The Lighthouse

Buriganga has been morphing Dhaka’s edges since antiquities with continuous silt deposits, as in Kamrangirchar, a newly formed land. It was occupied as soon as the land emerged from the water to accommodate the flow of migrants from different parts of Bangladesh. Cheap labor and its proximity to the old industrial, transport and business hubs of Dhaka make it an ideal receiver of industrial, commercial and urban waste to recycle raw materials at the expense of the health of the workers and the environment. There is a dire need for healthy open space that can alleviate urban life.

Considering the scope of Landscape architecture, the key problems are identified as- being too far away from nature and the lack of a sense of belongingness among the users. To address these, small impacts are proposed at the individual level as the main driving force of a lighthouse project. This intent is addressed with five key aspects- Local Signifiers-The formal expression is inspired by this region’s weaving culture; the famous Muslin, light as a cloud and vanishing into thin air if it’s not layered. This feature corresponds to the ephemerality of the landscape here. Circular Economy-A major function of the site is to deal with the solid waste problem. The principles of circular economy are followed here and the program is generated considering the site’s applicability. The public space here is seen as a consumer of waste. Nature Nourishing the Site-The urban farming areas will accept sediment with seasonal inundation. Restricted area under the hydroponic cultivation creates an undisturbed habitat for the local flora and fauna; consequently enriching the natural environment and aiding in river water purification. A Sustainable System-The community recycling process is exhibited to educate people about the potential of waste recycling. The open-system wastewater hydroponic farming is another public display of sensibly dealing and benefitting from waste. Moreover, agriculture is integrated into the recreational areas to omit the high landscape maintenance cost. Accommodation of Cultural Landscape-The design program fits into the daily cultural landscape of the users.