Saba Kendra
Anna Browne, Marina Bacha
BACKGROUND
Adapting to the differing weather conditions as they change throughout the year was a primary challenge (winter: cool & dry; summer: hot & humid). This initially suggested an inner-patio-like structure, to allow light, wind and water to travel through and improve ventilation in summer & also creates an air pocket to aid heating up the building during winter.
The use of local materials that have low thermal expansion such as timber and rice concrete were also an important consideration in locations with high temperature changes.
PROPOSAL: All Centre
The over-riding proposal was to make Saba Kendra a space where people could congregate in and have a sense of community even during the monsoon/ flooding period. The meaning of the name Saba Kendra is “All Centre” in Bengali, reflecting the idea of building a space designed for all the population of the area.
The building was designed to be adaptable for different geographical environments such as hard dry land as well as water near the coast and rivers. A floating structure was conceived as a concrete base over a pontoon structure that would allow the building to rise according to the water level.
OUTCOME: Adaptable Communities
Having the building located near or on the water, allows the population easy access via the inland waterways. For 12% of the rural communities, inland waterways are the only mode of transportation that is available. This method is less expensive for the poor population, reduces traffic road, and it is essential for trades between Bangladesh, India, and Bhutan. (World Bank, 2017).
Saba Kendra is a safe space where people can congregate in and have a sense of community during the monsoon/ flooding period. The meaning of the name Saba Kendra is “All Centre” in Bengali, reflecting the idea of building a space designed for all the population of the area.
