A Path Towards Resilience Through Community-Driven Activities at Gora-Digha, Kishoreganj

American International University Bangladesh, Department of Architecture, Dhaka

Idea projektu

This project is rooted in the shifting landscape of Bangladesh’s ‘Haor’ (seasonal wetland) region, where monsoon rains transform entire villages like Gora-Digha into isolated seasonal islands. During these months, fundamental rights such as education, healthcare and market access become nearly impossible to attain. These disruptions are not mere inconveniences but recurring crises - worsened by climate change and longstanding infrastructural neglect. Having grown up in this region, I have witnessed both it’s breathtaking beauty and unforgiving brutality.
This project begins with a deeply empathetic design inquiry shaped by lived experience: “How can architecture ensure dignity, access and resilience in a place where even basic human rights become seasonal?”
The aim is not merely to mitigate the impacts of climate change but to affirm the humanity and agency of a community too - often ignored by conventional development narratives. This work responds to climate vulnerability not by resisting water, but by embracing it - adapting, coexisting and transforming it into a generative force. Here, architecture becomes a language of empathy and empowerment - rooted in local knowledge, shaped by shared memory and driven by an urgent need for belonging. It is a spatial response that listens before it builds, that empowers rather than imposes; which transforms vulnerability into strength through collective design.

Popis projektu

At the heart of the proposal lies a hybrid, community-driven program that integrates essential services such as education, healthcare, commerce and cultural exchange. Through in-depth consultation with over 30 households, specific needs were identified that shaped the architectural brief: a school, a healthcare center, a marketplace and a cultural forum. Each component is designed to respond to both the seasonal cycles and the daily realities of the people who use them. The school is convertible into an emergency shelter during floods, ensuring educational continuity in crisis. The healthcare center, elevated above flood levels, remains accessible year-round for routine and critical services. The bazaar is modular, enabling partial operation even during inundation. The cultural forum functions as a social condenser - a space for storytelling, collective memory, and celebration, dedicated especially to the songs of the ‘Haor’ (seasonal wetland) region, which reflect the lives, struggles, emotions and natural surroundings of it’s people.
Site selection was driven by participatory mapping and on-ground observation, resulting in the choice of a centrally located, community-owned waterbody already in informal use. The master plan places the primary community building at the center, with other structures radiating toward the water. This radial orientation enhances both spatial and visual connectivity to the landscape while addressing land scarcity by utilizing underused thresholds and edges. A newly introduced peripheral road connects previously isolated pathways, forming a loop that improves year-round mobility and links to the existing bridge at the site’s edge.
Materiality and making are deeply contextual. Locally handcrafted roof tiles (tali) support traditional livelihoods, while bamboo latticework in doors and windows draws inspiration from indigenous craft. Participation becomes authorship: local residents are engaged not only as users but as builders and makers. Architectural details are simplified for compatibility with local construction methods while maintaining climate resilience. Foldable partitions allow multifunctional use - transforming a single room for learning, gathering or refuge. Raised plinths protect against seasonal flooding, and low-rise profiles reduce wind vulnerability.
Ecological strategies complement architectural interventions. Floating farming systems are introduced to enhance food security and economic resilience during flood periods. Native vegetation along the shoreline mitigates erosion and fosters biodiversity. Stormwater is managed through bioswales and permeable surfaces, creating a landscape that adapts with natural cycles instead of resisting them.
Architecture, landscape and livelihood here form a unified, resilient fabric - a living network of spaces shaped by need, memory and care. It honors vernacular wisdom while integrating adaptive technologies. This is infrastructure, but also narrative - a story of dignity reclaimed through shared design.

Technické informace

The project is located in Gora-Digha, within the Kishoreganj district of Bangladesh’s northeastern ‘Haor’ (seasonal wetland) region - a low-lying area that experiences annual monsoon flooding. The master plan retains the organic settlement pattern of the existing village while enhancing connectivity through the introduction of a peripheral road. This new loop road links previously disconnected paths and connects directly to a nearby bridge, significantly improving accessibility and integration with surrounding areas.
All architectural structures are elevated on plinths ranging from 3 to 3.5 feet to accommodate moderate flood levels and prevent water ingress. Roofs are constructed using locally available clay tiles, ensuring thermal comfort and cultural continuity. The structural system consists of steel columns treated with anti-corrosive coatings to withstand prolonged exposure to moisture. Walls are built with locally sourced bricks - Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB), promoting both sustainability and affordability. Concrete flooring offers a practical balance between durability and user comfort.
Interior spaces are designed for flexibility: folding partitions, open courtyards and modular layouts allow for seasonal adaptation. For instance, classrooms in the dry season can be converted into emergency shelters during floods. The open-air bazaar features elevated wooden decks and bamboo partitions, enabling quick assembly and disassembly based on environmental conditions and community needs.
Ecological strategies are seamlessly integrated into the design. Native vegetation such as Hijal, Koroch, and Moringa is planted along shorelines to stabilize soil and prevent erosion. Floating agriculture systems, built from bamboo rafts and water hyacinth, support flood-resilient cultivation practices. Greywater is naturally filtered through constructed wetlands, while rainwater harvesting ensures seasonal water storage for communal use. These interventions are intentionally low-tech, cost-effective, and maintainable by the local community - reinforcing self-reliance and long-term resilience.
The design employs passive cooling techniques through strategically placed cross-ventilation and shaded open corridors, enhancing natural airflow. The pitched roofs, inspired by traditional local architecture, effectively channel rainwater and reduce heat gain. Building heights are kept low to harmonize with the village scale and cultural context. Windows and doors feature intricate patterns inspired by local bamboo craftsmanship, reflecting the community’s artisanal heritage while allowing controlled daylight and ventilation. Sustainable local materials and construction methods are prioritized to ensure environmental responsiveness and resilience. In essence, this project weaves together social infrastructure, ecological sensitivity and participatory design to envision a future where resilience is not simply survival, but a dynamic and dignified way of living. It transforms isolation into interconnection, and vulnerability into strength - using architecture not as a barrier against nature, but as a bridge to deeper belonging.