A CANVAS FOR RAJSHAHIS RICHES: VARENDRA MUSEUM & RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Project idea

Over the years, the Varendra Research Museum has played an important role in maintaining and promoting Bangladesh's cultural legacy. It has published several scholarly papers and books on the history, art, and archaeology of the area. The museum has also organized a number of exhibitions and educational initiatives—reaching a wide audience and cultivating an awareness for the region's cultural heritage.
In 1910, the Varendra Research Society was established in Rajshahi by prominent citizens, including the Dighapatiya Royal family's scion Kumar Sarat Kumar Ray, distinguished lawyer and historian Akshay Kumar Maitreya, renowned historian Ramaprasad Chanda, and others, to explore the region's rich history and artefacts. The society aimed to uncover the region's rich cultural heritage and contribute to the understanding of the region's extensive historic legacy. The Varendra Research Society and Museum was established in Rajshahi in 1910, serving as the museum's proprietor and caretaker. It was officially inaugurated on September 27, 1910, and registered in 1914 under the Indian Society Act, 1860.
Recently, the current authority, Rajshahi University, decided to build a large-scale Varendra Museum for improved curation, security, maintenance and management. But due to the lack of space in the current museum premises and its distance from the university, the authority decided to build a new Varendra Museum within the land of Rajshahi University and transfer the museum artifacts to new premises and preserve the current Varendra Research Museum as a heritage site.
The authority has decided to set up a new site in 20 acres of land adjacent to the Jame Mosque of Rajshahi University, next to Jamalpur, Meherchandi, Karaitala Bazar, Rajshahi—next to which lies a large experimental field governed by the university's agricultural department.
The proposed design aimed at improving the experience of the visitors, the accessibility, and the functions and significance of the museum, while maintaining the historical implication of the structure.
The design development is guided by the following key objectives:
1. To create a welcoming and engaging visitor experience.
2. To enhance the museum's accessibility for people with disabilities.
3. To improve the display and interpretation of the museum's collection.
4. To strengthen the museum's connection to the local community.
The topography of the site is visually plain and there is a one-acre natural pond. For the convenience of design, the site has been divided into three parts:
A public plaza and park surrounding the pond, southern part is designated for public entry and activities, northern part is designated for administrative and residential use
The final design consists of the museum's gallery space, vault, temporary exhibition space, auditorium, cafeteria, library, archives, research facilities, administrative offices, security dormitory, and residence for the researchers and academic guests.
The main goal is to follow the lead of the native and traditional architecture and spatial pattern—to create a mesmerizing, engaging, and educational space for the public to enjoy and learn.

Project description

The main objective of the project is to create a museum and research building inspired by the architectural and spatial patterns of Rajshahi and Varendra region—which will showcase the rich history and heritage of the region. This complex will function as a research center and a museum, as well as a public space. Its landscaping has been designed for the public to experience and familiarize themselves with the everlasting backdrops of Bengal and its surroundings. Through this, they will have a unique experience.
The primary focus of this design is to provide the museum with an organized and appropriate gallery to host the existing museum artifacts, and also to support the study and research of the artifacts and their related artifacts. At the same time, it aims to lay out a safe and suitable place to preserve the 17,000 publications and 15,000 manuscripts belonging to the Varendra Research Society, i.e. the museum.
There are two separate entrances to the museum complex. The northeastern corner has the entrance for administrative and research personnel. And the public entrance is located in the southwestern corner of the site.
The public entrance leads to a public plaza acting as a communal space and a bridge over the pond that is inspired by the bridges of rural Bengal. The ground floor hosts the entrance to the museum located at the semi-basement, which allows the visitor groups to experience the spirit of archaeological exploration. After moving through the museum floor and exploring the exhibits, visitors can take an elevator to the temporary exhibition hall located on the first floor. From there, visitors can go to the second floor cafeteria and from the cafeteria they can exit to the ground floor.
To enter the auditorium visitors will go through the ground floor and move up to the auditorium entrance at the first floor. For the performers and technical personnel, the reserved entry to the auditorium is at the west side of the museum along the path that run across the southwest side of the building.
On the other hand, researchers, administrators, and service and security personnel will enter through the admin entry located at the north. Admin entry allows authorized access to office and research facilities on the first floor, libraries and archives on the second floor, museum at the semi basement and the vault for safekeeping of artifacts in the basement, dormitories and security dormitories. The vault in the basement is fireproof and disaster proof.

Technical information

Buildings in the Varendra region were built following the structure of timber beams and columns and arches. Therefore, column-beams or post-lintel structures are used to represent the columns of timber beam and stone mortar. “I” section columns have been used in the structure of column beams so that the depth of the columns and beams is comparatively reduced and can withstand more load. The beams of the building have been designed as arches, and horse shoe arches have been utilized in the lintels of the doors and windows so that the facade treatment of the current museum has been followed.
The walls have been made of bricks similar to the current Varendra Museum. Fair faced bricks are used in order to imitate the structure of the native mud house.
The vault or basement is designed with shear walls to make it fire and other disasters resistant.
Adjustable wooden louvres are used in the building so that the light and air can be controlled according to the time and need.
The doors and windows are made of heat resistant borosilicate glass in wooden framing so that when the temperature of Rajshahi becomes unbearable in the intense heat, the temperature inside the building remains bearable.
The placement of the gallery and a central courtyard have been created following the existing museum space. The central courtyard ensures the circulation of fresh air throughout the building.

Documentation

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