Project Description

Ariful, a school-going boy, lost his father in the 2019 Churihatta fire—an industrial tragedy that claimed 71 lives. Though families demanded justice, the building was restored and reopened as a plastic factory within two years, leaving grief unacknowledged and voices unheard. This proposal reclaims a neglected corner near Chawkbazar’s crossroads, transforming it into a space where memory becomes a medium of care.

A glowing wall inscribed with the names of the 71 victims honors lives lost. Fluorescent elements illuminate each name at night, guiding both vehicles and remembrance. Above, a rain-activated sound installation—crafted from drums and kinetic sticks—transforms rainfall into melodic rhythm. The varying tones invite reflection, offering comfort through sound and sensory engagement, especially for those still healing from personal loss.

The gently rising pathway forms seating, inviting pause, gathering, and quiet ritual. Constructed from burnt brick, the wall and path recall the fire’s devastation. Between the bricks, native grass grows through permeable joints—life emerging from scorched ground. Rain becomes music, bricks become memory, and nature becomes healer.

This space speaks to those who mourn, those who remember, and those who resist forgetting. It fosters collective awareness and civic resilience, offering a shared canvas for grief, protest, and renewal. Through ecological sensitivity, low-impact materials, and regenerative planting, the design also honors the planet—reminding us that healing must extend beyond people to the ground beneath our feet.

“The fire took lives. This space gives knowledge—so it never happens again."