Tanguar Tong

Saba Raidah Faruquee

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology

Bangladesh

Noshin Mahjabeen Farah

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology

Bangladesh

Fardin Rafid

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology

Bangladesh

Project Description

Tea stalls are the backbone of social, political, and cultural interchange in our riverine country, serving as a fundamental platform for liberal discourse and diversity. Tea does not discriminate, nor do these stalls. And, whether it's because of our deep-rooted ties, an intrinsic habit, or, more broadly, our Bengali identity, we can not make do without tea. We believe tea stalls have limitless potential for conquering socioeconomic barriers and bringing communities together. Could it do the same for our harbor basin communities?

The Haor basin of northeastern Bangladesh is a key wetland ecosystem with almost 150 different tourist spots like Tanguar Haor, sustaining approximately 19 million people. The waters shape their culture and practices, which differ greatly from those observed on land. But how much do we truly know about these communities? Inspired by Pirojpur's floating Guava markets, the concept explores the possibilities of the tea stall as a liaison between tourists and haorfolk, providing a platform for engaging with locals and elevating their haor experience while sipping on some piping hot tea.

The stall is retrofitted on a typical boat module that can also be used to set up shop during the dry season. The front section has seating, as found on traditional passenger boats, but the pocket spaces beneath the planks can be utilized for storage and waste collecting. The design incorporates bamboo tea cups and leaves as small plates, which are a cost-effective, locally accessible, and biodegradable alternative. Bamboo is also utilized to build the roof, giving it a unique appearance while making the module usable on both land and water.