How a raw-hide drying factory turned into an architectural studio
Architect Salauddin Ahmed’s new workshop in an abandoned tannery building at Hazaribagh gives a metamorphic vibe — a space which was once chaotic dark, smelly and processed rawhide can be transformed into a calm, quiet and bright place for practising creativity
Progoti tannery alley on the Sher-E-Bangla road is not any different than any other alley in the tannery area of the capital's Hazaribagh — narrow, shadowed by big industrial buildings. However, as a regular passerby since 2010, I could tell that the new silence and the paved roads were nothing like the old tannery hub of Dhaka.
Architect Salauddin Ahmed's new workshop is on the third floor of one such dim, silent abandoned tannery building in Hazaribagh. Progoti Tannery used that 6,000 square feet of space to dry rawhide.
In November 2023, when the architect stepped into the tannery building, he had to cover his nose to block out the pungent smell of rawhide and blood. By the time it was February 2024, he had turned it into his new office — the studio space for Atelier Robin Architects.
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He has been practising architecture in Dhaka for the last 20 years. And for the kind of work he does, the context or the story of the space is very important for him.
"I feel Dhaka is choking, it is going through a lot of struggles. As an architect, I want to try to redefine the design scope of the city, to make a statement. I believe that way I can put my ideas out there to support the greater common good," Salahuddin told The Business Standard.
One of the reasons Salauddin brought his Atelier Robin Architects studio to Hazaribagh was that this area has a unique character of its own, which gave the space its current form.
Moreover, his office is an example of transforming space without harming the surroundings.
"I kept the original structure, walls, ceiling, floor — just transformed it with paint, added partitions to create a nook here, a pocket there. With a bit of planning and creativity, we can transform Dhaka's environment, that's how I feel," he explained.
Roman door to match a 15-feet-high ceiling
Atelier Robin Architects welcomes you with a black door.
It is not like any other door though — the 15-feet-tall black iron gate reminds you of an ancient Roman palace gate. The staircase of Progoti Tannery is dark, and the black soot on the walls makes it even darker.
"I didn't want to break the ceiling or do anything with the original structure of the space. To match the ceiling height, I had to create a door like that," Salahuddin said.
And when we crossed the door, we entered a dazzling white space, a 6,000 square feet floor painted completely white. The stark contrast in colour gives off a metamorphic vibe — a space which was once chaotic, dark, smelly and used to process rawhide can be transformed into a calm, quiet and bright place for practising creativity.
Currently, eight architects and designers work in this studio with Salauddin and they have their desks on the Northern of the large hallroom. Called the 'designer's corner,' that part is distinguished with white mesh curtains.
"I wanted to create a space where my designers can practise freedom, which is why I didn't confine them in cubicles. The airy, open space feels light and the tables and chairs are movable. If they want to move, they can, which I feel liberates the mind and gives us perspective," Salauddin added.
On the Southern side of the room, a seminar corner has been created with white chairs where the studio organises lectures and discussion sessions.
In between these two parts, the entire middle section of the room is filled with white-legged metal stands that hold old models and designs that architect Salauddin worked on.
"I wanted to keep this floor open because I wanted my designers to also participate in the lectures and seminars where architects share their thoughts. It's not just a regular office space, it should be a learning space as well," he further added.
"One of the main reasons I decided to paint the space white is to keep it cool. We haven't installed an air conditioner and this floor tends to get pretty warm in the summer," he said.
Even the electric wires are covered with white pipes. As the original concrete was not broken, the wires could not be hidden. But exposed wires do not look pleasing. So as we looked up to the ceiling, we saw thin white plastic lines running from one end to the other.
As we entered the milk-white studio space through the black iron gate, a white, calm Buddha welcomed us. The sculpture is mounted over the gate.
"I have always been mesmerised by Buddha. The calmness that I wanted to bring in this once-chaotic space, I felt I needed him. He adds a tranquil and spiritual energy to my studio," the architect noted.
The ruby table of Gol Ghor
Straight ahead from the entrance is a closed space, a circular room, named Gol Ghor. As the architect showed us the space, he said that it was used to dry rawhides.
"It was a heater chamber, which was used to dry hides during the monsoon. There was no window or ceiling to this room and an umbrella-like rotating machine on the ceiling had the hides clipped onto it.
"While it rotated, the blood dripped onto the floor in a circular motion," he said.
He started designing the space keeping this room in the centre, and this was the room he began working with.
For that room, he created a ruby-red table. The metal-made table resembles the circular blood dripping onto the floor. The architect said this way, he wanted to pay homage to the animals whose hides were dried here.
Around the circular wall, a thin panel hides a light string that illuminates the space. On that panel, there are photographs and burnt wood. On the outer wall, black and white photographs mounted on metal sticks stand on a panel.
The photos depict the before and after transition of the space.
What will you do after your 10-year lease runs out? "I don't think of the future in this way. I believe that with need and changing times, we can transform a space into what we need — as long as it does not harm the environment. This is the message I wanted to amplify through this project.
"So, I do not know what will happen to this space after 10 years, time will tell. Who knows, anyone else can come in and renovate this studio into something else, like I did."
