A dash of nature, ingenuity and community: The story behind Noakhali’s ‘Food Forest’

Every building has a story, but some are born from more than just architectural ambition. In the heart of Noakhali, a rural district in southeastern Bangladesh, an abandoned property evolved into a public sanctuary known as Food Forest, a transformation fuelled by creativity, community, and a deep love for the land.

This one-of-a-kind project was designed by Snahasis Saha and Tasnova Afroz Luna of Two Fold Studio, a Dhaka-based architecture firm with a focus on sustainable design and socially-conscious spaces. But Food Forest was far more than just another project in their portfolio; it was personal.

In 2020, as the pandemic brought global activity to a halt, Snahasis returned to his hometown of Noakhali. Working remotely for an architectural firm, he received a tip about a group of local investors looking to repurpose a derelict property in the Begumganj area. 

Curious, he visited the site. It was a patch of land with an abandoned house, surrounded by paddy fields, waterbodies, and quietude.

"There was something raw and untapped about the place. I knew it could become something magical," said Snahasis.

 The investors, however, envisioned something simple and were hesitant to spend much.

"I wanted to do something for my home district. Something that the people of Noakhali have never seen. So I offered them a free consultation," said  Snahasis.

The final result is a multi-layered space that blends indoor and outdoor areas. Walkways wind through foliage, dining spaces peek out from behind tree trunks, and birdsong fills the air. Photo: Courtesy

The investors were intrigued by his vision, but the budget remained a concern. That's when ingenuity took over.

Instead of sourcing materials through traditional means, Snahasis encouraged the investors to contribute from their own resources. One owned a transport company and supplied tyres and metal used in bus fabrication. These were creatively repurposed into tabletops and interior elements. He also arranged ship deck boards from Chattogram that were used for flooring and walkways, giving the restaurant a rugged, earthy texture.

Another investor had connections in Chowk Bazar and facilitated affordable lighting imports from Chinese suppliers. A third, who worked at Polli Bidyut, contributed wire barrels, mesh, and stones (used in absorbing electrical shocks), typically used in power distribution systems.

The landowner, who happens to be the final investor, allowed the use of on-site trees and natural resources. The existing Gaab trees (Diospyros embryopteris) of the site provided timber for the extended structure. 

This collaborative effort did not just reduce costs, it created an emotional investment in the project. "Everyone felt they had a hand in building something lasting," they added. "That's not something money can buy."

But the location posed its own challenge. Situated nearly three kilometres from the nearest township, the restaurant needed to offer more than just food.

"The location is quite far away from the town. And people living there do not have the mentality to eat out, travelling around three kilometres, at least it wasn't the case then. So we had to come up with a design that would be more like an enjoyable public place with an eatery, to attract the customers," they added.

The first phase began in 2021. A local civil engineer confirmed that the old building, constructed before Bangladesh's liberation, was structurally sound but unable to support additional vertical loads. There was also no rooftop access. 

Hence, the design of the project began with an external staircase in the front of the building. It is painted in striking red in the white backdrop of the building. 

Inside, partial wall demolitions opened up the space, flooding it with light and air. The rooftop was converted into a shaded dining area with lightweight mesh canopies to avoid the extra loads.

Food Forest opened in 2022 on a 1,130 sqm space and quickly became a local hotspot. To manage the crowd, entry tickets had to be introduced. Photo: Courtesy

Encouraged by the community's reception, the team expanded into the surrounding fields. The terrain was partly submerged and opened up to rice paddies, offering a serene vista. The extension was built on bamboo stilts and connected with timber pathways, allowing visitors to dine over water and fields. The entire layout was curated to immerse guests in nature while minimising ecological disruption.

Covering a total built-up area of 1,130 sqm, Food Forest officially opened in 2022. The response was overwhelming. Locals flocked in, sometimes causing traffic congestion. To manage the crowd, entry tickets were introduced.

The final result is a multi-layered space that blends indoor and outdoor areas. Walkways wind through foliage, dining spaces peek out from behind tree trunks, and birdsong fills the air. What started as a humble renovation has become a model of eco-conscious architecture in rural Bangladesh.

"We tried to preserve the surrounding nature in its utmost form while constructing the project. We even restored the organic footpath leading to the fields, shaped over time by footsteps," the team proudly notes. 

"It was already a haven for birds. Now, even more species have made it home. This is the best part of this project"

Food Forest not only redefines rural leisure and restaurant design, but also challenges the narrative that innovation only lives in urban spaces. 

Through Food Forest, Two Fold Studio proves that great design does not need to be expensive. It needs to be meaningful. And sometimes, it just takes a dash of nature, a dose of honesty, and a whole lot of community.