Entwining : Revitalizing by weaving different entities together, Redevelopment of RDA market area, Rajshahi

Abstract

Trade and commerce started in Rajshahi during the 18th century through the arrival of the Dutch rulers. Later, through indigo and silk cultivation during the Dutch and British reign in this region, economic prosperity in Rajshahi city was flourished and Shaheb Bazaar was established as the center of it. In 1987, while building the Natore-Nawabganj highway, a large number of shopkeepers and shop owners faced loss. For their rehabilitation, Rajshahi Development Authority(RDA) built a market, which later got familiarized as RDA market, filling up the the pond at back of the old Shaheb Bazaar market. In course of time, this RDA Market and Shaheb Bazaar vegetable market, banks and offices, students' hostels which were later established surrounding the market and the remaining part of old Shaheb Bazaar market turned the area from Moni Chattar to Zero point node into the most important commercial zone at the center of the city. In spite of being the one of the most important markets of Rajshahi, RDA market was marked unsafe in 2013 because of various problems like structural vulnerability, prone to fire hazards, no scope for natural light and ventilation access. These problems have been hampering the usability of this popular market since then. The motive of the project is to explore how different types of functions act with each other,creating a hybrid urban civic breathing space at the prime commercial center of a city in urban scale.