A Remarkable Thesis on Heritage trail and heritage center by BRACU You Need to Know

Project Title: “ঐতিহ্য বিলাস”- Heritage trail and heritage center.
Location: Narsingdi
Student Name: Kalpopriya Chowdhury
Studio: X (Thesis) 
Studio Guide: Dr. Fuad Hassan Mallik Sir,  Dr. Mohammad Habib Reza Sir and Khandokar  Hasibul kabir ( only for landscaping).
Year: December 2020
University: BRAC University, Bangladesh.

Why have I chosen this!

“ঐতিহ্য বিলাস”- Heritage trail and heritage center. My connection to heritage isn’t just a professional interest; it’s a deeply personal journey, woven into the fabric of my childhood. I grew up on stories of Bengal’s kings, their opulent art and culture, and the thrill of imagined treasure hunts. My father, a sculptor, shared his passion for preserving antique pieces, a dream he carried from his youth. He even possessed ancient statues, passed down by his uncle, which he believed predated or were from the early Pala Dynasty. These stories and objects sparked a real curiosity within me.

One moment stands out vividly: when I was nine, my father took me to Wari-Bateshwar. He spoke of buried cities, thousands of years old, and asked if I wanted to explore them. That experience ignited a fire in me. There was also my great-grandfather’s grand, wooden house. My father called it “heritage,” a term I didn’t fully grasp then. I loved being there, and my father tried to document it with photos, but we couldn’t save it. In 2004, it was sold and demolished. That loss left a lasting impression, a real sense of regret, and a strong desire to prevent similar losses.

This personal history is why, in 2020, I chose heritage as the focus of my thesis project. With the invaluable guidance of Dr. Mohammad Habib Reza, who encouraged me to delve deeper, I researched and identified ten significant heritage sites and buildings. I envisioned a heritage trail connecting them and designed a heritage complex as a central point. Throughout this process, my father was my constant companion, joining me in exploring these ancient sites. His support has been crucial.

Essentially, my motivation comes from a blend of childhood fascination, a family legacy of artistic preservation, and the painful experience of losing a piece of our history. I want to ensure that others have the opportunity to connect with and appreciate the rich heritage that surrounds us before it’s gone.

Project Brief:“ঐতিহ্য বিলাস”- Heritage trail and heritage center

This project aims to revitalize and preserve the rich cultural heritage of Bangladesh by establishing a captivating heritage route and a comprehensive heritage center. A visually striking, color-coded route will connect 10 significant heritage sites, ranging from ancient to British colonial periods. The heritage center will offer a multi-functional space, including accommodation, workshops, galleries, a resource center, a school for traditional arts, and serene outdoor spaces.

By documenting and reviving fading traditions like the intricate Muslin Taat textile art, skilled clay pottery techniques, traditional boat-making methods, centuries-old mud construction practices, the vibrant Jatra Pala theatrical performances, and the sacred Puthi Paath recitations, we will safeguard these invaluable intangible heritage elements. This transformative initiative will not only boost cultural tourism and generate economic benefits for the region but also foster a profound sense of cultural identity, create meaningful employment opportunities, and provide immersive educational experiences for all who engage with it.

By incorporating eco-friendly design principles and sustainable operational practices, we strive to create a heritage project that celebrates the past, inspires the present, and secures the future of this region’s priceless cultural legacy. Together, we can honor the rich tapestry of this land and leave an indelible mark for generations to come “A heritage trail was created by connecting the ancient sites and the heritage buildings within the city’s existing cultural belt.” Transformation of the site area and settlement a fertile land near a river with many trees

Pre Maurian Period:“ঐতিহ্য বিলাস”- Heritage trail and heritage center

Once, it was a port city because of the old Brahmaputra River, which had a connection with the silk route. Many people around the world come to visit it for business purposes. “Diverse rulers ruled this place for thousands of years, resulting in a variety of ancient religious structures found here.” After sultans and subedars came to Bangla, they made sonargaon their business center city and left Wari-Bateshwar. In 1700, many people from Natore area migrated to this area because of a deadly pandemic.

Mughal sultan period

In 1700, people from different villages migrated here.
Transformation of the housing type and style
Pit dwelling
Mud and straw roof house
Mud and straw big-size roof house
 Mud and tile/tin shaded|
roof house
“Mud construction has been a very old technique that people in this area have been preserving and nurturing for approximately 1,000 years.”
River
Jungle
The fort wall got destroyed
tin shaded
house

Program and function analysis: “ঐতিহ্য বিলাস”- Heritage trail and heritage center

The site is right now occupied with a school’s field, but villegers can’t use it, because of some political group! So, I tried to design a heritage complex for national tourism purposes to solve the problem.

Storage and party office
(security issues, land grabbing for storage )
Mosque
School
(not well maintained, students can’t use the playground, bad condition)
Open space
(mixed use and rugged ground)
Toilet and storage
(bad odor, just in the front side of the moor, no privacy)

Site surroundings in a zoom-in scale and identifying the problems
I tried to relocate the school and design a mosque to serve a larger group of people with a pond and public toilet facility next to it. I also tried to redesign the field for playing and amusement purposes! There is also a restaurant, parking, and main site entry for the complex building. Also, one can see the gallery from the field but can’t get in. The main complex building is under the site itself

Design concept of the thesis:“ঐতিহ্য বিলাস”- Heritage trail and heritage center

How will the project be self-sustaining?
The important 3 factors
What are the facilities?
Purpose of the project

In my design, I aimed to connect the past with the present. Currently, the site features a school and mosque, but historically, it was home to Buddhist temples and pit dwellings and had ties to the Mughal and Sultani periods. To highlight this heritage, I created underground galleries for the PalaDynasty and Pre-Mauryan periods at a depth of -12 feet, linked by an underground courtyard that provides views of the mosque. I also designed a training center to promote traditional crafts such as taat shilpo (weaving), mud products, boat making, and mud house techniques. Additionally, the school will offer special weekend classes for Jatra Pala (traditional drama) and Puthinpath (storytelling), integrating cultural education into the curriculum.

Jury Comments

BKS Inan Sir: “Professor BKS Inan expressed high praise for the project, stating simply, ‘Excellent, excellent, excellent.'”
Khondaker Hasibul Kabir Sir: “Professor Khondaker Hasibul Kabir commended the project’s green platform, expressing a desire to experience it firsthand, even during rainy seasons.”
Jalal Ahmed Sir: “Professor Jalal Ahmed praised the project’s thorough research, the material choices, and the effective use of music in the animation video.”
Iftekhar Ahmed, PhD Sir: “Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed commended the detailed study conducted for the thesis, particularly the comprehensive analysis of functions and programs for the heritage complex.”
Fuad Hasan Mallik Sir: “Professor Fuad Hasan Mallik acknowledged the considerable effort invested in the thesis project.”