By Vinita Wagh
Photography: Chandan & Afrina; courtesy Tjep
Read Time: 3 mins
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An experiential delight - visceral and raw, this village supermarket reinterprets traditions to interact powerfully with its users.
A collaborative effort between Tjep., Vaastukalpa Architects and the Solidaridad network, this modern marketplace is refreshing in its use of materials and techniques – infused with a distinctive Bengali-Dutch spirit.
With a focus on improving market infrastructure in rural Bangladesh, it is not only an initiative to improve the welfare of the community, but also to foster productivity, social interaction and artisan craftsmanship.
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Integrating traditional stalls, modern teaching and community facilities under one roof, the design of the 6871 sq. m. marketplace follows a simple back-to-basics approach. The space is reminiscent of a traditional bazaar - transient, cultural, and symbolic of trade.
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The main pavilion echoes the form of the olden-day bazaar, while the complex emulates a village, with functions arranged around a pedestrian spine. The axes serve more than just a connective function, guiding one through a spatial experience – through the horticulture-aquaculture market, the social-educational spaces, and food processing section. A tensile canopy forms a linear, lightweight roof that percolates light in.
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While capturing the essence of Bengali architecture, the space exhibits traces of the Dutch culture as well. Bengali motifs articulate the brick walls complementing the Dutch clock gable on the façade, drawing a prominent outline. Another striking feature is the circular cut-out in the walls. The concept of ‘Arots’, the small wooden huts used by market traders, translate to form one of the core elements that pull the design together.
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The architects take inspiration from the dynamics of a marketplace and traditional craftsmanship of historical architecture. A true melange of old and new, the design celebrates the use of locally sourced bamboo and kiln-baked red bricks. Exposed bricks infuse history, character and a rustic charm - bearing testimony to the skill involved, while bamboo lends subtle beauty and cultural connotations. The colour palette thus generated is natural yet pronounced.
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As such, the project is truly a study in culture, materials, beautifully tactile surfaces and striking visual elements.
Fact File:
An initiative of Solidaridad Network Asia, Bangladesh
Funded by: Embassy of The Kingdom of the Netherlands
Architectural design: Tjep. and Vaastukalpa Architects Limited
Project Consultant: Vaastukalpa Architects Limited
Architectural Design team: MA Frank Tjepkema Ar. S.M. Nazimuddin Payel Ar. Rob Van Houten Ar. Sk. Maruf Hossain Ar. Kaiser Habib Saikat
Team: Md Moziball Haque (Solidaridad) Shakil Anwar (Solidaridad) Sk Maruf Hossain (Vaastukalpa) S.M. Nasimuddin Sohel (Vaastukalpa)
Location: Tipna,Dumuria, Khulna and Monirampur (under construction), Jessore, Bangladesh
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