This autumn, imagine sitting in an open space, looking at the wide blue sky, as white clouds float around like candy flosses; you are surrounded by fields full of catkin flowers, and a cool breeze pass gently brushing your skin.
This would feel like heaven right?
You surely can get a taste of such ecstasy, in "Escape Den," providing a perfect escape from the stress of daily urban-life; somewhehre not far from the hustle and bustle of Dhaka, in fact very close to the Bashundhara Residential Area,
The architectural firm "River & Rain Ltd" constructed Escape Den for their client Tanjim Haque, and Asma Sultana on a 20 katha plot.
The firm's architect Kazi Fida shared his initial thoughts with the clients when his company took up this project. “The client at the beginning wanted to build a high-rise building here. Later, he told us to build a temporary home where he, his family and friends could visit during the weekends,” said he said.
After concluding field visit and inspection of the site, Fida and his team realized that the soil structure there is not ideal for the construction of a high-rise building, and then it struck him, Fida knowing the risks involved, immediately shared his idea of house made out of recycled shipping containers to the clients.
"We quickly came-up with a sketch and a short animation of our ideas for our clients. We were relaxed, and tensed at the same time when they (clients) confirmed our proposal right then. Though the use of shipping containers as houses is not new but we took inspiration from the rural house structures of Bangladesh, and turned it into something more modern and innovative.
"We wanted a separate space for the guests to sit; a kitchen; wide open spaces within the house, and a playground along with the feel of greenery just like the rural houses of Bangladesh. The boundary around Escape Den is a green natural wall made of different plants," he added.
What can one expect from Escape Den
The path that leads to Escape Den is surrounded by fields full of catkin flowers. Entering the site, one will see the blue and red coloured container gates, with the walls around the bungalow built out of different plants, and bamboo.
The greenery and fresh air of that space will give the feeling of lightness to anyone. The open space in front of the house gives a nostalgic vibe to the visitor.
The three containers (two 40/8 feet, and one 20/8 feet) set-up over a steel column-beam structure is vertically designed to keep as much open space as was possible. The bedrooms with glass windows cum walls, provides a perfect access for sunlight to enter as the simple, and minimal interior design of the house complement each other.
The beds are set in such a way that one can easily see the open sky, and surrounding catkin flowers from there. From the lobby in-front of the bedroom, there is a spherical staircase that leads to a grass-carpeted terrace. An iron cycle covered with plants can be seen in the lobby.
The first floor contains a kitchen, a small lounge, a dining space, a storeroom, and a mirror-toilet. The dining space gives the experience of a ship deck because of its floor, which has been set-up with wooden deck floors. The dining space is an extension of the kitchen container which can be closed off by a door made out of metal and glass.
The lounge on the second floor, opposite to the bedrooms, has a very colourful interior, and from here one can thoroughly enjoy the view outside.
The construction of the walls in the parking area is dominated by wooden pieces. There is also a square shaped sitting arrangement with bamboo-sofas at the front yard of the site, surrounded by all kinds of plants.