TRANSFIGURING SOCIAL ARCHITECTURE THROUGH COMPUTATIONAL CARPENTRY : A Resilient Prototype for Sustainable Community Development in Kutubdia

The coastal area of Bangladesh faces several vulnerabilities due to global warming and the associated impacts of climate change. In this disaster-prone region, the social infrastructures play a vital role to achieve community-based resiliency. The current practice of constructing Disaster Shelters and other social infrastructures are made of RCC structure are short-lived because of extreme saline environment. There is no community involvement rather it is dangerous to take shelter during any natural disaster period.

The project envisions a future development of sustainable community-based practice of social architecture in coastal region context. The community-based resiliency has been achieved in two levels.

Primary Level Intervention:

A REGENERATIVE GREEN BELT has been proposed to reduce the intensity of natural disasters and enhance the ecology. The proposed green layering will act as a DEFENSIVE LANDSCAPE to guard against the damaging effects of the cyclonic wind and storm surge. Improving ROAD connectivity to better accessibility and distribute Multipurpose Disaster shelters evenly. Additionally, the REGENERATIVE GREEN BELT will also source the environmentally friendly materials that will be used for building construction.

Secondary Level Intervention:

An architectural prototype has been proposed to achieve social resiliency. It will be used as a community space during the regular period as well as an emergency shelter during the disaster and recovery periods. The prototype module can be multiplied in various layout combinations based on functional requirements and site surroundings. The computational process and simulation have demonstrated in several structural analyses to withstand extreme natural disaster cases, including Finite Element analysis for the structure’s joinery strength and wind simulation in CFD to place its form and massing.

The rethinking of sustainable architecture has been linked with locally practiced “Boat-making crafts“. It will preserve the existing craft while also creating the expressive potential of locally sourced materials. Integrated with computational process, the building components are designed with prefabricated GLULAM (Glued Laminated Timber), which can be easily assembled using a plug -and- play construction system without using metal nails or fasteners. When compared to other construction systems, GLULAM has a NEAR-ZERO carbon footprint. It has been demonstrated to be a more durable and appropriate material in this context. The structural components will be market-localized and can be used to construct any type of social or residential structures in this region.

This project aims to build a Future-Ready Community Responding to the Most Challenging Social and Environmental condition. By fostering a sense of preparedness, collaboration, and shared responsibility, such Social Architecture become dynamic hubs that not only provide safety during crises but also promote a deeper sense of community. It will contribute to a more significant change in our nation’s coastal belt and help to build a RESILIENT COMMUNITY.