Design Development Centre for Nakshi Art and Artisans

BRAC University, Department of Architecture, Dhaka

Project idea

Nakshi Art is one of the oldest folk Art of Bengal which has had
its events of downfalls and intrusions whilst its revival periods.
Almost ceasing it to the trough of recognition and loss. Nakshi
Art was brought to limelight by two organizations, Ayesha Abed
Foundation and Kumidini after the Liberation War of 1971. Around
4000 women of Jamalpur have an income source and livelihood
out of Nakshi products. There has been a notable increase of demand
of Nakshi Products globally and regionally. But the present scenario of the Nakshi industry is agonizing, the Nakshi art is dying day by day due lack of awareness, unfair wages, lack of intuitional credit, lack of marketing, unfair completion, lack of infrastructure and organizational problems. Many talented and skillful people are shifting to different businesses to make more profits. There are countable places where Nakshi katha weaving is an integrated part of women’s life and Jalampur is the most renowned place for these artisans, more than 3 lacs people are directly or indirectly involved in Nakshi katha weaving. After the garment industry, the Nakshi kantha of Jamalpur will play a vital role in our country’s economy. Many prominent brands buy Nakshi
products from Jalampur because of its good recognition which is
sold both locally and internationally.

Project description

The design concept was inspired by the principles of New-Contextualism and from the Nakshi stitches and design. In Nakshi kantha the center circle is done first after that the whole design is finished based on the center circle. The idea was to connect all the functions with the center as an integrated part. The center of Nakshi kantha also represents the artisans life, joy, festival or happiness which is incorporated in the design as ‘Mela Space’. Mela space is the platform where the artisans can showcase their work and also sell their products to the local and foreign people. Due to the revival of the Jhinai River, a public plaza is designed to create a viewpoint for the river itself. The public plaza is connected to the neighborhood through an underpass, seeming a means of invitation from the plaza to the public. The design of the public plaza proposes a recreational space for weekly fairs, food stalls during evenings, sales centers, galleries, cafes and a river font to assemble a form of vibrancy and liveliness in the community. The whole project has been constructed to exhibit a journey, starting from the weekly fairs and casual amenities that the plaza offers, to the central points for Nakshi weavers and their business. The plaza offers a training center for the Nakshi weavers as well as accommodations and dormitories around the green dense quieter blocks. The project will provide civic facilities and spaces for the artisans to learn, sell and showcase their products, bring local and foreigners knowledge about the product and also save our cultural heritage.

Technical information

The exterior and interior walls has exposed brick finish accompanied with large operable windows for cross-ventilation and ample daylight to enter every spaces. Concrete and wood is used as floor material. Steel frame brace skillion and lean to roof to attain height and large curtain wall to open more view point in civic facility buildings. Terracotta tiles produced at a factory near the site has been used on the roof to give an identity to the plaza as a part of the site Jamalpur.

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