পাটতরী: beyond rediscovery: Alijan Jute Mill’s future, Narsingdi, Bangladesh

Abstract

Once the economic engine of the Narsingdi region and a symbol of regional identity, the Alijan Jute Mill today stands abandoned and deteriorated - an outcome of poor institutional upkeep, obsolete infrastructure, and the global pivot toward synthetic alternatives. This thesis explores adaptive reuse strategies for the mill through the lens of “New Contextualism”, employing a multilayered analysis that spans social, economic, political, ecological, architectural, and cultural dimensions. By situating the mill within this interdisciplinary and contextual framework, the project advocates for a transformation that balances heritage preservation with industrial reinvention. The proposed intervention hybridizes the site's historic essence with contemporary needs, canalizing it into a financially sustainable commercial, manufacturing, and cultural destination. This includes the expansion of modernized jute production facilities, rentable market spaces, socioculturally engaged community zones, wellness-oriented public areas, and improved worker housing. Locally, the Karupannya Green Factory in Rangpur provides a precedent for eco-conscious industrial design, while internationally, CopenHill in Copenhagen serves as a parallel for multifunctional industrial adaptation. Guided by the principles of “New Contextualism”, this thesis does not treat the site as an isolated entity but as a layered and dynamic urban fragment. It considers how historical legacies, geographical context, and socio-political narratives intersect to shape meaningful architecture. Ultimately, this work demonstrates that industrial heritage, when thoughtfully reimagined, can become a catalyst for economic regeneration, environmental resilience, and cultural inclusivity in a rapidly industrializing Bangladesh.