BASHUNDHARA CITY 4

BRAC University, Department of Architecture, Dhaka

Project idea

The idea of this thesis project was to create a shopping mall in Bangladesh that would break out of the norms of the generic shopping malls that are designed with a profit first mindset. Instead, the approach of this project would be more human-centered with plenty of facilities which are implemented in order to cater to recreation and socialization for humans while allowing them to shop in an atmosphere that seems reminiscent of walking through a busy market but without the claustrophobia of cramped, small shops. The objective of this shopping mall is not to profit off of the surrounding neighborhood but to provide the area with an answer to all their needs. This commercial hub will allow multiple options in terms of shopping, dining, and entertainment for the residents, enhancing their quality of life both by providing a service that they require and also by creating social spaces for families and friends to enjoy their leisure time or even as meeting places, as people often enjoy shopping in pairs or groups rather than alone. The presence of a commercial hub will also allow easy access to jobs for residents, as well as create opportunities for merchants and entrepreneurs to procure a shop to carry out their business, which would in turn benefit the area economically. The presence of a large commercial hub will also serve as an anchor for future developments, as it signals to other developers and business opportunists that the area is open to growth. This will, in turn, attract the construction of convenient buildings such as schools, recreational facilities, healthcare facilities, etc., allowing residents to enjoy a mixed-use environment where they can live, work, and relax in the same close proximity without inconvenience.

Project description

This project enhances quality of life for current and future Bashundhara R/A residents while accommodating external visitors through diverse shopping, dining, and entertainment options. The design represents a contemporary approach to shopping mall architecture, prioritizing ease of navigation and social amenities alongside business efficiency, featuring dedicated recreational spaces with free-flowing shop navigation. The 14-story structure divides into distinct functional zones: the lower eight floors house commercial activities while the upper six floors contain rentable office spaces. Commercial functions are strategically categorized across floors, beginning with larger anchor stores and supermarkets on the ground level, transitioning through brand shops on intermediate floors, and culminating with traditional market-style shop rows on the sixth floor. Floors six through eight accommodate recreational functions including a four-hall cineplex, food court, gaming zone, and multiple outdoor socializing spaces. This vertical recreational placement serves a strategic purpose—visitors seeking entertainment must navigate through the mall's attractive commercial areas first, encouraging engagement with additional functions and creating cross-pollination between different user groups. The design philosophy emphasizes social interaction and community building, transforming the conventional shopping experience into a comprehensive lifestyle destination that serves both practical commercial needs and recreational desires, ultimately fostering a sense of community while maintaining commercial viability through thoughtful circulation planning and mixed-use programming.

Technical information

The project uses a variety of different materials for its facade as well as for the superroof structure that covers the office floors. The northern and southern facades of the project consist of horizontal Teak wood louvers, to ensure the maximum amount of light will be able to infiltrate the building while mitigating as much heat as possible. The west facade instead consists of dense vertical louvers to counteract the intense heating caused by the afternoon sun of Bangladesh while still allowing the light of the fading sun to illuminate the interior; the east facade on the other hand consists of a screen or jali facade in order to maintain the privacy of the maintenance and service areas and some shops. The louvers are all angled at 20° for maximum efficiency while allowing the most amount of natural light. The louvers on the superroof however are not made of wood but instead composed of Anodized aluminum due to it's extreme resistance to direct sunlight and monsoon rains, the use of metal instead of wood was also due to the fact that since the superroof has a lot more clearance from the structure than the wooden louvers so the dissipation of heat would not be felt by the visitors which would make them uncomfortable.