Midrise Architecture in Dhaka Bangladesh

[Bilal9]

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts signs new hotel in Sylhet, Bangladesh, with plans to open in 2018

Resort in popular Bangladeshi destination will offer upscale accommodation, meeting facilities, a spa and retail zone

Sylhet, Bangladesh 8 May 2017 - Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is set to open a 210-room hotel in Bangladesh in the third quarter of 2018. The business and leisure hotel will feature a retail wing and is located in one of Bangladesh's main commercial and tourism centres in the northeast of the country.

Sylhet, known as the “land of boundless beauty”, is considered one of the most spectacular tourism destinations in Bangladesh. The scenic city is surrounded by tropical forests, such as the Lawachera Rainforest.

Guests at Mövenpick Hotel Sylhet Bangladesh will be able to relax in the rooftop infinity swimming pool and indulge in signature treatments at the spa. A fitness centre, tennis court and bowling alley complement the adjacent shopping area, which covers 12,600 sqft of retail space. In addition, the hotel will feature an all-day dining restaurant, speciality bistro and lounge. With a well-equipped business centre and the city’s largest meeting rooms, the hotel will also appeal to the growing number of business travellers.

"This is the second Bangladesh property we have signed in the last 12 months and we look forward to establish ourselves as the first international hotel chain in Sylhet," said Andrew Langdon, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts Chief Development Officer & Senior Vice President Asia. "Bangladesh has a rapidly developing economy with a rising, affluent middle class,” he continued. “This will be a key driver of our business as we look forward to offering corporate and leisure travellers to the city an internationally-branded, upscale hotel experience."

According to the IMF, Bangladesh was the second-fastest growing major economy globally in 2016, at a rate of 7.1%. The country, with a population of 163 million people, recorded over 500,000 overseas arrivals last year.

Mövenpick Hotel Sylhet Bangladesh is just a few minutes from Sylhet Osmani International Airport. The destination’s verdant landscape of rolling hills and streams offers numerous opportunities to explore nature. Pangthumai Waterfall is referred to as the Amazon of Bangladesh, while Jaflong hill station is famed for its stone collections and being home to the Khasi tribe. The city also boasts the largest tea garden in the world, at Srimangal.

 

[N.Siddiqui]

The Education – Future Projects category has been won by Feilden Clegg Bradley and SHALOTTO architecture for their project Aga Khan Academy in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

I've studied architecture and product designing and such threads intrigue me. You seems to have the same interests...

BTW check this thread started by me on the Karachi residential areas, home and offices. People here still prefer to live in homes than in apartments, changing though with rise in real estate prices. Lots of midrises in Karachi...

https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/karachi-residential-areas-homes-and-offices.510784/

 

[Bilal9]

Midrise architecture in Bangladesh is really interesting and intriguing, specially like the use of fair face concrete(left unpainted), big terraces and galleries in apartments, open end plans, ceiling to floor big windows and the planning for light and air in the apartments...

I generally don't like bright colored green and blue glass cladding all over the elevation, unless in some office buildings. Terraces and galleries are more important in condo's and apartments than anything else.

Fair face concrete is a necessity in Bangladesh because of the incessant rain in the monsoon season which turns regular paint into streaky mildew, really ugly to look at. The local architectural tradition has been strong since the fifties and was started by Prof. Mazharul Islam of BUET Architectural school, whose epitome was the Parliament Building in which he collaborated with celebrated architect Louis I. Kahn. In Fact that entire area and complex was designed by Kahn (who also designed the city of Chandigarh) and finished mostly in fair-faced concrete as well as red terracotta face bricks.

Green/blue Glass cladding is cheap and plentiful locally, hence popular. However renowned architects hate to specify them for better projects.

I've studied architecture and product designing and such threads intrigue me. You seems to have the same interests...

BTW check this thread started by me on the Karachi residential areas, home and offices. People here still prefer to live in homes than in apartments, changing though with rise in real estate prices. Lots of midrises in Karachi...

https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/karachi-residential-areas-homes-and-offices.510784/

Thanks - I checked it out....beautiful thread.

Maybe there should be collaboration with Karachi architects for Dhaka projects.

In Dhaka there are some nice individual houses too, although I haven't really highlighted them. Please check the earlier posts in this thread. There are few single family houses left (if any) because land in Dhaka is scarce and much more expensive compared to Karachi.

Also check out some work by Rafiq Azam - the principal architect of 'Shatotto', local atelier. He did some single family housing too.

https://architizer.com/firms/shatotto-architecture-for-green-living/

He won an award for this one.

https://architizer.com/projects/sa-residence/media/251736/

 

[N.Siddiqui]

Fair face concrete is a necessity in Bangladesh because of the incessant rain in the monsoon season which turns regular paint into streaky mildew, really ugly to look at. The local architectural tradition has been strong since the fifties and was started by Prof. Mazharul Islam of BUET Architectural school, whose epitome was the Parliament Building in which he collaborated with celebrated architect Louis I. Kahn. In Fact that entire area and complex was designed by Kahn (who also designed the city of Chandigarh) and finished mostly in fair-faced concrete as well as red terracotta face bricks.

Yes valid reasons to use fair face concrete or also called exposed concrete elevation. In Pakistan architect Habib Fida Ali, old school AA Architecture school pupil started this use of fair face, he died couple of years ago. Almost all of his buildings had this signature Fair Face facade and minimalist elegant architecture, though he used red brick cladding in LUMS school, Lahore, peculiar to that region...

The new breed of architects along with some old school is using the vernacular designs with the modern one's and that's ideal, in Bangladesh.

That Louis. I Khan and Mazharul Islam designed Parliament building, has seen and visited by me. Didn't know Mazharul Islam collaborated with him in this iconic building, seems to have impressed lots of local architects.

 

[Bilal9]

Yes valid reasons to use fair face concrete or also called exposed concrete elevation. In Pakistan architect Habib Fida Ali, old school AA Architecture school pupil started this use of fair face, he died couple of years ago. Almost all of his buildings had this signature Fair Face facade and minimalist elegant architecture, though he used red brick cladding in LUMS school, Lahore, peculiar to that region...

The new breed of architects along with some old school is using the vernacular designs with the modern one's and that's ideal, in Bangladesh.

That Louis. I Khan and Mazharul Islam designed Parliament building, has seen and visited by me. Didn't know Mazharul Islam collaborated with him in this iconic building, seems to have impressed lots of local architects.

Professor Muzharul Islam Sir was the icon of the local vernacular school of architecture and progenitor of regional modernism in South Asian Architecture. He brought three American architects he studied with in the US back to Bangladesh. Louis I Kahn was his teacher I believe. More details here,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzharul_Islam

 

[Bilal9]

More typical upper middle class Dhaka housing....courtesy of Jason Kazi

Navana Sharif Oakdale, Rd 99/100, Gulshan-2

3483 - 3782 Sft unit 15 storied apartment building with swimming pool, gym, rooftop party area

Navana Syed's Casalida, Baridhara

Navana Latif Bluemont, Rd 18, Banani

Nasim Reza, Bashundhara

ABC Shapno Neer, Sector 3, Uttara

Kunjabithi, Gulshan-1

College View, Mirpur Rd

 

[Bilal9]

Navana Azalea, Baridhara

Navana Shah Aspen, Gulshan-1

Navana Wedgewood, Gulshan-2

Navana Kishology, Gulshan-2

Navana Chondrika, Banani

Navana Miru Arimidale, Gulshan-2

Navana Ellsworth, Banani

Navana Casa Grande, Gulshan-2

Navana Beaufort, Baridhara

Navana Islam Florentine, Gulshan

Navana Karatoya, Baridhara

Navana Shaz Sylvan, Baridhara

Navana Summer Wind, Baridhara

Navana Mid Summer Wind, Gulshan-2

 

[Bilal9]

Shanta Angan, Rd 35, Gulshan-2

13 storied apartment building with 12 units at 3450 sq. ft. each, 2 levels of underground parking for 23 cars, reception lobby, open green areas, children's play area

Shanta The Landing 141, Gulshan-1

15 storied apartment building with 28 units at 2885-3741 sq. ft. each, 2 underground levels of parking with 56 spaces, gymnasium, grand community hall, reception and waiting lounge, children's play area, community office with powder room and no parking on ground floor.

Penthouse apartment at Gulshan

Ranks Ekannabarti, Badda

10 storied 834-1826 sq. ft. unit apartment building w/ one level for underground parking (48 spaces), rooftop swimming pool, water body & fountain, children's playground, prayer space, jogging track and community space

Navana Del Evanthe, Rd 9/A, Dhanmondi

13 storied 2428-2452 sq. ft. unit apartment building

Navana Unnamed, Rd. 68, Gulshan-2

10 storied 3070 sq. ft. unit apartment building

Navana Unnamed, Rd 4, Baridhara

12 storied 3539-3607 sq. ft. unit apartment building

 

[Bilal9]

Shanta Jalalabad House, Gulshan

Shanta The Regal, North Gulshan

15 storied apartment building with 5790-6901 sq. ft. unit apartments with 2 underground levels for parking with 72 spaces, reception and waiting lounge, state of the art gym, ground floor swimming pool, rooftop party space w/ indoor seating space, multi-purpose community hall, children's play area with rides and basketball court, water fountains, cloth drying space, driver's lounge with toilet facility, guard room with toilet facility and fire escape stairs

SB Tower, Shantinagar

15 storied residential and commercial tower with swimming pool and 2 underground levels for parking

 

[Bilal9]

Shots of GrameenPhone HQ in Dhaka (architectural elements) - designed by Mustapha Khalid bhai - one of the pioneers of Dhaka's new architectural scene in the 80's, successors to and pupils of - Dr. Muzharul Islam Sir.

DESCRIPTION

The challenge thus conceived was to engage a newer form of creativity, directed and
qualified by contextual circumstances in the use of limited resources – constraints
(site, lot-size, ‘appropriate use of land’ etc.) and in the invigoration of public space.
The challenge was to comprehend and re-conceptualize the representational, spatial
and cultural effects of “corporate branding”.

The project features two complementary office wings, one being aligned with the
eastern boundary and the other being aligned with western boundary resulting in a
gentle asymmetry in composition and connected by a central communal space of
courtyard of link-bridges, lifts and stairs. Such orientation of the building blocks is
deliberately done to express the ‘Democratic’ nature of the company which runs on
the notion of ‘by the people, for the people and of the people’. Each wing
corresponds to similar functional programme and together they define a precise
spatial response in the spirit of the site. Broadly divided into two zones i.e. the
‘private’ and the ‘public’, the site opens up with a formal plaza as entry zone leading
to an informal zone of traditional ‘courtyard’ with water body symbolizing the
presence of ‘ponds’ in traditional settlements and garden at the south plaza adds the
‘soul’ or spiritual zone’ together with the help of building wings, shifting axis,
internalized landscape, open stairways, views and vistas. As a whole, a continuous
interplay between the two wings in the background and the entry plaza in the
foreground, interspersed with sub-plaza water body and courtyard in the core results
in a cohesive expanse.

Both the raised and the sunken plaza are dedicated to the pedestrian traffic
consisting of both Grameenphone employees and visitors, while allowing the
vehicular traffic of corporate employees’ uninterrupted use of the sub-zero levels for
parking. This provides easy access to the building at different levels, greatly
increasing speed and efficiency of movement. Accessibility between the two plaza
levels is improved by the presence of open stairs and a pedestrian ramp to reach the
upper plaza level from the bottom of lower plaza level.

Environmentally Responsive Design
There has been a conscious effort to reflect ecological sensibilities in design through
appropriate use of materials, techniques and strategies. The Design clearly responds
to the climate and to the quality of light and shade, water and green spaces in
relationship to the climate of this region of tropical environment. Reflected sunlight is
balanced by shading from the roof over the courtyard, eastern and western facades
so that natural illumination in the interior of the spaces is even and finely veiled.
Daylight is drawn deep into the plan, in some places entering gently, in others
forming fine piercing rays.

As a proper response to the local climate, the roof consists of two layers: an outer
metal shield floats above a concrete slab, encouraging a cooling flow of air in
between, thus optimizing the building’s passive thermal performance. The roof
sweeps through 75 meters in a single line, surging forward at its peak to create a
canopy above the entrance, which provides shelter from the sun and bears the
symbolic representation of civic canopy welcoming people to socialize and interact.
Because of the operable solar-shading device being introduced on the exterior glass
skin of east and west, the sunlight strikes the outside shades, the warm outside air is
discharged from the glass surface by natural air current. To be more protective
against hot film of air at the nearest surface of glass planes the suction will be
introduced to forcefully exhaust the interior air.

The plaza with the sunken ‘pond’ and the courtyard opens to the level zero. The
same courtyard acts as an ‘atrium’ containing linking bridges and gardened terraces
for informal interactions will be covered with transparent glass roof. The roof of the
courtyard being proposed to be of Heat-mirror glass (almost zero heat transmittance)
and is screened by louvers so that the internal environment remain cool and effects
the internal office glazing planes shaded with changing solar movement of the day.
Daylight is widely used to give a sense of airiness and healthiness and the glazing
systems are attuned to the character of the interior spaces.

Used water will be purified or use as recycled wastewater: for flushing toilets and
watering the trees. Rainwater shall be collected from the roof, terraces and used
along with the recycled wastewater. The internal road pavement shall be encircled
with a Drainage Channel inserted with 30 meter deep conduits to inject the rain water
deep into the ground for keeping ecosystems. All these reflect the responsive
approach taken into consideration to turn the buildings into a sustainable Ecobuilding.
Equilibrium and harmony are ensured through the use of a coherent range of noble
materials – both traditional (brick, concrete, natural stone paves etc.) and
contemporary (glass, metal). Concrete construction is considered a sustainable
building material for its resource efficiency, durability, minimal waste production,
minimal reflectivity and being a thermal mass. Low-E triple pane glasses are used to
reduce heat loss, saving energy by maintaining a comfortable environment at lower
thermostat settings, reduce cold spots and downdraughts near windows, improving
comfort and increasing usable floor space, increase inner glass surface temperatures
reducing condensation inside the window and reduce capital and running costs of airconditioning
system.

A Paradigm Shift
The symbolism and modernity are based upon a contemporary interpretation of the
context, culture, values and history. Grameenphone Corporate Head Quarter thus,
has the potential for becoming a new paradigm of more contemporary, climate and
ecologically and socially responsive design. The design is civic-minded in its creation
of plaza at the civic interface, and in its detailed attention to its immediate landscape
– water feature, central courtyard and garden at the extreme south. With inspiration
found in indigenous civic design principles and vernacular architecture, its open plaza
with water feature, transformed courtyard are symbolic public spaces will act both
functionally and ‘spiritually’ and act as a communal realm for the office users. The
plaza with the sunken water feature is modeled after a traditional civic-square coexisting
with geometric ‘ponds’ – an open communal space with people gathering
and moving about. It will act as a common platform to bring people together ‘to give
more to the people’ and ‘delighting the people’.

DESIGNED

2006

COMPLETED

2007

TECHNICAL DATA

The site for Grameenphone Corporate Head Office is almost of rectilinear shape
with the Western arm skewed by 8 degree. The Plot is flanked by two roads on
the South and North; the latter being wider and the main access route forced the
building to face the North.

Site Area: 7466 Square Meter
Plot Ratio: Substructure Floor Plate : Basement 5600 Sq. M. (75%)
Superstructure Floor Plate : Level 1 3800 Sq. M. (50%)
Level 2 3150 Sq. M. (42%)
Level 3 3450 Sq. M. (46%)
Level 4-9 3000 Sq. M. (40%)
Built up Area: Substructure in 3 Basements: 16,800 Sq. M.
Superstructure in 9 Floors: 28,400 Sq. M.
Total Built up Area 45,200 Sq. M.
Living Area vs Circulation Area : Living Area 22010 vs. Circulation Area 6390
Circulation 22.50% of 28,400 Sq. M. Total
Parking Area : 11,760 Sq. M.
Landscaped Area : 4,000 Sq. M. including Terrace Gardens

PROJECT TEAM
Mustapha Khalid
Mohammad Foyez Ullah
KM Saiful Kader

Place names in Bengali of day-laborers who constructed the building...very responsible of the company to do this.

 

[Bilal9]

More shots of Grameenphone HQ

Messages in Braille and Sign Language in the lobby, no idea what the messages say....

Signatures of employees...

Stratified Glass wall

 

[Bilal9]

A new 'Institute of Engineers Bangladesh' (IEB) convention center is being planned as a follow on to the old IEB building at Ramna next to the old Race Course Maidan (now called Suhrawardy Uddan). The place has a memorial glass tower and reflective pool surrounded by a walking trail with a powerful vertical beam (laser) lit at special occasions and visible from all points of the city. I am really proud of the local team (Form.3 architects) who pulled off a wonderfully sensitive and sustainable design. Renders below. Click on each image to enlarge. Designs remind me of late Le Corbusier constructs...thin pillars and raised boxes.

The same architects have designed some other projects too.

Dhaka Electric Supply Company Ltd. (Desco) – the leading electricity supplier in Bangladesh – is planning its new headquarters in the capital, Dhaka. The 25,000 square meter sustainable building is to be completed by mid-2021. (courtesy of Jason Kazi)

Dhaka Electric Supply Company Ltd. (Desco) – the leading electricity supplier in Bangladesh – is planning its new headquarters in the capital, Dhaka. The 25,000 square meter sustainable building is to be completed by mid-2021.

The Bangladeshi power distribution company’s new corporate headquarters will be built not far from the capital’s airport and overlooking the Buriganga River, which runs through Dhaka. The company attaches great importance to the building’s sustainability in terms of climate protection and energy efficiency. This is especially evident in the low-emissivity glazing and the vertical slats on the facade, which not only provide solar protection, but also prevent excessive heat radiation. A photovoltaic system on the roofs of the buildings and recycling of wastewater also help to reduce water and energy consumption. The Drees & Sommer engineering experts from Shanghai office are supporting Desco HQ project with Facade Technology, Energy Consulting, and Building Services Engineering. This is the Stuttgart real estate consultancy’s first project in the South Asian country. The new building will accommodate approximately 900 Desco employees. The new Desco headquarters – comprising two twelve-storey buildings – was designed by a consortium of two architectural firms, Synthesis Architects and Roofliners Studio of Architecture.

 

[Bilal9]

Opera house to be set up at Hatirjheel


Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved this design of Hatirjheel opera house, made by architect Patric D' Rozario Focus Bangla

Architect Patric D' Rozario designed the plans

The government has decided to set up an opera house in the Dhaka’s Hatirjheel, a scenic and popular recreational spot, with all modern facilities.

“The design of the project titled “Dhaka Opera House Complex” was placed before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official Ganabhaban residence here on Thursday noon,” PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told reporters after the event.

He said the Ministry of Cultural Affairs will implement the project.

The press secretary said Chief Coordinator of the project Maj Gen Abu Sayeed Md Masud and its architect Patric D’ Rozario placed the design before the Prime Minister through a power-point presentation.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, Cultural Affairs Secretary Ibrahim Hossain Khan and Shilpakala Academy Director General Liakat Ali Lucky were, among others, present.

The Hatirjheel-Begunbari project was inaugurated on January 2, 2013 by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

After the inauguration, it has turned into one of the most favourite recreational places of Dhaka residents.

On April 14, an eye-catching amphitheatre and a grand musical dancing fountain were opened at Hatirjheel, under a Rajuk project titled “Integrated Development of Hatirjheel area including Begunbari Canal” through a videoconference from her official residence Ganabhaban.

 

[Bilal9]

Another 'Poetic' Condo Complex....in Banani, Dhaka

Kahinee

Niamat, Bashundhara

 

[Bilal9]

J&J Residence, Gulshan-2

Nasim Residence, Dhanmondi

Kunjabithi, Gulshan-2

Innstar Treehouse, Banani
14 storied with 13 apartments at 3350 sq. ft. each with 3 or 4 bedrooms, 3 or 4 balconies and 3 or 4 bathrooms