Design intentions
Mizan residence: Responding Responsible Architecture, a six seasons house... It feels most amusing when rain pours and wind blows. The sound of wind only can be experienced in rural Bangladesh. I never seemed to have had that feeling in the city until I started living in this house. Now, I truly cherish the essence and realize what wind is, what rain is. I enjoy it thoroughly-Dweller in a TV interview Due to lack of a proper master plan, construction rules and awareness, Dhaka, one of the most densely populated cities in the world has become a city of urban mayhem. Dhaka, having less than five percent green area for a city of more than 400 square miles with a growing population of disparity and persistent difficulties with other utilities, is fast losing its living ambiance. On the contrary, the six seasons of Bengal and their colour, mood, and flavor that surround them, creates a story of nature in its most colorful sense. As soon as the season changes, the wind direction shifts, the sun starts tilting and the building takes a new look with varying mood. At this backdrop, having this apartment project “Mizan Residence” a duplex {level 5 and 6} within a six-storied building with eight other apartments has been a challenge particularly to articulate it’s dream to become “Residence”-a very personal place, where a family can live closely to nature and befriend with its allies—the flora and fauna, water, aroma and natural habitat even living as high as in the fifth and sixth level away from the ground and within almost an unfriendly urban context. The intention is to bridge gaps between the architectural values and the current crisis of “Responsible Architecture”, in order to building a healthy society through to creating a man made pavilion to connect with the nature created by the Almighty and breeding conversation between human and nature. The purpose of living in this house is to rejuvenate with the summer cool breeze from southeast flowing over the lake, and with the morning dawning sunlight to the last drowning light and twilight peeping through inside the house. All this and the roof top orchard and the untamed green is reminding the dwellers passing time and their duties to connect the “past with the future.” A transformed courtyard in the middle of the house connecting the levels, extending the views to the lake through the glass stair, and bringing down the cosmos through the removable glass roof above with the hope to make “a place under the sun”. The traditional wooden louver “khilkee” as folding walls has been brought back to make the house a “pavilion- open or enclosed” without depriving gentle breeze inside and tranquil view outside. It also acts as security grill at night. The construction cost has considerably reduced by using cheaper over burnt brick and mango wood shutter. The hand made terrazzo tiles produced on-site used on the floor and hand made on site Ferro cement tiles used on the critical walls as required. Also, the interior finishing is naturally done either with brick or cast concrete.