Thanchi Bazar Tourist Development – Urban Revitalization Architecture
Revitalizing a historic hill bazar into a sustainable tourism base-camp that strengthens local economy, culture, and landscape.
Thanchi Bazar Tourist Development urban revitalization architecture project located in Thanchi, an upazila of Bandarban, Bangladesh. Historically, the word Thanchi translates to “place of rest,” a meaning deeply embedded in the cultural memory of the region. This project reinterprets that identity by transforming the existing bazar into a tourist base-camp—a place of pause, orientation, and connection between visitors, landscape, and local community.
Designed as a catalyst for economic growth and spatial improvement, the proposal reimagines Thanchi Bazar as a structured yet organic destination that supports tourism while preserving the fragile hill ecology and indigenous ways of life.
Context and Existing Conditions
The existing Thanchi Bazar has grown informally along a river edge and steep hill contours. The site is shaped by:
- Strong topographical variations
- A river system used for agriculture and daily life
- Informal shops and temporary structures
- Limited infrastructure for tourists despite increasing footfall
The absence of planned public spaces, organized circulation, and tourist amenities has restricted the bazar’s potential as a regional node. This urban revitalization architecture proposal begins by carefully mapping existing paths, water bodies, and social activity zones to ensure continuity rather than disruption.
Design Vision: A Tourist Base-Camp
The core idea is to develop Thanchi Bazar as a tourist base-camp—a place where visitors can rest, gather information, experience local culture, and then move onward to nearby destinations. Instead of introducing a single large intervention, the project adopts a phased growth strategy, allowing the bazar to evolve naturally over time.
Key objectives include:
- Strengthening local economy through tourism
- Creating organized yet flexible market spaces
- Integrating architecture with terrain and vegetation
- Preserving the bazar’s informal social character
Master Planning Strategy
The master plan follows the natural contours of the site and river edge, using terraced platforms and lightweight structures. Functions are zoned but visually connected, ensuring walkability and uninterrupted views of the surrounding hills.
The plan includes:
- Central bazar spine with retail and craft shops
- Public gathering and refreshment areas
- Tourist information and rest zones
- Resort and vip rest house clusters
- Pedestrian bridges and stepped pathways
This layered approach reinforces urban revitalization architecture principles by blending infrastructure, landscape, and human activity into a single coherent system.
Phased Growth Model
Growth is structured into multiple phases, allowing gradual development without overwhelming the site:
- Phase 1: Core bazar organization and pedestrian circulation
- Phase 2: Introduction of shop prototypes and public amenities
- Phase 3: Expansion of tourist facilities and accommodation
- Phase 4: Landscape consolidation and long-term economic stability
Each phase responds to real usage patterns, ensuring the bazar grows with demand rather than speculation.
Architectural Language and Materiality
Architecture is deliberately lightweight and modular, responding to the hill context and local construction practices. Bamboo, wood, and simple structural frames dominate the design, minimizing environmental impact and allowing easy maintenance.
Shop and cottage prototypes are elevated on stilts to:
- Adapt to uneven terrain
- Protect from seasonal water flow
- Maintain visual permeability
This material honesty reinforces the project’s commitment to sustainable urban revitalization architecture.
Shop and Cottage Prototypes
Multiple shop prototypes (A, B, and C) are developed to accommodate different plot sizes and commercial needs. These modular units can expand vertically or horizontally, ensuring adaptability over time.
Cottage prototypes provide short-term accommodation for tourists, positioned to maximize views while maintaining privacy. Together, these prototypes create a rhythm of built and open spaces that mirrors the informal bazar fabric while improving functionality.
Landscape and Sectional Integration
Sectional design plays a crucial role in negotiating the dramatic terrain. Bridges, stepped platforms, and terraced walkways ensure accessibility while preserving natural slopes. The river valley is treated as a visual and ecological asset rather than a boundary.
Rain, mist, and seasonal changes are embraced as part of the spatial experience, reinforcing Thanchi’s identity as a place of rest and reflection.
Social and Economic Impact
By repositioning the bazar as a tourist base-camp, the project:
- Generates new income opportunities for local vendors
- Encourages craft-based and cultural tourism
- Improves safety, circulation, and comfort
- Preserves community ownership of space
Rather than replacing existing life, the project amplifies it—an essential principle of urban revitalization architecture in sensitive rural contexts.
Thanchi Bazar Tourist Development demonstrates how urban revitalization architecture can transform an informal hill bazar into a resilient, inclusive, and economically active destination. Rooted in local meaning and landscape logic, the project positions architecture not as an object, but as a framework for growth, rest, and exchange.
Project by: Karan Srijan
