Sustainable Industrial Architecture: Rethinking the Tannery Industry

This project, titled "Architecture Infrastructure Assemblage," employs the concept of "Assemblage" — an ontological framework pioneered by Giles Deleuze and Felix Guattari. This theory provides a bottom-up approach to analyzing social complexity, emphasizing fluidity, exchangeability, and multifunctionality within entities and their connections.

Assemblage in Action: Balancing architecture, infrastructure, and social equity to reshape the tannery industry for a sustainable future.

Project Overview

The tannery industry is the second-largest export-based industry in Bangladesh, but it faces severe challenges due to environmental disruption and unsustainable practices. This project adopts Assemblage theory to propose a framework that redefines the tannery industry's spatial and operational dynamics. By integrating advanced technologies, social infrastructure, and sustainable industrial principles, this initiative aims to transform the tannery industry into a model of resilience and adaptability.

The project’s focus is on the relocation and redevelopment of the Hazaribagh tannery estate to the Savar Tannery Estate, addressing issues of environmental degradation, lack of proper infrastructure, and social inequities.

Tracing the tannery industry's evolution: From Hazaribagh's challenges to Savar's sustainable transformation.

Axonometric view showcasing the sustainable design of finished leather factory clusters with integrated green systems and modular layouts.

Key Objectives:

Environmental Sustainability: Incorporating waste management systems and solar aquatic treatment zones to reduce pollution.
Social Infrastructure: Creating spaces that ensure a living wage and improved working conditions for tannery workers.
Integrated Urban Design: Blending architecture and infrastructure to establish a cohesive industrial ecosystem that benefits local communities.

Sectional axonometric view illustrating the sustainable integration of natural light, green roofs, and efficient processing zones.

Assemblage Theory in Action

Assemblage theory provides a lens to scrutinize urban challenges at multiple levels, emphasizing:

Sociality: Building strong community networks through enhanced social infrastructure.
Spatiality: Designing modular and adaptive industrial spaces to optimize resources and productivity.

Proposed Solutions

The proposed master plan integrates:

Finished Leather Factory Clusters: Featuring green roofing systems, natural vegetation, and modular layouts to enhance ecological balance.
Water Treatment Plants: Ensuring compliance with international environmental standards.
Worker-Centric Design: Incorporating ergonomic facilities and social spaces to improve overall well-being.