studio dhaka combines brick façades with lush greenery for office in bangladesh

located within the densest commercial area of dhaka city lies the ‘teach for bangladesh’ office, designed by studio dhaka. realized in 2017, the humble building was developed in direct contrast to the surrounding high-rise blocks, and integrates natural elements, such as trees, plants, water and sun, into the low-lying architecture.

a jackfruit tree, set against the brick screen façade, casts cool shadows and marks the entrance

images asif salman & maruf raihan

the new office building was designed by studio dhaka with aspirations of sustainability and the construction therefore used local materials where possible, such as brick for the exterior cladding. the program is arranged over one story as a series of volumes that are connected via a circulation route that runs through the entire site. this route also connects external courtyard areas, which function as break-out spaces while also bringing natural light into the plan. 

a mango tree, which is almost like a natural sculpture, acts as the centerpiece of the site

each courtyard space can be used for a variety of functions, such as a place to eat, play or exercise, or even as an amphitheater, which can be covered by a tensile structure during adverse weather conditions. the sky is framed through the circulation spine by polycarbonate sheets that create a translucent canopy to bring in daylight.

an intimate enclosure with pods guarding three sides and a brick façade on one side keeps the midday sun at bay

traversing through the straight but eventful circulation spine, users will pass the built volumes that house workstations, meeting rooms and training areas. elements of nature are peppered throughout the architecture, such as the huge mango tree, expanses of grass and a lily pond. 

the amphitheater invites group discussions, lectures and social interaction, creating a lively atmosphere

initially, the existing trees on the site appeared as an obstacle to the design, but the team overcame this challenge by integrating them into the scheme. finally, the trees have been preserved and seating arrangements are organized under the canopies to create a natural backdrop in sharp contrast to the surrounding concrete jungle.

view towards the amphitheater

view of the circulation spine

the circulation spine gives a strong sense of direction to visitors

an adjacent open-air court acts as an oasis

a night view reveals the interplay of light and shadows

the use of warm light in the evening harks back to golden days of sodium lights

the lush green courtyard provides relief from the surrounding concrete jungle

standing out from the surrounding corporate high-rise buildings

project info:

project name: teach for bangladesh office building

location: gulshan-tejgaon link road, dhaka, bangladesh

architecture firm: studio dhaka ltd.

gross built area: 10,850 ft2 (1008 m2)

completion year: 2017

lead architect: muhammad moniruzzaman

design team: muhammad moniruzzaman & team studio dhaka ltd.

client: teach for bangladesh

engineering: essdee infrastructure limited

photography: asif salman & maruf raihan

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom