A Vernacular Architectural Learning Centre, Sundarban, Sadar Dinajpur

PROJECT ABSTRACT: Vernacular architecture holds a unique and captivating beauty that emerges from its deep connection to local cultures, landscapes, and traditions. Dinajpur district is situated in the north of Bangladesh. To find comfort in the scorching heat and cold weather, people built their houses with mud and bamboo. But as modern materials crowd the marketplaces, people started to lose connection with their roots and abandon their ancestral homes. But their modern homes do not provide thermal comfort, nor does it provide spaces necessary for their cultural practices and social cohesion. In response to the escalating global environmental challenges, SAFE NGO recognized the need for sustainable architectural solutions tailored to the local context of Dinajpur. “The Vernacular Architectural Learning Centre” is designed to fulfil this vision. The project is conceptualized as a catalyst for change that will help foster a deep understanding of vernacular architecture in Dinajpur, Bangladesh. The project aims to design a space that can inspire the conservation of vernacular knowledge and provide opportunities for developing vernacular construction techniques. Spaces are designed to inspire researchers, architects, students and local people to work together and learn from each other. The designer had to compromise the aesthetic of the masterplan to showcase the versatility of vernacular construction techniques. The emphasis was given to exploring vernacular aesthetics in different areas of this open learning center. This initiative strives to empower individuals and guide them towards a low-carbon and environmentally conscious future through its comprehensive educational programs, practical demonstrations, and community engagement. CHALLENGES ASPECT: SAFE NGO has been working on this site for over a decade, and they realized early on that conserving vernacular wisdom is necessary to make the shelters disaster risk resilient. The form of vernacular architecture is often humble, yet it possesses an inherent charm and authenticity that is difficult to replicate. This project's challenge was to capture this region's aesthetic architectural traits and replicate them in the designed learning center. The designed spaces had to stem from their humble roots yet achieve grandness to showcase the versatility of vernacular techniques. The site area constraint also posed unique challenges. Different types of activities demanded different forms to be explored, and some aesthetic demand in the masterplan scale was compromised to make room for functional demand