The project, titled “The Garden Oasis: Rethinking Gulistan Cultural Complex as a Breathing Space,” is led by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Bangladesh and spans approximately 4.5 acres. Proposed by Permita Isbet, a student at BRAC University’s Dept. of Architecture, it is developed in Design Studio X under the guidance of instructors Mohammad Habib Reza, Zillur Rahman, Jalal Ahmed, and Naim Ahmed Kibria.
Gulistan is a vital area in Dhaka, reflecting the city’s rich history. Situated between New Dhaka and Old Dhaka to the north and south respectively, it has been shaped by Bengali culture and urban growth since colonial times. Its significance as an economic and commercial hub began to rise in the 1960s, marking its evolution into a key powerhouse in the city.
This project aims to enhance Gulistan Park’s urban environment, addressing its social, cultural, and historical context in a densely populated area with limited open space.
It seeks to create a recreational area where residents can relax and engage with diverse cultures, establishing the park and adjacent cultural complex as a central hub for leisure and culture. The design enhances permeability, improving physical and visual connections between the two spaces. It also addresses broader social and urban issues, incorporating semi-formal areas for vendors to promote regenerative activities and cultural exploration while generating revenue. All in all, the project envisions a welcoming green oasis that allows visitors to enter without self-consciousness, encourages social interaction, and serves as a transitional “in-between” space, enriching the community’s cultural landscape.
The project acknowledges the vibrant street culture and urban context of the neighborhood, where roadside vendors and transport options are crucial.
The west side of the site is congested with vendors and transport stands, prompting the need for designated space to ease walkway congestion. By accommodating vendors and pedestrians, the design aims to attract more customers, enhancing shop visibility. This space could also serve as a preparation area for transport stands, reflecting the ongoing urban dynamics and supporting local commerce. In addition to being a cultural complex, the complex has spaces for festivals, leisure activities, religious gatherings, and cultural events via the inclusion of multi-use plazas. These offer a flexible space to promote social, and cultural interaction, diversity, and economic development and provide breathing space for the neighborhood.
Furthermore, it focuses on enhancing neighborhood interactions by introducing diverse programs for cultural exploration and recreation, aimed at generating revenue.
To improve connectivity, pedestrian paths were added, increasing accessibility from all directions.
The complex also connects to a commercial underground market to the northwest, integrating an auditorium, cinema hall, retail shops, and food courts in its basement. This approach merges distinct commercial spaces, attracting more visitors to the cultural complex. By fostering connectivity at multiple levels, the strategy aims to create a vibrant hub that harmonizes with the surrounding environment.
The zoning plan for the cultural complex focuses on redesigning the Gulistan Central Mosque to improve its functionality, addressing issues of inefficient entry and inadequate space. The madrasa also requires enhancements for better learning conditions. A plaza connects both facilities, serving as a multipurpose community area. The cultural block is zoned separately from the religious block to the northwest, featuring an urban plaza near the water to boost visual connections and attract visitors. Overall, the project aims to effectively meet the community’s needs and promote public engagement.
