Revitalizing Karnaphuli Riverbank Fishery Ghat as an Adaptable Public-Oriented Infrastructure

Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Dhaka

Project idea

Reimagining Chittagong's Karnaphuli Riverbank Fishery Ghat as a resilient, adaptable, and public-oriented waterfront infrastructure through a modular design system capable of relocation.

Project description

The project responds to the unique challenges of Fishery Ghat—its shifting history, intense early-morning trade activities, unorganized circulation, congested auction hours, and lack of facilities for fishermen and laborers. Through detailed environmental, socio-economic, and functional analysis, the proposal introduces a modular design system capable of relocation, ensuring long-term adaptability despite the market's unstable land tenure. The design integrates time-based zoning strategies, a semi-automated logistics system, and digital auction facilities to enhance efficiency while significantly reducing operational chaos. Beyond market hours, the project envisions the riverfront as an active public promenade, transforming unused afternoon and evening periods into vibrant community spaces with elevated walkways, micro-enterprise stalls, and cultural programs.

Technical information

By combining structural modularity, improved labor provisions, and a holistic public realm, the project positions Fishery Ghat as a flexible civic infrastructure. Software used includes Archicad, Rhinoceros, Sketchup, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Twinmotion. Academic Project 2025, Design Studio X (Thesis), Level 5 Term 2, Duration 14 weeks.

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