DNCC cultural center,Gulshan-2,Dhaka:

competition entry:2021

The project -is anticipated to create a kind of urban oasis that would usher public events & activities to take place. In terms of formal expression, the project intends to give a gateway effect which simultaneously frames the street façade. Nevertheless, the built form of the civic center would be low in height, subtle & rational, thus becoming unobtrusive to its context, specially not to obstruct visibility from the tower block. In this way the project would merge with the immediate context & provide a viable inspiration for the city & the immediate neighborhood as well.

The city center is envisioned to be a monumental structure that amalgamates cultural richness,

Well -being & commerce- expressed into a singular architectural expression where functional identity is expressed.

The project intends to accommodate a diverse program to be enclosed in a tight urban context.

 Amid the busy city scape, the civic center intends to bring a congenial environment for public interaction -thus accentuated as a hub of stimulating urban activities. An internal lofty street like space is anticipated to serve as a flexible exhibition area that conveys a strong resemblance to a city within itself.it is created to connect all major spaces as natural light washes curiously on the street. A grand aperture gives a glimpse of the main atrium like space to the passersby & thus offers a unique spatial experience for the events to take place.

The main consideration of the civic center is to make a built form that stands as low as possible, as not to obstruct the visibility of the tower & create a large semi open space that invites people as a place for not only commerce, but also relaxation, respite & entertainment. The profile of the site & the anticipated phased construction has added to the complexity to the design as accommodating the program, zoning & segregation for seamless transition of functions to be harmonious.

The composition of volumes is as such to set back the main tower that contains commercial spaces & DNCC offices on one end of the built form & give access & visibility of Madani Avenue. This gives an opportunity for the civic center to get a wider exposer of the main Gulshan Avenue. This would create a wider foreground for experiencing the building in perspective. Degree of enclosure is maintained in a way as to   remain in a shadow zone of noise & chaos generated by the nearby roads.

Digital revolution is influencing social, economic and socio-cultural processes and, hence, making demand on the functionality and use of urban spaces., as delineation between public and private space is disappearing with the advent of computer gaming, AR/VR, holography projections etc.  The project tries to merge many of the aspects of modern living of city users into built environment- to be used in a multi-functional way.

The built form can be a significant element for the city to play a prominent role.
In establishing relationship between knowledge sharing, cultural activity trade & commerce, social events and services. Super shops, anchor shops & kacha bazar remains all below grade. Special care has been taken to force ventilate the kacha bazar areas through shafts & ducts.

Entry: the project gives priority to pedestrian access & all vehicular access is mainly from the rear side road. The main pedestrian entry is from the Gulshan avenue & anticipates to hold special projections by means of audio-visual effects, synchronized fountains, light -sound shows, theatrical events etc.

The planning of circulation ensures that the tower & civic center circulations don’t overlap.

Multiple entries to the complex open to large apertures to the interior spaces. The quintessence of the design work of DNCC civic center lies in considering a large hollowed out space that is both inviting & gives the sense of grandeur.

The garden & landscaping in the fore ground forms a boulevard like place that gives respite to city dwellers from the bustles of the city and give opportunity for informal activities & relaxation to take place. The outdoor areas can complement both the city & the civic center as well. This patch of green can serve as a buffer between the street & plaza ensuring a kind of insulation from the bustles of the street. Pedestrian access from all sides gives maximum accessibility to be ensured by

Means of stairs, ramps & escalators. Thus, creating vistas of an architectural promenade.

Environmental issues: rather than simply stacking spaces vertically, the proposal intends to keep Provision for Natural Light & ventilation to be planned in a way that most circulation spaces can be naturally aspirated & lit, thus reducing operation cost significantly. Clear-story type light monitors with glazing is provided to avoid an enclosed atrium like condition. This would further reduce the need for air conditioning.

A water body & a series of fountains feature to enhance not only beauty but also segregation from the bustling nearby road & intersection. The main mass is axially aligned so that it gives the opportunity of formal expression & self-shading the atrium like space from summer heat,

As the major façade faces west. In this way voids & openings can punctuate spaces for segregation, zoning & flow of light & breezes. Retail shops are designed to ensure natural airflow, thus reduce the overhead for the modest shop owners.

DNCC TOWER: The tower-holds the metro station below and opens in a large quadruple height lobby. A bridge like structure connects the civic center with the tower & expands in to a food court that can be accessed from both the buildings. The tower is punctuated After certain intervals by semi open garden spaces that will add to the concession for tower & promote a healthy & productive office environment. The tower as an obelisk emblem the dynamism, pride & progress of the city. The upper levels of the tower are dedicated for city corporation offices and will provide semi open & outdoor spaces for the city corporation.

A sky garden will offer an iconic space to be celebrated in the skyline of Dhaka.

Functional zones: Different functional zones are composed in way that they articulate in making places of inter connectivity bourn from both functional necessity & visual freshness.

Access from MRT is given strong priority so the tower & the city center- are both strongly conjugated. This plaza meanders through the open exhibition space so users can have a rich experience from versatile displays & exhibitions throughout the year.

Vertical conveying: lifts & Escalators would take civic center users with convenience from the lower levels up to plaza & upper floors. Two observation type lifts in the main façade will provide a panoramic view to the users.one car lift is provided to take goods to the lower levels as well as two cargo lifts for both passenger & goods dedicated for kacha bazar, super shops etc.

Rooftop: The café in the roof along with mini bars & kiosks would be a vibrant space for the civic center users. The sports lounge with its deck would be a vantage point for hanging out during evening hours. The rooftop level can facilitate games & interactivity to make an enticing space for leisure & relaxation.

 Amenities: the auditorium & theatre are planned in a way so they stack one over the other with similar structural & spatial requirements.  A small museum dedicated to Bangabandhu & Dhaka city along with an art gallery will form a cultural hotspot which flank one side of the building where a wide spectrum of users can correspond to contemporary art works, exhibition of historical events &   forums about the visions & aspirations of Bangabandhu. The connecting mass between the two major blocks hold a suspended coffee deck, which opens view to adjacent spaces. Perforated walls are to modulate vision & protect from solar heat gain to spaces as men’s gym, interactive games, indoor games etc. The concrete wall facing the Gulshan avenue can be embedded with texture or digital sign ages   to give a kaleidoscope like experience from the street side. Exhibition spaces would inspire citizens for displays & exhibitions to aware them of modern lifestyle.

Services: The main services are grouped as such to facilitate efficient articulation to spaces as well as buffer from nearby buildings in the east side. If phased construction is needed, the service docks in ground floor connect all five basements, upper floors & can facilitate services through the entire building with ease via cargo lifts, small cargo van platforms, service corridors & service lobbies etc.

Structure: the structure is R.C.C frame structure with composite use of steel sections & trusses where required.

The structural system in tower part will incorporate tie beams/outrigger type belt beams after certain intervals to reduce deflection as needed. These spaces can be mechanical service spaces & refuge spaces for emergency evacuation.

Retaining walls can be diaphragm type wall construction or shore protection -by means of. Pre-fab sheet piles or on-situ/pre cast r.c.c piles

Transfer girders maybe used to support spaces above large span spaces. Cantilever type structural solutions will also be needed in spaces which would give a floating & inviting approach to the building where needed.in addition to it ribbed beam, waffle slabs or pre/post stressing techniques can be used to reduce beam depths if needed.

Safety, security & Regulations: all design parameters are in accordance to (DMNIB/ & prevailing Building code) firefighting & detection, lift management, HVAC system are to be under BIMS for efficiency & comfort. Security & access control features would further facilitate seamless operation.