Project Description

Char Mazardia, a small river island in the Padma River, Rajshahi, is home to a close-knit community that thrives despite hardships, land uncertainty, and basic living conditions. The people earn their livelihood through farming and boating. Every evening, under the sleeping sun, they gather at a tea stall to share stories, dreams, and discuss their river life over a cup of tea. After reflecting on their joys and struggles, they return home, only to reunite the next morning for tea before heading to work. Visitors from outside the char also come here to experience char life, explore the village, enjoy tea made with Buffalo milk and return home with a sense of peace and fulfillment.

People of Charmazardia live like the char itself-ever-changing and adapting with the river. Just as the Padma reshapes the land-washing it away from one side and revealing new stretches on the other. The people shift their homes to follow the river's rhythm. Their tea stall is also mobile, carried and relocated by the community as needed. However, this constant movement is challenging for them.

We are designing a tea stall as the vital communal space for the people of Char Mazardia. Inspired by the setting sun on the horizon a reddish circle that represents the life cycle of the people of the char. Additionally, visitors from outside the char come to witness the sunset. From this idea, we shaped the tea stall as a circle, embodying the sun while seamlessly fulfilling its functional purpose.