Friendship Centre

Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh - As in construction, so in conception, the complex of the centre rises and exists as echo of ruins, alive with the memory of the remains of Mahasthan.

Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh - As in construction, so in conception, the complex of the centre rises and exists as echo of ruins, alive with the memory of the remains of Mahasthan.

Located in rural Gaibandha where agriculture is predominant, the project's roofscape merges with its environment - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

The design relies on natural ventilation and cooling, being facilitated by courtyards and pools and the earth covering on roofs - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

Constructed and finished primarily of local hand-made bricks, the concept of simplicity reflects a monastic feel - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

Luxury of light and shadows; economy and generosity of small spaces; joy of movement and discovery in the bare and the essential is what makes this gathering space a refuge for some of the poorest population - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh. Located in rural Gaibandha where agriculture is predominant, the project's roofscape merges with its environment.

To prevent flooding, the Friendship Centre is built directly on the low land and the entire site is protected with an embankment which could not be built and maintained for much less - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

The ‘Ka’ Block contains the reception pavilion, offices, library, training/conference rooms and pavilions, a prayer space and a small ‘cha-shop’ - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

The access to the building from the earthen bundh is organised via two entrance stairs at opposite ends. The programme is then organised around a series of pavilions, courtyards and reflecting pools - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

The Friendship Centre gets more beautiful because it impacts so many lives and brings so much dignity to those who had forgotten to hope - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

Between the two blocks are large tanks to collect rainwater. The ‘Kha’ Block, connected by three archways, is for more private functions and houses the dormitories, the dining pavilion and staff and family quarters - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

View of reception space in the open pavilion - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

Classrooms can be used by Friendship organization to train their staff, to hold meetings. They can also be used as conference rooms and are kept cool by natural cross ventilation - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

Through training locals, Friendship's goal is enabling these vulnerable communities to improve their living conditions in many aspects: health, nutrition, education, disaster management, infrastructure development, good governance, and sustainable economic development - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

Top view at dusk. The square shaped mosque is rotated to obtain the qibla direction, its roof is covered in green so it merges with the surrounding landscape - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

Luxury of light and shadows; economy and generosity of small spaces; joy of movement and discovery in the bare and the essential is what makes this gathering space a refuge for some of the poorest population - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

The inspiration for the building came from the Buddhist monasteries in the area, and the exposed brickwork, stark character and quadrilateral layout are clearly the architectural influence - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

Dining room, another space that brings people together - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

Cross-ventilation is taken advantage of right through the building – from the layout of the rooms and courtyards, to the detailing of the doors and windows, the building is kept cool with passive airflow. - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

View of dormitories area. Initially Friendship's work was in the same geographic region, but as they expanded they needed to provide accommodation for the trainees for the duration of the workshops - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

As in construction, so in conception, the complex of the centre rises and exists as echo of ruins, alive with the memory of the remains of Mahasthan - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

Located near the Brahma-Jamuna River, the Friendship Centre is a training facility for a non-government organization in the flatlands of rural, northern Bangladesh - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.

The green cover of the earthen rooftops acts as insulators, and absorbs rainwater - Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh.