A house worth seeing
Have you ever wanted to take a few days off, away from all the traffic, stress, and worries? To be honest, it is something we all want, but the sad truth is that there are very limited chances of such an escape in Bangladesh, more so around Dhaka. We barely have hiking trails, and sometimes, you wish there was some place other than a hotel where you can crash and relax.
While choices are very limited, they are not non-existent. You might be wondering what is it that makes this place so special, right? Indeed, what is so special about a three-story building amidst other buildings of the same grandiosity, within the complex of Arunapolli, Savar? With three rooms on the first floor, and one on the second floor, it might not sound like much, but it boasts of contemporary design that we see in the modern architecture.
Ashraf Kaiser, founder of Benchmark Limited, and proud owner of this establishment, opened up about his thoughts and perspectives about this house.
"We didn't want to build just another house. We wanted to create a space from within to mingle, relax, and recreate. Many people ask how many rooms are there. We say it's as many as you can imagine.
"Sometimes, a space can transform us for the better. It can bring out our inner self, helps us to talk to ourselves, inspires us to behave differently and imagine something far beyond reality," he added, emphasising the aim of this place was not to just stay, but rather, a place to recharge your spirit.
Not much fussed about extravagant designs, this contemporary building focuses more on finding the beauty in simplicity, and that is exactly what is reflected in this house, designed by architect Md Rafiq Azam. With open and spacious constructs in all the walls, it uses the natural light to its advantage and allows the breeze to access in such a way that it will surely cheer you up.
"The most important thing is that this house celebrates nature. It might not be the greatest house you've ever seen, but it is more than just a house, it's a great place," said Md Rafiq Azam.
The location is next to a farm, with a lake nearby, giving access to nature in a way that we do not find in the cities.
"Nature was the sole inspiration behind this design. When I saw this place, it had this huge open field beside it, and it still does, and this allows for a rare opportunity to witness the sunrise and sunset, which is rare in the cities these days. I figured what better way to appreciate nature than to create a place that allows you to witness the magnificence of nature?" Azam added, as he stressed on the importance of the location.
This is the perfect getaway for the weekend. Combined with the comforts of a modern house, and the gallantry of nature, one can spend the weekend in a memorable fashion.
Photo: Ashraf Kaiser
Comments