RETHINKING EDGESCAPE

BRAC University, Department of Architecture, Dhaka

Project idea

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT WAS TO STUDY THE EDGE OF A CANAL THAT IS DYING GRADUALLY DUE TO URBANIZATION, ANALYZE THE REASONS BEHIND IT AND PROVIDE A SOLUTION THAT COULD BALANCE BOTH URBANIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIVAL, WHICH WOULD BENEFIT THE AREA ECONOMICALLY, SOCIETALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY.

Project description

EXISTING PROBLEM: THE CANAL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 150 FT BUT DUE TO ILLEGAL ENCROACHMENT OF THE LAND IT HAS BEEN CUT TO 90 FT. MOREOVER, USED WATER FROM NEARBY BUILDINGS FLOWS INTO THE CANAL BEFORE BEING TREATED. THE PLANTS THAT GROW AROUND THE CANAL ARE MOSTLY WEEDS AND FUNGUS AND ANIMAL LIFE IS NON-EXISTENT, JUST MOSQUITOES AND RATS ALONG WITH OTHER INSECTS INHABITAT THE EDGE. HUMAN ACTIVITY IN FLOW WITH THE CANAL IS MINIMAL EVEN THOUGH HISTORICALLY THE EDGE HAD BEEN A CULTURAL HUB FOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES TILL RECENT AREAS.

SOLUTION: STRATEGICALLY THE DESIGN PROPOSAL WAS TO INCREASE THE CANAL WIDTH AND CONVERT THE DOUBLE-LANE ROAD SEPARATING THE CANAL AND THE RESIDENTIAL AREA TO AN UNDERPASS TUNNEL. AND MAKE A SECONDARY ROAD TO A PRIMARY BYPASS ROAD. THE PREVIOUS PAVED ROAD WOULD BECOME A SEMI-PERMEABLE PEDESTRIAN PLAZA WITH MANY CULTURAL ACTIVITIES. THE VISION WAS TO MAKE THE EDGE VIBRANT AND LIVELY WITH YOUTHFUL ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD BECOME A HUB FOR PEOPLE FROM OTHER AREAS TO ALSO COME AND ENJOY TOGETHER ALONG WITH NATURE. THE RESIDENTIAL BELT ALONG THE EDGE WOULD BE CONVERTED TO RECREATIONAL MIXED-USE LAND AND THE EXISTING BUILDINGS WOULD BE REMODELLED INTO CIVIC CENTERS AND RESIDENTIAL COMPLEXES. THE PEOPLE WHOSE LANDS WOULD BE ACQUIRED FOR DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE COMPENSATED BY GIVING THEM FLOORS ON THE NEW RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX. A NATURE-BASED SOLUTION WITH ECONOMIC BENEFITS WAS ENVISIONED.

Technical information

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS WERE PROPOSED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR CONSTRUCTION. NOT JUST FOR HUMAN BEINGS, BUT A BETTER WATER EDGE WAS PROPOSED FOR THE BIOTIC COMMUNITY AS WELL.