Floating Architecture: A Solution for the Char People of Bangladesh

Abstract

The 21st century has been and will be shaped by decisions made in centuries prior. It is our responsibility today to design for tomorrow, recognizing this century’s environmental changes. With the assistance of futurist studies, architects are now equipped with the knowledge to build for a successful future. Sea level rise is one of the expected consequences of today’s drastic environmental changes. Thus, fl oating architecture will play an important role in our future. Bangladesh is one of the countries already experiencing the eff ects of sea level rise. It is one of the world’s most densely populated countries, and the further inundation of its land will only bring more devastation. Within this already poverty-stricken land, a subculture known as the Char people are among the poorest. This group of people resides on the Char lands, dangerous yet highly fertile land that often suff ers the most during natural disasters. The goal of this project is to design a system of living on Char lands to cope with inconsistent water levels by applying ideals held by the Char people. The design will consist of an economic plan, three alternative site plans, and a schematic architectural prototype of a fl oating home. This system of living will be designed in hopes of being implemented in settings needing such applications including the Netherlands and Japan. The work includes initial research conducted in the fi elds of Bangladesh regarding the Char people, sea level rise concerns, and case studies of both modern and historic examples of aquatic architecture. The end product will be a system designed for “Char Abhinava,” located in the Upper Meghna River.