAAR WHICH IS AN OPEN AIR FOOD MARKET WAS ADDED. LATER SHOPS AND VARIOUS OFFICES ADDED TO THE MARKET. TOWNHALL DEVELOPED AS A MIXED USE FORMAL AND INFORMAL MARKETPLACE. THE FUNCTION OF MARKET IS NOT ONLY TRADING AND COMMERCIAL BENEFIT BUT IT ALSO CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERACTIONS AND GATHERING THUS TRANSFORMING INTO A PUBLIC SPACE.
ACCORDING TO S.W.O.T ANALYSIS WE CAN FIND CERTAIN THINGS ABOUT TOWNHALL MARKET.
STRENGTH: THE SITE IS SURROUNDED BY MANY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
THE LOCATION IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE FROM ANY POINT.
SITE IS LOCATED IN A MIX RESIDENTIAL ZONE.
THERE ARE AVERAGE SIZE BUILDINGS ALL ROUND THIS SITE.
WEAKNESS: NO SUCH PUBLIC SQUARE BESIDE THIS SIDE.
OPPORTUNITIES: THIS CAN BE A GREAT CULTURAL PLATFORM.
CAN WORK AS A PUBLIC HUB.
THREAT: NOISE AND HEAVY TRAFFIC OFTEN DESTROYS WORK ENVIRONMENT.
CREATS POLITICAL TOXICITY.
WHY REDEVELOPMENT IS NEEDED?
1. Unplanned Growth
2. Unplanned functional structure
3. Narrow Pedestrian
4. No Fire Safety
5. Creating Traffic Hazard
6. Unethical Activity
7. Urban Density
8. Political dispute
9. Underutilized open space
10. Unhygienic environment
11. Structural vulnerability
THESE ARE THE OBJECTIVES TO BE FOLLOWED:
01: SCRUTINIZE THE EXISTING FUNCTIONAL COGNATION BETWEEN LOCAL MARKETPLACE, PUBLIC SHOPPING ZONES AND COMMERCIAL SPACES TO UNDERSTAND THE MORPHOLOGY OF CONVENTIONAL MARKETPLACE.
02: ANALYZE THE IDIOSYNCRASY OF PUBLIC FUNCTIONS, PUBLIC SPACE AND WHERE THE PROCLIVITY OF PUBLIC ACTIVITIES ARE STRONGER THAN REGULAR MOVEMENTS AND HOW THEY ACT ON EACH OTHER.
03. UNEARTHING A DESIGN LAYOUT / ESTABLISHMENT IDEA OF HOW MULTIPLE PUBLIC PURSUITS OF THE SITE ACCOMPANY AND INTEROPERATE.
04: CONCOCT THE ACCESS AND VISTA TO THE OPEN EXPAN.

Technical information

DESIGN PROCESS: THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS TOWNHALL ALWAYS SEEK TO HAVE A PLATFORM WHERE THEY CAN MIX AND MINGLE WITH LOCAL PEOPLE SO A HUGE PLAZA ON FIRST FLOOR IS DESIGNED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE ALONG WITH BASIC MARKET FACILITIES WHICH IS OPEN TO SKY. KACHA BAZAR (MEAT AND FISH) HAS BEEN KEPT OPEN TO LET FLOW THE SMELL OF THE RAW FISH AND MEAT SO IT DOESNOT SUFFOCATE OR IRRITATE THE CUSTOMERS AND SALESMEN. THE UNHINDERED FLOW OF AIR PREVENTS THE ODOR FROM BEING TRAPPED IN THE SPACE. ALL THE STORES IN THE WHOLE MARKET COMPLEX ARE ORGANIZED BASED ON THEIR CATAGORIES WHICH GIVES IT A WELL PLANNED AND SYSTEMIC APPROACH. THE DIFFERENT ZONES ARE WELL CONNECTED THROUGH MULTIPLE ACCESSES AND A COMMON PLAZA. HAWKER PLAYS THE DOMINANT ROLE IN THE BAZAR. USUALLY, UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND SURROUNDING PEOPLE GATHER AND SPEND TIME AT LEISURE. BUT DURING RAMADAN TIME, OR AT FESTIVALS, THE SIGHT COMPLETELY CHANGES AS THE CROWD INCREASE DOUBLE. AS A RESULT, THE SETTLEMENT OR THE TRADING PATTERN OF THE HAWKERS BECOMES DISORGANIZED. TO MAKE THE PLACE MORE EFFICIENT, DIFFERENT HAWKER’S ZONE HAS BEEN DESIGNED. MULTIPURPOSE HALL, CINEMA HALL AND A HISTORICAL MUSEUM HAVE BEEN INCLUDED TO KEEP THE PLACE ACTIVE DURING THE WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS. A COMMERCIAL TOWER HAS BEEN AS WELL DESIGNED TO MAKE THE PLACE MORE COST EFFECTIVE. TO SUMMARIZE, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BAZAR IS BASED ON COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL BENEFITS WHERE DIFFERENT RECREATIONAL ZONE IS CONNECTED TO COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR CREATING VIBRANT SPACES. AN URBAN PARK IS ALSO ADDED AS A RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WHICH IS BADLY NEEDED FOR THE LOCALS. THE CHANGES IN THE BAZAAR CAN BRING A LIVABLE SPACE IN THE FUTURE. THE AIM IS TO FULFILL THE NEED, COMBINING COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WITH SYSTEMATICAL PLANNING AND RESPECTING THE HISTORICAL PATTERN. THE MODIFICATION CAN BRING A BETTER ENVIRONMENT WITH A VIBRANT CHARACTER.

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