A home is not just four walls; it is the keeper of life’s stories, relationships, and memories spanning generations. Located in a small village in Mymensingh, Fakir Bari is an architectural work that preserves the rhythm of traditional rural life while embracing modern thinking.
The core inspiration behind the design was family bonding, multi-generational coexistence, and the heritage of hospitality.
Therefore, the design includes an open courtyard, versatile gathering spaces, and interconnected areas to strengthen relationships among family members. It creates an environment of mutual respect while maintaining privacy, balancing the joy of togetherness with personal freedom.
The open rural setting, agrarian background, and surrounding green natural landscapes inspired a design that is grounded in the land, promotes airflow, and emphasizes natural materials. Locally available bricks, metal roofing, and wood were used to reduce construction costs while ensuring harmony with the environment. The building was oriented around existing trees, with new fruit, medicinal, and shade trees planted for future cooling.
The main challenge was balancing construction with nature. The design included proper drainage, storm resilience, and climate adaptation. Green roofs, courtyards, and water retention systems enhanced natural interaction, while open airflow was maximized. Solar panels on the roof significantly reduced electricity costs and ensured self-reliance during load shedding by powering lights and water pumps during the day.
Bricks, widely used in rural Bangladesh and particularly in Mymensingh architecture, were chosen for their availability, labor-intensive nature, and excellent heat retention—helping keep interiors cool during hot summers. Using local materials lowered transportation costs, reduced the carbon footprint, and supported the local economy. Construction time was shortened, and the choice of climate-suitable materials made the building more resilient and sustainable.
The sound of rain on the roof, a deeply emotional experience in village life passed down through generations, was consciously preserved in the design. Instead of blocking nature’s sounds, the house welcomes them, strengthening the connection between residents and their environment. The rooftop offers an open, relaxing space where family members can spend time in fresh air, share stories, or gaze at the night sky. This area helps reduce stress, fosters family bonds, and offers moments for meditation or solitude, reflecting the slower pace and natural touch of rural living.
The landscape includes fruit and medicinal plants, rainwater harvesting systems, and composting arrangements that promote sustainable, agriculture-based living and food self-sufficiency. This also deepens daily contact between the family and nature. This project serves as a groundbreaking model that blends modern technology with tradition. Fakir Bari demonstrates that rural architecture is not just nostalgia—it can be sustainable, innovative, and humane, able to face future challenges while preserving heritage.
By conserving nature through thoughtful material choices, solar energy use, eco-friendly design, and respect for tradition, Fakir Bari stands as an exemplary model. Future rural projects can learn from it to become more people-centered and sustainable. In a rapidly urbanizing world, Fakir Bari gently reminds us that the future can still be deeply rooted, slow-paced, and intimately connected with nature.
