Project Description

Before the elevated expressway rose above Mirpur 11 Metro Rail station, the surface road beneath—not more than 30 meters—was open to the sky. When the expressway was built along the same road width, no buffers were designed between the buildings and the infrastructure which resulted in lack of adequate lighting in some areas of the road below. Passing beneath it today, there is a sudden transition—sunlit streets give way to a dim roadway where the air feels heavier. In Dhaka, these dark zones are not fleeting; minutes lengthen as vehicles are stuck in traffic, leaving people suspended in a space that offers no relief, no aesthetics, and no invitation to pause.

The proposal begins by confronting this experience and imagining its transformation. A mirror duct system will draw and reflect daylight into the shaded pathway, dissolving in the darkness. Greenscapes of native planting will soften the hard surfaces, cool the microclimate, and create a living backdrop for everyday life. Suspended between the expressway and street divider, a street museum will display contextual visuals, turning transit time into moments of cultural encounter and storytelling. Beneath stairways, socio-economic zones will provide shaded seating for community gatherings, quiet reflection, or a simple exchange of greetings.

Through the interplay of light, greenery, and shared narratives, the space will shift from an overlooked transit corridor into a linear healing environment—one that restores comfort, fosters connection, and transforms the act of passing through into an experience of belonging.