ARCHITECTURAL PORTFOLIO MD Abu Baker Siddique 2011-2022
ACADEMIC WORKS
Rethinking Dead Mall
Reconsidering an American vacant mall site as a seed for re-growth
Timeline: Fall 2020, Graduate Thesis
Treasury of Shadow
Shadow Puppetry Theaterd Gallery at Old Town Alexandria, VA
Timeline: Fall 2019
Safehouse School
Natural Disaster Shelter cum Elementary School
Timeline: 2012, Level 5 Term I
PROFESSIONAL WORKS
Maker Space
Vocational Design Lab at a Historic High School in Washington DC
Timeline: 2021-2022, with GBR Architects
Interior Design and Fit out for Underwriters Laboratories (UL) at Dhaka Natural Disaster Shelter cum Elementary School
Timeline: 2018, with MYTH Ltd.
8 Storied Apartment Building at Adabor, Dhaka
Timeline: 2012, with MYTH Ltd.
A Dialogue Between Self & Beyond
Designing a Religious Building at Narshingdi, Bangladesh
Timeline: 2018, with MYTH Ltd.
WORKS of INTEREST
CONTENTS
RETHINKING DEAD MALL
Reconsidering an American vacant mall site as a seed for re-growth
The rapid urban development has impacted a great loss of natural landscape in the U.S in recent years. In the process of urbanization, the population has moved from the city centers to the edges of the Metropolitan or the newly developed suburbs as much as 62% until 2000. To serve the resettled population new services have been developed at the outskirts of the cities. Among all the development one of the most common was the Enormous shopping mall in suburban districts which are the collections of a vast range of retail corporations in response to the growing consumerism. In support of the gigantic malls, more service infrastructures were built as in the multistoried parking garages, surface parking, HVAC.
Currently, the total number of malls in the U.S is approximately 116,000. The downside of the development has been observed as rapid as it has grown. As in 2014, nearly 3% of all the malls in the United States were considered to be “dying” (40% or higher vacancy rates) and nearly one-fifth of all malls had vacancy rates considered “troubling” (10% or higher). The sudden deterioration was caused because of several factors such as the socio-economic change of the demography in the urban context, the change in the spending habit of the consumers (i.e. spending for experience rather than goods), Rise of the E-commerce, etc. This thesis will explore the strategy for reintegrating the troubling mall sites within the urban fabric.
The project firstly has generated an adaptive master plan for the future, in a specific site as the result of investigating the socio-economic issues that forced the mall site to be vacant. After projecting the master plan, the architectural project has been proposed which prioritized the physical and social development of the context. Educating people regarding the redevelopment of the community and the sustainable way of living are the key features of the project. The new project has been considered an iconic community asset that would serve the neighborhoods.
Considering existing revenue-generating anchors to stay and
integrating
street
network
within
the site.
Creating street facade to define the new circuit boulaverd and allowing the urban center to develop its own character.
street connections in reference with the existing neighborhood streets INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS & GROWTH • MIXED USED OFFICE BUSINESS INCUBATOR NEW EMPLOYMENT SECTOR • FUTURE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF BIG BOXES TRANSPORTATION HUB & FARMERS MARKET MULTIMODALTRANSPORTATIONHUB SOCIAL SERVICES HEALTHCARE MALL • ADAPTIVE REUSE • TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
The new circuit boulevard, equiped with pedestrian network, Public transit, and natural landscape, will allow the people and vehicles to experience within the urban center.
Potential
RETAIL & RECREATION
The urban center has diversified nodes for sustainable urban growth. A natural Storm-water Drainage System will allow the landscape to keep intact.
The chosen site for the project is Fairgrounds Square Mall at Muhlenberg Township, Reading, PA, a veteran city has supported the U.S. economy in 19th and early 20th century, in the era of industrialization. For the rapid urban growth of the surrounding major cities in later 20th century, such as Philadelphia, the economy of Reading is currently declining and prime urban centers like Fairgrounds square malls are currently dying.
The master planning phase of this project has deeply looked into the factors for this decline and attempted to sustainably revive the notion of a community urban center, rather than just imposing new commerce.
Buildings at the outward side of the Circuit Buildings at the intward side of the Circuit Pedestrian Bike Track Vegetation Buffer Pedestrian Bus stoppage Street Parking Vehicular Road with Public Transit Vehicular Vehicular Vehicular
Circuit Boulevard Section
Water Chanel Section for Storm Water Drainage
The anticipated master plan is designed to be fitted with an ideal situation, but the economic growth is unpredictable and can turn toward any direction. As the final master plan will be growing, an interim phase is proposed. In this phase, the undeveloped portions of the area will be turned into landscape feature to preserve the ecosystem and attract visitors and investors into the urban center.
The development of the master plan will be governed by the community members themselves, so a new community center is proposed to excel the activities and discussion. The center will give the sense of a cummunity, which is currently lacking due to the absence of such a central platform.
The new community center will be no alien to the context. Existing urban fabric, locally manufactured building materials, contextual formal expression is considered for the architecture of the new center. The new building will give a notion of homeliness to the community dwellers.
Exhibition Gallery Library Gymnasium Multipurpose Hall Youth & Senior MAJOR PROGRAMS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS MAIN ENTRANCE CIRCULATION SERVICE AND UTILITY CIVIC COMMUNITY COMPLEX COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & RECREATION GUIDING FUTURE DEVELOPMENT YOUTH & SENIOR ENGAGEMENT TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATION SUSTAINABLE LIVING CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC DISCUSSION MEETING ROOM MULTIPURPOSEHALL YOUTH ROOM • SENIOR ROOM • LOUNGE FOR ALL AGES TECH ROOM • PRE SCHOOL ROOM LIBRARY • GYMNASIUM • URBAN FARMING RAIN WATER HARVESTING • COUNSELLING ROOM CRAFT ROOM • TRAINING KITCHEN EXHIBITION GALLERY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE • MEETING ROOM • BOARD ROOM Form and Material Historic Landmarks of Reading, PA Grimshaw Silk Mill Keystone Hook and Ladder Company Liberty Fire Company No. 5 Reading Hardware Company Defined form and proportion Defined form as per programs Major functions identified by roof forms Entrance, Multipurpose, Gymanasium Final Form Generating Building Form Major functions aligned with the streets Connected forms to create a public entry and an internal courtyard + + Gabled roof form Recognizable to the community as a landmark Structural Steel Frame Available from the local industries
1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 7 14 14 10
14.
15.
1. Entry lobby 2. Exhibition gallery 3. Senior room 4. All-age lounge 5. Cafe seating
6.
Multi-purpose hall 7. Gymnasium
8.
Library 9. Administration office
10.
Change room (M/F) 11. Cafe 12. Service storage
13.
Cafe storage
Lounge
Gynasium storage
The Multi-purpose Hall will be accommodating community discussions and programs
The Gymansium to attract the youth into community activity
The Exhibition Gallery featuring the development updates resulting from the community discussion
The program of the building is carefully considered to address the all age group of the community. The First floor will accommodate the entrance from the front plaza and disperse the visitors to all the lounge and activity spaces. Programs that facilitate mostly public activities and gatherings are placed at this level.
1. Tech room
2. Pre-school room
3. Craft room
4. Training kitchen
5. Storage
6. Multipurpose Hall mezannine
7. Youth room
8. Board room
9. Meeting room
10. Counsel room
1. HVAC
2. Storage
3. EM room
4. Storage
5. Service
Programs that are involved with the development of certain age groups or individuals are placed on the level two, such as youth room, tech room, crafts room, or training kitchen. Also, spaces for meetings and counseling are provided adjacent to the library zone.
East Elevation1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
West Elevation
Second Floor Plan
1 2 3 4 5
Basement Plan
The Main idea of the center is to build a sense of community and prosper to a sustainable future together. As a result the building will be harvesting rain water and reuse the stored water for farming. The urban farm will teach the community to grow their own food and the value of sharing. Thus a strong community will be built to develop a sustainable Urban Center.
central atrium space for post gathering for the audience and the
artists
MAKER SPACE
STUDENT DESIGN LAB AT A HISTORIC HIGH SCHOOL AT WASHINGTON DC
Maker Space is a vocational education lab for a well reputed high school in Washington DC. The project size is 3400 square ft. and includes Lecture Space, Brainstorm lounge, 3D Printing and Electronic Workshop. The renovation project replaces the conventional server room and welcomes new technologies for the learning of students.
THANK YOU