Jatra: A cultural oasis in the concrete jungle of Banani
The colourful facade contrasts the monotonous Banani buildings and the thatched roof that is visible from the outside stands out. As you enter the complex, you step into a maze of mango wood, red concrete and metal — all in earthy hues .
With the pressures of urbanisation, Dhaka has grown increasingly distant from nature. A prime example is Gulshan-Banani, where countless high-rises stand tall and sighting a sliver of the sky is nearly impossible.
In this concrete jungle, where fresh air feels scarce, Jatra (located on road no 17/A, block E, Banani) brings a touch of nature to its visitors. It offers a peaceful escape from the city's chaos.
If you take a stroll nearby, Jatra's bamboo and thatch-built structure is bound to catch your attention amidst the surrounding brick-and-concrete buildings.
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As the name suggests, Jatra is a 'creative journey' that celebrates Bangladesh's colourful arts and crafts. It is designed so that everyone feels it is a part of their lives like a large gathering space.
"We have always wanted Jatra to be a place that feels very homely—without rigid rules, where people can be themselves while using the space responsibly. We wanted the roots of our local culture to be deeply embedded," said Mrinmoyee Das, General Manager of Jatra.
Roofliners—Studio of Architecture, with project architects Sarawat Iqbal Tesha, Rajib Ahmed, Monon-Bin Yunus, Md Mohaimin Ali Khan, Tareq Shuvo, and Fatematuj Johora Mohuya, took on the challenge.
"They [Jatra] had to leave their previous location on short notice. Thus we had a short timeline for the project. This was the initial challenge," said Sarawat.
A variety of local products are on display on the first two floors. It's like an exhibition and is called Jatra Mela. The second-floor houses a restaurant serving traditional Bengali cuisine called Jatra Biroti. "Jatra is a journey into crafts. And when you need a pause and some rest along the way, that's where Jatra Biroti comes in," explained Mrinmoyee Das, General Manager of Jatra.
Previously, it was a 25 to 30-year-old residential building that was transformed and redesigned with a fresh new look. Starting in September 2023, the renovation project was completed within six months and opened to the public in February 2024. Now, it's a two-and-a-half-story building.
The ground floor consists of an entrance, a courtyard and a hall. The first and second floor is the main area where craft items and Jatra's clothes are sold. The roof, with its iconic red floor, is used as a restaurant.
Jatra has its ideology, which is the coexistence of nature and humanity. Its journey itself is like a social movement, acting as a carrier of local culture, artisans and their craft — Jatra, at its new location, has been designed taking all these aspects into account.
Jatra Mela and Jatra Biroti
The colourful facade contrasts the monotonous Banani buildings and the thatched roof that is visible from the outside stands out. As you enter the complex, a very casual entrance though, it leads you to a pair of wide glass doors with mango wood frames.
The entrance faces the door of the hall room, with the open courtyard at its left. This too is an integral part of the overall design. Standing in the courtyard or Angina, you find yourself in front of a humble earthy space with a bamboo folding door, and a building with the hue of mud. The courtyard often fills with people chatting and moving around during events.
Meanwhile, music events take place in the hall room, which features a more enclosed design.
A variety of local products are on display on the first two floors. It's like an exhibition and is called Jatra Mela. The third-floor houses a restaurant serving traditional Bengali cuisine called Jatra Biroti. "Jatra is a journey into crafts. And when you need a pause and some rest along the way, that's where Jatra Biroti comes in," Mrinmoyee explained.
Colourful folk motifs and traditional rickshaw painting style murals using vibrant prime colours adorn the interior, honing in the importance of local art and craft.
A maze of interior
The interior feels like a maze. No one knows what lies beyond each door. Every step carries a sense of mystery. The natural sound of climbing mango wood stairs adds to this thrill.
The space is small, yet it holds a sense of vastness. This is created with different levels and zones with crafts, colour, lighting and texture. For example, a single plain space has been segmented with a furniture corner, then a corner for bags of different colours and fabrics; and as you keep walking the next thing you know is that you are standing on a platform that showcases sari and other clothing.
"Nothing here is about permanence. Everything is casually arranged and the arrangement is changed— much like creativity, always open to change," said Monon-Bin Yunus.
From the client's side, another demand to the architects was that the project should be cost-effective. The goal was to set an example of creating something beautiful on a budget.
Mango wood stair, thatched roof and red concrete
The construction of Jatra features mango wood, which is highly accessible and affordable. Additionally, thatch and bamboo are visibly incorporated. Bricks, glass, metal and corrugated sheets have also been used.
Since Jatra's previous location was nearby, many elements were easily reused. This helped reduce construction costs. Still, the total cost is estimated to be around Tk60 lakh. However, various additions and repairs brought the total close to one crore later.
One of the most iconic features is Jatra Biroti with its red floor and the white alpona on it. When viewed from atop, the curation of red, white and golden from the thatched roof creates the imagery of the classic Bangali uthaan or courtyard.
For a structure like this, fire safety becomes a big concern, so the design includes preventive measures. "We have added an external staircase for fire resistance. Previously, there was only one internal and congested stairs. Now, there's a new wooden and metal staircase that connects up to the fourth floor," said Sarawat.
"Also, fire extinguishers have been placed at various locations in the shopping area consulting with the fire engineer," she added.
She mentioned that only the first floor is somewhat enclosed. The second floor is open, and the fourth floor has a roof that will serve as a fire exit.
