Project Description

The Twenty Taka Rest: A Multipurpose Module for Informal Workers of Karwan Bazar

1. Context: In Karwan Bazar, sleep functions as part of the informal economy. For many migrant and day laborers, 20 taka buys temporary rest within the market itself. Workers sleep under stalls or beside goods, exposed to theft, weather, and insecurity. Despite harsh conditions, proximity to work remains essential. This project responds to that existing system. It treats rest not as charity, but as working infrastructure embedded within the bazar economy proposing a safer, organized, and affordable alternative.

2. Design Intent: The central question is: Can sleep exist within the economy rather than outside it? Instead of separating work and rest, the proposal integrates both within a compact 10 cubic meter module. The aim is to enhance safety, dignity, and usability while maintaining affordability and multifunctionality.

3. Spatial Strategy (10m³ Constraint): The module operates within a strict volumetric limit. Space is organized into two zones: Sleeping Zone, Activity / Economic Zone 

These zones are defined by time rather than fixed partitions. Components transform according to use, maximizing function through adaptability rather than expansion.

4. Night Configuration: At night, three sliding bed platforms unfold from a portable steel frame to accommodate three workers. Each bed provides:

• Defined sleeping surface

• Integrated storage

• Curtain-based privacy

Two upper beds are accessed via roof-integrated entry plates, allowing independent movement without disturbing others. The stepped sectional form supports passive ventilation:

• Lower slit openings draw cooler air

• Upper vents release warm air

• A centrally positioned TV is visible from all beds, supporting shared use. The enclosed structure improves safety while preserving the collective nature of informal rest.

5. Day Configuration: During the day, beds retract into the frame, transforming the module into multiple operational modes:

• Shop Mode: Bed frames rotate into counters, desks, or display surfaces. Storage areas accommodate goods, while the TV faces outward to engage customers. One or two beds may remain active for night-shift sleepers.

• Community Mode: Folded bed plates function as benches, and frames operate as tables. The space supports resting, eating, socializing, or informal gathering. Continuous usability enables income generation, helping sustain low rental costs.

6. Material & Construction Strategy: The system employs a portable sliding steel frame for durability and repetition. Cladding materials(tin, bamboo, or steel shits) are locally available, ensuring affordability and ease of repair. The form derives from subtracting volumes within a cube, generating stepped sections that integrate ventilation and circulation. A roof-mounted solar panel powers lighting and the TV. The foldable structure allows relocation, responding to the dynamic conditions of Karwan Bazar.

7. Adaptability & Impact: While designed for Karwan Bazar, the module functions as a repeatable system. Multiple units can aggregate to form adaptable market corridors, night shelters, or informal infrastructures in other contexts.

The project also responds to a larger uncertainty. Karwan Bazar workers often express concern about potential displacement. In such future scenarios, these modules can be arranged sequentially to form a reconfigurable modular marketplace, supporting commerce by day and shelter by night.