Project Description

আলিঙ্গন is a 2mx2mx2.5m modular shelter designed for the street children of Bangladesh, operating on the dual views; Narrative Depth and Future Resilience. It differs from the typical homeless shelter by transforming a hard, dense area into an interesting, living space that encourages emotional healing through play and survival through self-sustaining systems. The main design aim is to provide more than four walls; it is to create a nurturing machine where the very architecture itself becomes a protective and playfully supportive companion to a child battling through the difficulties of displacement in this urban fabric. Hence through the use of recycled materials, the structure maintains a low carbon footprint and represents a circular economy within the urban waste management model by turning waste into a place of dignity.

In order to accomplish this, the project uses a spatial strategy to utilize the 10m^3 space by using a vertical exploration and movement approach. This space is defined by a half floor mezzanine space using a spiral ramp to connect the space, thus providing a flowing and accessible experience. This replaces the traditional horizontal divisions used to separate spaces and uses a flowing path to encourage movement and curiosity. In order to utilize the space to its fullest potential, a mesh is installed alongside a slide to create a second space for both play and rest. This creates a level of verticality that allows the child to literally lift themselves above the chaos of the street and transition from a place of vulnerability to one of dignity and playfulness.

The functional and symbolic significance of the shelter can be found in its interactive facades and environmental responsiveness. Except for the roof, the other four vertical surfaces resemble giant tactile toys, which encourage children to interact with their environment through kinetic movement. The surfaces also come with energy harvesters that store energy for lighting at night. To combat the extreme tropical climate, the shelter is placed in shade where the roof is built with recycled tin. The curved-out sections on this roof contains stained glass that shifts light into the space in a colorful-playful manner, creating a kaleidoscope effect.

To the child on the streets in Dhaka, the nurturing machine acts like a pawn to claim control over surrounding. The roof is no longer beyond reach, but rather one that is accessible through the use of a ladder and offers the opportunity to see over the top of the surrounding buildings. At night, the child is able to sleep on the mezzanine level or within the hanging meshwork, surrounded by an environment lit by the power generated from the energy they produced during the day by playing. Use of recycled functionality and the play of the light-filled space creates the opportunity for আলিঙ্গন to become a silver lining and a tool for a resilient future.