Project Description

In Bangladesh, celebration is more than festivity — it is healing. In times of uncertainty, togetherness becomes the medicine that mends fear. After the recent political unrest and the wave of armed raids that swept through neighborhoods, communities began night-watching to protect each other. What started as tense vigilance transformed into something extraordinary: shamiyanas were erected, food was shared, stories flowed, and laughter replaced panic. Under one shade, people found comfort, connection, and courage.

Our proposal – A Healing Space takes this lived experience as its foundation. Architecturally, we reimagine the traditional shamiyana — a symbol of unity in Bangladeshi celebrations — as a modular, adaptable structure that serves all classes, all communities, and multiple purposes.

Built from locally available reeds, bamboo, and jute sack cloth, the design is low-cost yet elegant, sustainable yet festive. It can shift forms: a shaded respite in an urban park, a vibrant wedding canopy, a community adda hub, or even an emergency shelter. The modular system allows it to expand or contract depending on the event and site.

This space is not just for the rich or the poor, urban or rural — it is for everyone. By reviving the shamiyana as a public, flexible, and inclusive healing space, we aim to create a place where people can gather, converse, eat, rest, and reconnect. Here, under one canopy, differences dissolve, bonds strengthen, and healing happens — naturally, joyfully, together.