OPEN-TEA-BIOSCOPE

Antora Podder

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

Bangladesh

Md Rafiul Islam

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

Bangladesh

Faria Kamal Momo

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

Bangladesh

Project Description

Open-Tea-Bioscope is more than just a tea stall—it’s a space where stories and conversations flow as freely as tea. In Bangladesh, tea stalls have always been vibrant community spaces, where people gather to discuss life, politics, and everyday happenings.

The bioscope, once a beloved spectacle, brought similar joy, with a travelling storyteller cranking his machine to reveal moving images, mesmerizing audiences. But as modern entertainment took over, bioscopewalas faded into obscurity, their craft nearly forgotten. This project revives their role, giving them a new platform where storytelling and socialization merge seamlessly.

The stall itself is designed as an interactive storytelling space, incorporating bioscope-inspired elements into its structure. Rotating panels, peephole viewers, or projection screens will display animated folk tales, glimpses of history, or everyday narratives, sparking conversations among visitors. The seating arrangement, much like traditional tea stalls, invites people to engage, while the bioscopewala, once struggling to find an audience, becomes an integral part of the experience. The materials—wood, metal, and handcrafted details—balance nostalgia with modern functionality, making the space both inviting and immersive.

Open-Tea-Bioscope is a second chance, not just for the bioscopewala but for the stories that deserve to be told. It is a place where tea and tales go hand in hand, where communities reconnect, and where an old storyteller finds a new audience. By blending the past with the present, this tea stall ensures that neither the bioscopewala nor his stories fade away.