The Second Voyage : A Unified Marketplace For Bhatiary’s Shipwreck Material Industry | Architecture Thesis

Site Context

Ship breaking in Bangladesh is a large-scale industry where decommissioned ships are dismantled for scrap metal. After 20–30 years of service, ships are dismantled due to increasing maintenance costs, and nearly 95% of their components are resold as scrap. With nearly 80% of global ship dismantling occurring in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, Chittagong’s Sitakunda coast—particularly the 25 km stretch of beach at Bhatiary—has become the largest ship-breaking yard in the world.

Parallel to this industry, along a 3.5 km stretch of the Dhaka–Chittagong National Highway, an organically grown, informal yet vibrant ship scrap industry market has emerged. Here, salvaged ship products—from the smallest screw to large-scale machinery, furniture, and electronics—are bought and sold. The strip accommodates around 300 shops, supporting the livelihoods of over 1,000 traders and workers.

Existing Market Issues: Despite its vibrancy, the market remains fragmented and scattered, with no proper zoning or structured layout. Similar types of shops are scattered, making navigation difficult for buyers. Basic facilities such as parking, loading–unloading zones, and organized circulation are missing. The current layout of the market results in lost customers, inefficient circulation, and reduced sales, preventing the market from becoming the economic hub it could be.

Proposed Market Site: The chosen 8.3-acre site sits within the existing stretch, close to salvage yards and transport routes, making it accessible and contextually appropriate.

Design Process

The design process began with an in-depth analysis of the existing informal market structure, product typologies, circulation patterns, and safety challenges. Mapping the flow of goods—from shipyards to market stalls—revealed the need for clear zoning, vertical organization, and separate service circulation. 

The design adopts a linear, rectangular form that mirrors the existing strip while adopting a vertical zoning system. Products were categorized by weight, leading to a vertical zoning strategy with heavy materials at lower levels and lighter goods above. The mass was divided into two parallel blocks, connected by bridges across levels, creating a central open plaza, improving permeability, daylight, and social interaction. This central plaza becomes the heart of the linear complex—breaking the rigidity of industrialism and inviting pause, interaction, and cultural activation.

Climate responsiveness, reuse of ship-derived materials, and industrial structural systems guided material and façade decisions. Throughout the process, the design remained rooted in contextual realism while exploring architecture’s potential to formalize and elevate an informal industrial economy.

Final Outcome

The master plan integrates the marketplace with its surrounding landscape to create a cohesive and inviting environment. The front landscape enhances the customer experience by providing outdoor spaces for relaxation, recreation, and public gatherings. The design prioritizes urban permeability through incorporating separate entries for customers, administration, and service areas, ensuring efficient circulation and access.

Special provisions are made for large mechanical equipment such as boilers, compressors, and generators, which require greater spatial capacity. These zones are designed with double-height spaces and equipped with overhead crane systems for safe handling, supported by double steel columns and X-bracing to resist lateral loads.

On the east and west façades, repurposed ship metal mesh is applied, reflecting the site’s industrial character while promoting sustainability through reuse of materials. To connect commerce with culture, an Experience Center is integrated within the complex, offering visitors insights into the history and significance of the ship-breaking industry.

Conclusion: Ultimately, the project aspires to transform Bhatiary into a civic and cultural destination—strengthening livelihoods, improving user experience, and establishing Bhatiary as a vital node in the global ship-recycling economy. Also, this project is not just about market efficiency—it is about demonstrating how architecture can intervene in industrial by-products economies, elevating them into sustainable, inclusive, and culturally resonant spaces.

[This Academic Project has been published with text and images submitted by the student]