Dhaka, Bangladesh
Shatotto Architecture
Post By:Kitticoon Poopong
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| Photo © Courtesy of Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam |
Unfolding Nothingness…
1. Inspiration
Water the most precious and abundant and life subtly woven with it, makes
Bangladesh a country of toil and poetry.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam |
Bangladesh the largest delta on earth has 52 rivers that carry water from the
Himalayas in an intricate pattern to the
Bay of Bengal. During Monsoon these rivers inundate two third of the country’s land depicting water the major element of the country scape. When the water recedes, it leaves a fine layer of fertile
alluvial soil and the entire landscape is transformed into large patches of paddy field dancing with the wind.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam |
As
Lalon (a spiritual folk singer, Sufi and philosopher of this land) said in eighteenth century if there is not one thing inside the body then it is not outside the body either. Just like human body, there is a body of architecture. The human body has two parts; shell and thinking as soul. Architecture similarly has shell and
Mother Nature as soul. Shell and soul are interdependent yet independent. They belong to each other and they belong to themselves. A good soul needs a good shell.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam |
In this project the shell is a pure square made of a single material ‘concrete’ transformed from celestial form grounded.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam |
2. Reality
The site is surrounded by multi storied buildings and apartments as onlookers. Considering the socio economic condition of Dhaka, a very simple architectural vocabulary has been adopted through a subtle intervention with form, material and vegetation. The traditional spaces like courtyard, pond, ghat (steps to water), flat green both from urban and rural typology merged, transformed into one urban context.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam |
In the current trend of real estate development, this residence has been a challenge particularly placing a water court as swimming pond in the middle of the house, a surely difficult task to ensure privacy. As a result, an introverted design has been adopted.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam |
The south and the southeast have been designed to bring in cool breeze during the hot humid summer and the warmth of the sun during winter. The center "water court" acts as a natural exhaust, which flows out the hot air and makes the middle court a solace.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam |
3. Dream
A small “dingi” boat waiting by the “ghat”, patch green and light with its silence, the space becomes a natural habitat within a manmade dwelling and the layers of understanding to unfold nothingness.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam |
When light caresses the wall, or the water touches the land, or the land pats the green, or the green cuddles the breeze or the breeze ushers ……… Its all about touching and feeling soul. The destiny is ‘nothingness’ where soul and shell cohabit and purify themselves. Let the soul come inside the home and let go off it. And let it be and let it be……
Description from the Architects:
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| ground floor plan--drawing © Courtesy of Shatotto Architecture |
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| frist floor plan--drawing © Courtesy of Shatotto Architecture |
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| second floor plan--drawing © Courtesy of Shatotto Architecture |
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| roof plan--drawing © Courtesy of Shatotto Architecture |
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| north elevation--drawing © Courtesy of Shatotto Architecture |
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| section CC--drawing © Courtesy of Shatotto Architecture |
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| section FF--drawing © Courtesy of Shatotto Architecture |
Project Data
Project name: SA Residence
Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Program: single family house
Award: World Architecture Festival 2009 - Shortlisted
The people
Architects: Shatotto Architecture
Photographs: ©
Daniele Domenicali, Rafiq Azam
Note>>Location in this map, indicate city/country but not exact address.
