The renovation of Sony Square: From RMG factory to modern entertainment hub
The shopping mall now boasts top national and international brands, while the rooftop restaurant offers a view of Mirpur like never before
"Mirpur is growing fast. With the metro station nearby, we wanted to offer something that would elevate the lifestyle of its residents. A place where people could shop, dine, and socialise under one roof. A space that would make people proud to call Mirpur home."
In the late 1980s, Mirpur was far from the bustling hub it is today. There stands a structure full of history yet pulsating with modernity. Sony Square, a landmark since its inception in the late '80s, has undergone a transformation so iconic that it now displays heritage with contemporary brilliance — a feat that has made it the talk of the town.
In 2021, the 40-year-old building was transformed into a modern entertainment hub consisting of a corporate office of Sony International Private Ltd, shopping complex, food court and a cinema hall. The renovation project, undertaken by architect Al Mamun Ur Rashid and his firm Amur Architecture, took six months to complete.
Today, Sony Square is a bustling lifestyle hub that offers something for everyone. It houses top-tier retail brands, a food court, and a rooftop restaurant, making it a one-stop destination for shopping, dining, and socialising.
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For architect Mamun and his team, the goal was not just to create a building — it was to create a destination. The shopping mall boasts top national and international brands, while the rooftop restaurant offers a view of Mirpur like never before.
"Mirpur is growing fast," he said. "With the metro station nearby, we wanted to offer something that would elevate the lifestyle of its residents. A place where people could shop, dine, and socialise under one roof. A space that would make people proud to call Mirpur home."
For Mirpur's residents and beyond, Sony Square is more than a landmark. It is a symbol of what their neighbourhood can be, a place where history, culture, and progress come together to create something truly extraordinary.
From a garments factory to a modern building
In one of the interviews, the owner of the complex Mohammad Hossain said that the construction of Sony started in 1981 on two and a half bigha land. Originally built as a garment factory, it served as a hub of industrial activity for years. The journey started on August 16, 1986 with the screening of a Bangla movie 'Ladaku'.
The name was changed to Sony Cinema Hall and Market, named after the owner's daughter. This three-storey cinema hall was a beacon of entertainment after its launch, housing three cinema halls, two of which were among the largest ones of their time.
As the decades passed, Mirpur grew. What was once a quiet neighbourhood became a bustling urban centre. Sony Cinema Hall, however, struggled to keep up. The cinemas went silent, the market dimmed, and what was once a symbol of Mirpur's vibrancy began to fade into obscurity.
But every landmark has a second act, and Sony Cinema Hall was no exception. When the decision to restore the building was made, the initial plan was to demolish it and start over.
However, its rich heritage, unique architectural features, and location in a fast-developing part of Dhaka inspired a different approach. Mamun and his team at Amur Architecture saw its potential.
"We could have started from scratch, but the history and uniqueness of this building deserved to be preserved," said Al Mamun Ur Rashid. "The ramp, the heritage, it all needed to remain a part of the new vision."
The team took on the task of converting the old and backdated cinema hall and market into a modern courtyard shopping complex, blending contemporary design with historical significance.
Renovating a building that had stood for over 40 years was no small feat. The team began by strengthening its foundation, retrofitting over 200 columns with advanced techniques to support new structures.
"It was challenging," Mamun admitted. "We had to add extra jacketings to the columns to ensure they could bear the weight of modern additions. But it was worth it to preserve the heritage."
Office space separated from entertainment hub
The building of Sony Cinema has various sections, which include Sony Square office space, shopping mall, lobby, food court and a rooftop restaurant that was brought together with a large five-floor high atrium.
While planning the overall zoning of the building, the architect changed the allotted site for the office and presented a plan for the 3,500 square feet of space. And the space is a work of art on its own.
Inspired by the architect's childhood memories of village life by the banks of the Padma River, the layout features curved pathways and layered ceilings, indicating the natural flow of rivers and skies, creating a serene workspace that feels connected to nature.
Iconic spiral ramp kept as the centre of attention
The building was more than just a cinema hall; it was a symbol of architectural ingenuity. What made it truly iconic was a feature that even today remains unparalleled — a spiral ramp that connected the ground floor to the top. It was not just functional; it was a masterpiece.
"The ramp's unique and complex design made it one-of-a-kind in Bangladesh. To this day, no other building has replicated it," explained architect Al Mamun Ur Rashid.
Once a feat of engineering for the garment factory, the spiral was preserved and updated with sleek black glass and ultra-modern lighting, turning it into a striking design feature.
The heart of the redesign was the courtyard. By removing 2,000 square feet of space on each floor, the architects introduced a courtyard with a fountain, flooding the interior with sunlight and fresh air.
What had once been a dim, enclosed space now feels alive, vibrant, and connected to nature. The waterbody on the ground floor makes it look more alive and futuristic.
Blending history with modernity
The exterior and interior are intimately merged with conscious design decisions and the choice of materials. The office space is adorned in both raw, locally sourced material, as well high-end, imported material with a fine polished look. The wall is embellished with the sophisticated look of marble that also gives the impression of a mud wall with its eye-soothing earthy tone of colour.
Throughout the project, the team remained committed to blending history with modernity. Traditional bricks, bought from a 200-year-old house in Faridpur, were used for wall designs, adding a rustic charm to the space.
Artefacts of Bangladeshi culture, like langol (ploughs), dheki (traditional rice husking tools), hurricane lamps, and bamboo were used in the building's floor design, offering a cultural journey through Bangladesh's history.
Even the cinema halls were carefully renovated as they retained their vintage essence. The original screen sizes were preserved, and while the interiors were updated with new sound systems and comfortable seating, the overall feel remained a nod to their storied past.
"We didn't want to erase the history," Mamun explained. "We wanted to enhance it, to show that tradition and innovation can coexist."
The interior design of Sony Square is a seamless blend of nature-inspired elements and contemporary aesthetics. Beyond its modern features, Sony Square is a celebration of nature.
To highlight the natural colour tones, which are an integrated part of the design process, the floor is kept neutral. Just like in nature, hierarchy in colours is observed with the pop of orange furniture of streamlined-modern furniture. And finally, to bring nature closely into the threshold, the columns are framed in black glass panels where the trees on the outside are reflected, covering the whole space vertically and creating the feeling of being inside a forest full of trees.
The courtyard, coupled with glass-panelled columns that reflect the surrounding greenery, creates the feeling of being in an urban forest. The earthy tones of the walls and floors, accented with pops of orange furniture, bring a sense of warmth and tranquillity to the bustling complex.
Sony Square's transformation from a garment factory to a cinema hall and now a courtyard shopping complex is a story of adaptation and innovation. It stands as a reminder that progress doesn't have to come at the expense of history.
Walking through Sony Square is like taking a journey through time. From the vintage charm of the cinema halls to the traditional materials used in its decoration, every corner tells a story. Visitors leave not just entertained but enriched, having experienced a space where heritage meets innovation.
As Mamun puts it, "Sony Square isn't just a building. It's a testament to what's possible when we honour the past while embracing the future."
