Project Description

The 11:59 Train is a moving cultural sanctuary—two reclaimed train bogies transformed into spaces where creativity meets community. The name marks the final minute before an hour turns, a fleeting threshold between past and possibility. It captures the project’s spirit of change, offering moments of pause, learning, and connection amid the restless rhythm of Dhaka.

With Kamalapur Station as its base, the train travels between selected stations, bringing art, stories, and shared experiences to different pockets of the city. In one bogie, an artist’s hideout doubles as a learning studio for street children. Here, days unfold in brushstrokes, paper cuttings, and whispered stories, creating a safe haven for imagination. Modular furniture, warm corners, and adaptable work surfaces make the space personal yet flexible—welcoming both solitude and collaboration.

The second bogie opens itself to the wider public as a café, library, and exhibition space. Passengers, locals, and curious onlookers step in to browse books, sip tea, or wander through small but changing displays. Its interior adapts easily, shifting between reading circles, mini performances, and quiet afternoon talks.

Every detail celebrates mobility, impermanence, and renewal. Sunlight filters through reclaimed frames; steel walls carry the memory of journeys past; soft textures and warm tones invite rest. The 11:59 Train is more than transport—it is a moving conversation between people and places. By uniting mentorship, cultural exchange, and sustainable reuse, it turns forgotten infrastructure into a living platform for education, healing, and hope—reminding us that change can begin in the smallest window of time.