TANZANA NAHEED VILLA

CLIENT: NAHID COTTON MILLS LTD.

DESIGN ARCHITECT   : Mesba Ul Kabir.

Architect:

                  Susmits Akter

                   Nabila  Narmin Khan

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AREA OF LAND       : 8.29KATHA

AREA OF BUILDING   : 34,500SFT

PROJECT YEAR       : 2011-2019

BACKGROUND AND ORIGIN:

The original land owners, K.M Khaled, is also one of the ownersof Getco, a multi-national company. Then, he was a director of Getco at Shyamoli.I had a close relation with him and their other partner from 1973 or 1974. Iwas his architect and designed many projects for him, like 15-story commercial buildingat Banani, a few residences in Dhaka (Gulshan, Baridhara, Shyamoli) and Bogra,as well as Masjid, Mazar and a few religious institutions around the country. Heis good, honest person and successful businessman.

In the year 2011 he asked me to design a house for his sonat Baridhara, on an 8.29 Katha of plot, with a swimming pool. His requirementswere fulfilled in 3 floors. Land is very visual, and I suggested to make the entryand parking separate and make future provision for another floor for rent.Revised drawings with basement parking and drivers’ room with generator andpump room, with separated entry for apartment and separate for lift and stairwere supplied to the client.

RAJUK APPROVAL SHEET:

It took a long time for approval. Nearly 18/24 month aftersubmission. After facing many hurdles, the clint gave the responsibility of constructionto his nephew, who is an engineer. The vehicular ramp to the basement was directfrom the road, outside building. The Nephew didn’t want to risk constructingthe ramp on the edge of the boundary wall, and requested that the ramp be movedwithin the building. Thus, we revised drawing with modification submitted to Rajukagain.

After approval from Rajuk, construction completed up tobasement roof in the year 2016. Construction stopped in the year 2019. I got acall from a soft and gentle voice, introducing himself as a Mr. Zakiullah, andinformed me that they had bought the land in question. He wanted to make someadjustment on that plan, and wished to discuss it at my office.

Mr. Zakiullah, a very good looking, handsome young man cameto meet me. He was a real gentleman.

For the third time, Rajuk approval plan was preparedaccording to their new requirements. Ground floor accommodated additionalparking, with lobby, reception, Sub-station and some staff accommodation. Thefirst floor was left open for gymnasium and community center with a studioapartment. Another floor was added as an apartment. Later the client desired thetop two floor for owner’s apartment (duplex) with internal stair and greenlawn. Previously the project was eight and half storied, now it was redesignedfor a 10-story building. Retrofitting was needed and used in a few of the columns.

Previously there were three entries. One for the basement, secondone for the landowner’s villa with parking, and the third one was to be used asan entry for the apartment. Client wanted a 10-story apartment instead of eightand half stories, with a ground floor entry. Ground floor for parking, lobbyand lounge, and first floor for gym and commercial space with a small apartment.From second floor apartment block for rental purpose.

For revised requirements, design changes demanded a lavishmiddle span with reduced slab thickness. Structurally, the only solution was a waffleslab. From this, a hall-room concept with top to bottom glass was formed. Ancillaryservices have been placed on both sides of the hall room. The client is very luckilythat on both south and north side, there are no high-rise buildings. On thesouth side, is the 2 story Maldive Embassy, which also I designed, and on the northside, is a road with a low-rise building. From the hall room, everyone canenjoy a vast scenic beauty and relish nature with southern air and light. Aftercompleting of few floors structure, client desired the top two floor will betheir accommodation. Revised design required for top floor with void, stair andterrace garden in south side.

I designed whole building to be off white with an angular blackwall connecting the lift core with the hall room. This black wall had acascading waterfall from roof of first floor. Unfortunately, the father-in-lawof my clint who was the main financer, and didn’t agree. So, the focal point ofthis structure lost.

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