Reviving Ram Mala Complex

BRAC University, Department of Architecture, Dhaka

Project idea

মহেশাঙ্গন : Reviving Ram Mala Complex
Site : Shaktola,Cumilla town, Cumilla
Area: 4.2Acre

Ram mala Library is a hundred years old library located in the city of Comilla and one hundred kilometer away from Dhaka city. Mahesh Chandra Bhattacharya, an eminent philanthropist and educationist of Nabinagar of Brahmanbaria district, founded this library from his earning for the benefit of learners in memory of his departed mother Ram mala Devi in 1912. Ram mala library occupies a wide range of land in the middle of Comilla town. This library is enriched with 12000 printed books and 8500 hand-written books on literature, culture, history, geography, philosophy, religion and other branches of knowledge. This more than hundred years old structure has developed into a cultural complex with heritage value. But it is losing it’s value day by day because of lack of care. Not many people now a days even knows Ram mala Library.

Project description

This project focuses the importance of this Heritage block and how it can be revived into a lively place again by applying principles of New Contextualism. The only way to save Ram mala is to make people come to the site and aware them about this heritage.
The concept of the project was to connect the site to a nearby lively heritage cannel, Rani Dighi, with a pedestrian. So that when people visit Rani Dighi in order to explore heritage sites, they can also be lead up to Ram mala and be aware of it’s value. So in this way, a thriving heritage can save another dying heritage. This pedestrian path will go through site and create 3 zones; Recreational, academic and accommodation zone. Along site will be the heritage zone which will be improvised but still respected as the way it is. This will create the opportunity for people to learn about Ram mala complex and enjoy public spaces along the pedestrian path that has been created. Thus Ram mala will be revived and marked as the heart of Comilla City.
The project is a great example to show how successful New Contextualism can be.

Technical information

The construction of the building will be made of Bricks and concrete to blend in with the nature and to be not so costly so that the people of Cumilla can also help to revive this heritage.

Created in: