The Archive House

A Study in Tropical Brutalism & Atmospheric Light

Location: Purbachal, Dhaka

Status: Conceptual Design (Ongoing)

Typology: Public / Institutional (Library & Archive)

Visuals: Caelo Studio

Tools: SketchUp, Twinmotion (Custom Lighting)

Year: 2026

Concept: Located in the developing green belt of Purbachal, The Archive House is designed as a sanctuary for knowledge. The goal was to create a "decompression zone"; a space where the chaos of the city is silenced by heavy concrete masses and filtered northern light.

Design Philosophy: The project explores the balance between "History" and "Nature." The material palette is deliberately restrained:

Raw Concrete: Represents permanence and strength.
Corten Steel (Rust): Symbolizes the passage of time and the aging of history.
Native Greenery: Softens the hard edges and brings the tropical context inside.

Reception: The Arrival + Art Piece

The lobby is designed as a 'decompression zone'—a transitional space where the chaos of the city is silenced by heavy concrete masses and filtered northern light. We stripped the palette down to three core elements: Raw Concrete for permanence, Glass for transparency, and Native Greenery to soften the brutalist edges.

Modern brutalist reception lobby at The Archive House, featuring a rusted Corten steel backdrop, raw concrete reception desk, and a monumental concrete staircase on the left. Designed by Caelo Studio.

The reception sits between the main brutalist staircase and the garden. The backdrop is a Corten Steel (Rusted Metal) screen, symbolizing the aging of time.

Architectural detail of a floating concrete reception desk with hidden LED under-lighting. Background features a custom rusted metal (Corten) partition screen.

The desk is a floating concrete block with a hidden light strip to break the heavy mass.

Moody waiting lounge interior featuring black leather sofas, a gold floor lamp, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows looking out to a bamboo garden with a preserved vintage street lamp.

A quiet waiting zone. Note the vintage streetlamp preserved in the garden; a subtle nod to the 'Archive' concept of collecting history.

Geometric abstract sculpture made of rusted Corten steel, standing on a raw concrete floor inside The Archive House. Floor-to-ceiling windows show a night view of the garden.

Anchoring the far corner of the lobby is a custom-designed geometric installation. Crafted from the same weathering steel as the interior screens, the sculpture’s sharp, leaning angles mimic the structural tension of the building. It stands in stark contrast to the minimalist glass facade, acting as a grounding point that bridges the gap between the interior architecture and the garden outside.

Cafe: The Social Hub

Located on the ground level, the Cafe acts as the 'warm heart' of the building. While the Archives are quiet and cool, the Cafe is designed for conversation. We shifted the atmosphere here by introducing Exposed Timber Beams across the ceiling, which instantly lowers the visual scale and adds acoustic warmth to the space.

Wide angle view of a modern industrial cafe interior featuring heavy timber ceiling beams, terrazzo flooring, and black track lighting. Designed by Caelo Studio.

The Main Hall. Exposed timber beams break the height, creating a more intimate scale for the seating area.

Coffee bar design featuring rusted Corten steel wall panels with hidden warm LED lighting. Concrete counter with modern espresso equipment.

The Coffee Bar. The rusted Corten Steel panels act as a glowing backdrop, tying the cafe to the building's 'Archive' theme.

Moody cafe booth seating with dark upholstery and mesh privacy screens. Illuminated by a single warm pendant light.

Focus Mode. Private booths separated by mesh screens, lit by a single pendant for deep work or quiet talks.

Close up architectural visualization of a Sanremo espresso machine on a cafe counter. Realistic reflection and texture details.

The Engine Room. High-end brewing setup on a raw concrete counter.

More coming soon...

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