Project Description

Selected Lens: Architecture as a Catalyst for Dignity

The main objective of this project is to create a small, portable and dignified shelter for street children in Bangladesh, which simultaneously provides livelihood, security and education opportunities. The problem of street children is a complex social reality internationally; however, this proposal is a realistic architectural intervention in the urban context of Bangladesh. The Selected Lens—Architecture as a Catalyst for Dignity—assumes that even small-scale infrastructure can play an effective role in rebuilding people’s self-esteem.

Design Intention:

A compact unit of 10 cubic meters has been designed in such a way that it functions as a shop (stall), a sleeping place and a study corner at the same time. It is not a permanent building; rather, it is a mobile shelter that adapts to the dynamic city life. The aim is to provide the child with a “place of his own”—where he will not only find shelter, but also find a basis for building his future.

Spatial & Functional Strategy:

The spatial strategy relies on versatile and transformable uses. During the day, it functions as a retail stall with the front panel open. At night, that section closes and the interior is converted into a foldable platform bed. Wall-mounted shelves and storage free up floor space.

Structurally, it is a lightweight wooden frame structure, overlaid with cement-fiber tinsheets. The materials are locally available, inexpensive, and quick to construct. Wheels attached to the bottom make the unit portable, allowing it to be easily set up and moved to locations such as railway stations, bus terminals, or launch docks.

Symbolic Strategy:

The symbolically limited volume of 10 cubic meters reflects the limitations of the street child’s life. However, the organized functionality within the same limits suggests new possibilities. This unit symbolizes a beginning from nothing—a small structure, but a big social message.

User Experience Narrative:

In the morning, the child opens the front panel and arranges the goods. He earns a living on the edge of the busy city. In the evening, the stall closes, the interior transforms into a private sanctuary. A small light is on; he studies, he rests. This space creates a sense of security, privacy, and self-respect.

Impact of the 10m³ Constraint:

The 10m³ constraint forced the design to be highly integrated, efficient, and creative. Every element is versatile; nothing is redundant. The small volume means less material use, lower construction costs, and a lower carbon footprint. The constraint is the strength here—making the design both realistic and environmentally sensitive.

Therefore, this micro-architecture is more than a shelter—it is the beginning of dignity and possibility.