The Kuakata Training Center by CODEC Design is a purpose-built educational facility designed to support capacity building and skill development for coastal communities in Bangladesh. Located near fishing settlements, ecological zones, and tourist routes, the center provides space for residential training programs on topics such as coastal resource management, sustainable tourism, and disaster preparedness. The project follows a phased construction approach, emphasizing quality, environmental performance, and contextual relevance. Local contractors and laborers were engaged throughout the process, contributing to both construction and community skills development. This participatory method fosters long-term local ownership of the facility.

Climate resilience has played a central role in the architectural strategy. Elevated structures address the site’s vulnerability to flooding and seasonal surges, while passive cooling methods reduce reliance on mechanical systems. An elongated water body positioned on the southern side functions as both a freshwater reservoir and a passive cooling element. Air passing over the pond helps lower indoor temperatures, further supported by jali screens that introduce ventilation and filtered daylight while minimizing heat gain. The structural system combines locally-produced brick load-bearing walls with reinforced concrete beams and roofs, providing stability suitable for cyclone-prone environments. Material selection prioritizes durability, ecological responsibility, and regional identity. Features such as solar power systems and rainwater harvesting units further reduce the building’s environmental footprint.

all images by Asif Salman

Kuakata Training Center is a platform for experiential learning

The interior layout accommodates various programmatic needs. In addition to classrooms and seminar spaces, the center includes residential units for trainees and facilitators, as well as dining facilities that emphasize the use of locally sourced ingredients. Outdoor spaces, including open courtyards, shaded walkways, and planted green zones, are integrated to encourage informal gathering and relaxation, enhancing the overall learning environment. The facility is also intended to serve as a platform for experiential education. Its proximity to the coastal ecosystem enables training modules and excursions that connect participants with the region’s environmental, economic, and cultural contexts. The Kuakata Training Center by CODEC Design Studio reflects an approach that integrates education with environmental awareness, community participation, and sustainable design practices.

the Kuakata Training Center supports skills development for coastal communities in Bangladesh

local contractors and laborers were engaged throughout the building process

elevated structures provide protection against flooding and seasonal surges

the structural system uses locally-produced brick load-bearing walls with reinforced concrete roofs

open courtyards and shaded walkways create spaces for informal interaction and rest

Jali screens promote ventilation while minimizing heat gain and allowing filtered light

passive cooling strategies reduce reliance on mechanical ventilation systems

solar power systems contribute to the center’s low environmental footprint

the design follows a phased construction approach to ensure quality and contextual relevance

the design addresses cyclone resilience through material and structural choices

planted green zones enhance comfort and microclimate conditions throughout the site

the interior layout includes classrooms, seminar spaces, and residential units for trainees

project info:

name: CODEC-Kuakata Training Center
architect: CODEC Design

location: Kuakata, Bangladesh

lead architect: Quazi Wafiq Alam

design team: Hossenur Rahman Juwel, Nowshin Matin

structural engineer: Sauban Masud

photographer: Asif Salman | @salarchman

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Dhaka, the vibrant capital of Bangladesh, is about to see a transformative addition to its skyline by renowned studio OMA. Once built, this 180,000-square-meter office high-rise will rise 150 meters (490 feet), and will become one of the country’s tallest buildings. Leading the charge in its design is OMA Partner Iyad Alsaka, while its development is steered by Dhaka-based real estate developer Shanta Holdings. The Dhaka Tower has officially broken ground, and will soon represent the nation’s role as one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

OMA Partner Iyad Alsaka comments: ‘Our design for Dhaka Tower is inspired by the spirit of Bangladesh’s thriving economy. Its shape expresses the aspirations of a dynamic nation, making a bold statement on the city’s skyline.’

visualizations by Filippo Bolognese © OMA

A Beacon in Bangladesh’s Economic surge

The architects at OMA will introduce its Dhaka Tower in Bangladesh after the nation had recently secured its position as the second-largest economy in South Asia — just 50 years after achieving independence. This surge has led to an era of rapid transformation in the heart of Bangladesh, particularly in its capital, Dhaka. This newly unveiled tower will stand at the forefront of this urban transformation and will redefine the city’s skyline. Sited within a growing commercial district on the fringes of Tejgaon, the tower will emerge as the first skyscraper of its height in this neighborhood. Tejgaon, once an industrial epicenter within the city, now serves as the headquarters for a plethora of both local and multinational corporations, setting the stage for Dhaka Tower’s significance in this evolving landscape.

visualizations by Filippo Bolognese © OMA

designed with abstracted geometries

The OMA-designed Dhaka Tower will stand along the shores of Hatirjheel Lake in Bangladesh. It is designed as a simple volume of extruded, abstracted shapes. The tower features two triangular floor plates interconnected by a rectangular core with panoramic lifts that open to sweeping vistas of the picturesque lake. This layout maximizes the infusion of natural daylight and grants uninterrupted views of the surroundings. The building’s orientation, together with strategically employed fritted glass, balances the play of light within.

visualizations by Filippo Bolognese © OMA

Rather than adhering to the conventional zoning envelope of a tower atop a podium, Dhaka Tower defies norms with its pyramidal base. This innovative approach creates grand atriums that merge with beautifully landscaped outdoor spaces. As visitors step into these triple-height lobbies, they are greeted with a lofty and versatile space suitable for banquet dinners and presentations. The atmosphere of Dhaka’s waterscape inspires a bespoke pattern adorning both atriums. What’s more, the base houses an expansive exhibition space, reaching a towering height of 40 meters (130 feet). A restaurant at the top of the building will offer visitors both indoor and outdoor seating while a publicly accessible two-tier observation deck will open out toward panoramic views of the city below.

project info:

project title: Dhaka Tower

architecture: OMA | @oma.eu

location: Dhaka, Bangladesh

developer, client: Shanta Holdings | @shantaholdings

status: Construction

visualizations: Filippo Bolognese | @filippobolognese.images © OMA 

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The Bridge Schools initiative seeks to empower disadvantaged communities in Bangladesh by making education more accessible to children along coastal, disaster-prone regions. The project led by Quazi Wafiq Alam alongside a group of architects introduces community-based participatory design development workshops where school dropout children alongside parents and peers can engage in academic and extracurricular growth activities.

The schools are built across eight locations with protective frameworks comprising reinforced concrete columns and beams in a simple grid to ensure protective longevity and rigidity in the cyclone-prone areas. In their designs, they are modular and uniform, enveloped in vibrantly painted wooden panels to create an engaging and playful learning environment.

all images courtesy of the author

disaster-proof structures for engaging learning

In coastal Bangladesh, access to formal children’s education is highly constrained due to the challenging socio-economic and environmental conditions. As a result, these areas face a significantly higher rate of dropouts in secondary education. Addressing this, the Community Development Centre — CODEC, supported by ERIKS Development Partner and Friendship is implementing the Showpner Thikana initiative to establish quality secondary educational services for those affected.

Eight Bridge Schools, built on lands contributed by their respective communities, have already been constructed and 341 children are currently admitted in an academic curriculum enriched with several extracurricular activities. The schools are developed in low-cost patterns with two typologies, one linear and the other L-shaped. Wood panels are used for enclosures and windows, meanwhile a steel structure composes the roofing. The architects designed the windows in such a way that they can provide ample natural light and ventilation into the classrooms on a regular day, while also being able to easily shut during cyclones. Cross ventilation is also ensured throughout with the integration of different levels to help regulate climatic comfort in the warmer months.

vibrant painted wooden panels create a lively learning experience

Bridge Schools initiative empowers disadvantaged communities in coastal Bangladesh with education

classrooms lined along the verandah

the cooling windows can easily be shut during cyclones

classroom topped by steel roofing

eight schools, built on lands contributed by their respective communities, have already been constructed

the schools are developed in low-cost patterns with two typologies, one linear and the other L-shaped

project info:

name: Bridge Schools

location: Bangladesh
lead architect: Quazi Wafiq Alam

architecture team: Hossenur Rahman Juwel, Nowshin Matin

structural engineer: Sauban Masud

​

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: ravail khan | designboom

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Among a residential and tree-covered neighborhood in Manikganj, Bangladesh-based studio Sthapotik completes a mausoleum expressed with architectural vaulting and textural brickwork. The design is informed by local building techniques and materials, and responds to cultural traditions, transforming these elements into a contemporary project which serves the community.

‘Generally, a Dargah is a home for the grave of a revered religious figure, often a Sufi saint or dervish,’ write the architects, describing the program. ‘In Persian ‘Dargah’ means ‘portal.’ Metaphorically, Dargha is the home where the earthly body rest and the soul travel to paradise through the portal and the chandelier of paradise connects the earthly body to the higher power by blessing them with holy light.’

images © Asif Salman

a solemn space, flooded with ambient light

Inside the Sthapotik-designed mausoleum in Bangladesh, deep circular skylights flood the space with ambient light. The architects note that this atmosphere, together with the solemn presence of graves, creates a ‘mysterious celestial ambiance that intrigues a spiritual notion in human minds.’ The team continues: ‘The outer shell is the replication of our reality but the inner space moves the reality beyond it.’

mausoleum architecture by sthapotik

The design team at Bangladesh-based Sthapotik notes that in this subcontinent Islamic architecture, the primary use of a single square unit is dedicated to the mausoleum — these tombs were largely influenced by the traditional structure of Bengal huts. The Dargah’s plan followed the same thirty-six foot-square shape and housed three graves on a white marble platform.

While this newly built mausoleum takes shape within a residential neighborhood dense with trees and plant-life, the design aims to maintain an informal and natural approach rather than creating a conspicuous entrance. To highlight the depth of the building and ensure an understanding of its overall volume, the approach arrives upon the building at an angle, so that visitors greet the building at its corner.

project info:

project title: Shah Muhammad Mohshin Khan Mausoleum

architecture: Sthapotik

location: Manikganj, Bangladesh

lead architect: Sharif Uddin Ahammed

completion: 2022

photography: © Asif Salman

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Overlooking paddy fields in Noakhali, Bangladesh, ‘Matter. Space.Soul’ is an eco-friendly restaurant pavilion built from bamboo and wood by Two Fold Studio (TFS). The client initially approached the practice to design an extension of his existing restaurant, where diners can enjoy a meal away from city life and catch their breath. ‘After visiting the site and several brainstorming sessions, our prime decision was to keep the space naturally ventilated to preserve its true essence,’ notes TFS. 

top view

a lightweight, porous pavilion responding to monsoon season

Two Fold Studio (see more here) first looked at the site’s natural charm and seasonal characteristics to determine the pavilion’s form and facades. Occupied by paddy fields, the area is defined by calming, expansive greenery that gets entirely flooded during a monsoon. ‘Two seasons, therefore, offer totally different perspectives of this land. In tropical climates such as ours, we need porosity in form,’ explains the team.

Based on its observations, TFS designed a lightweight, see-through structure bringing in plenty of natural ventilation and lighting. To ensure a certain level of privacy from local farmers harvesting nearby and protect users from summer heat, the studio introduced operable bamboo screens along the longitudinal sections. That said, all facades are designed to keep a maximum portion of them open during monsoon season, as harvesters won’t be working the fields by then. 

Besides privacy, the team wanted to offer users as much flexibility and choice when visiting the pavilion. Therefore, no furniture was installed; instead, minimal seating over the platform is encouraged to comply with local traditions — pushing users to avail the space in a more friendly and ecological way.

Finally, the project promotes reduced environmental impact by using eco-friendly and locally available materials such as bamboo and wood. ‘Our basic vision was to disclose an example of sustainable architecture that stands out in aesthetic contentment, counteract the waste of forms and meanings, and speak its own language,’ concludes TFS. 

entrance to the pavilion

the porous structure introduces plenty of natural ventilation and lighting

operable bamboo screens for privacy and heat protection during summer season

no furniture to ensure maximum flexibility 

project info:

name: Matter. Space. Soul

location: Noakhali, Bangladesh
architecture: Two Fold Studio
team: Tasnova Afroz Luna, Snahasis Saha

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom

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‘friendship hospital’ in bangladesh designed by kashef chowdhury/URBANA is the winner of the RIBA international prize 2021. commissioned by NGO friendship, the hospital provides a vital medical facility to rural communities of satkhira in southern bangladesh, a coastal area that has been directly impacted by rising sea levels.

the remote hospital was awarded the RIBA’s coveted prize by an international jury comprised of odile decq, es devlin, jeanne gang, rossana hu, and gustavo utrabo. jury chair odile decq praised the project for its human touch, calling it ‘a celebration of a building dedicated to humans.’

the biennial awards program has also named hooba design group as the RIBA international emerging architect 2021 for the kohan ceram central office building in iran. 

image by asif salman courtesy of URBANA

friendship hospital by kashef chowdhury/URBANA

once surrounded by grain fields, the site of the hospital is now flanked by a flooded landscape home to shrimp fisheries. water also cuts through the length of the complex in the form of a zig-zag shaped canal that separates inpatients and outpatients. this water channel diverts rainwater to a newly built tank to prevent waterlogging while also providing cooling during hot summers, reducing the need for air conditioning.

architect kashef chowdhury of URBANA shaped a low-lying architecture composed of a series of brick volumes and courtyards, which bring in natural light and ventilation and offer peaceful spaces for patients and visitors to rest. local brick was chosen for its resilient qualities and low cost, with openings in the brickwork offering private shaded areas and natural cooling.

image by asif salman courtesy of URBANA

image by asif salman courtesy of URBANA

RIBA president simon allford added, ‘friendship hospital is an exemplar of thoughtful and creative design of a building of great importance and scale, built within a modest budget, and crafted with the local community and its natural surroundings in mind. kashef chowdhury/URBANA has created innovative, clear, refined, economical and delightful architecture with social impact – providing essential healthcare services in the rural area and addressing the increasing effects of the climate emergency. I am delighted that it is being celebrated as the international prize 2021 winner.’

image by asif salman courtesy of URBANA

‘in a sublimely important moment, RIBA and the jurors have identified a project from the global periphery to bring to the center of architectural discourse and be the subject of one of the most important global awards. I am encouraged that this may inspire more of us to commit, not in spite of, but because of limitations of resources and means, to an architecture of care both for humanity and for nature, to rise collectively to the urgencies that we face today on a planetary scale,’ said kashef chowdhury.

‘I am incredibly grateful to our client friendship, and their founder runa khan for their unending support and understanding, and to the many architects, engineers and consultants who have been with us through the rigorous quarter century of our commitment to society, culture and our most beloved nature.’

image by asif salman courtesy of URBANA

runa khan, founder and executive director of friendship commented, ‘having worked with communities most impacted by climate change over the last 20 years, I have seen, time and time again, proof of my belief that ‘the poor cannot afford poor solutions’! working with kashef was a joy for us. someone who could efficiently use local materials, ensure efficiency of the work we were to deliver and keep the spirit of friendship alive, and not ever compromise on quality either for himself or for the spirit we wanted it to be. truly for me he was the architect who could bring this – in his design, his care and delivery.’

‘with the interplay of light, clay, air and water, friendship hospital shyamnagar comes more alive in beauty with the purpose it serves. it brings new hope of a better tomorrow to some of the most climate impacted people on this planet.’

image by asif salman courtesy of URBANA

kohan ceram central office building by hooba design group

located on sattari highway in tehran, iran, hooba design group’s kohan ceram central office building was praised by the RIBA for its innovative brick skin. winners of the RIBA international emerging architect 2021, hooba designed a homogenous and harmonizing structure that features three types of brick–glass, filled, or empty–, which function to regulate the building temperature while bringing in natural light. at night, the glass and empty bricks also transform the office into a spectacle of light.

image by deed studio, courtesy of hooba design

denise bennetts, chair of the RIBA awards group, said, ‘the judges were impressed by how the practice’s kohan ceram central office building successfully addresses a number of key criteria and responds with an architecture of restraint, invention and elegance. working with an existing structure and collaborating with the client, hooba design group developed an environmentally considered ‘spectacled brick’ building which stands out like a glowing beacon on a grey city corner.’

‘the decision to use a single material to create both the external and internal structure results in an intriguing ambiguity about what is solid and what is void; creating different perceptions during day and night. in the dry and polluted climate of tehran, the building is minimal and cohesive, utilizing the facade’s voids to provide light, ventilation and space for vegetation to grow. an uplifting and inspiring design, this project as well as the hooba design group’s collaborative approach to innovation, qualifies them as a worthy recipient of the riba international emerging architect 2021.’

image by parham taghioff, courtesy of hooba design

project info:

name: friendship hospital

location: shyamnagar, bangladesh

client: friendship NGO

architecture: kashef chowdhury/URBANA
contractor: golam mostofa limited
structural design: descon engineers
electrical engineering: independent
plumbing design: M/S high speed engineers
sewage treatment: sigma engineers ltd.

internal area: 4,777 sqm

date of completion: april 2018

photography: asif salman

name: kohan ceram central office building

location: tehran, iran

client: kohan ceram
architecture: hooman balazadeh/hooba design

project director: hooman balazadeh

lighting design: FADco

internal area: 1,019 sqm
date of completion: july 2019

photography: deed studio, parham taghioff

The post a small, zigzagging hospital in bangladesh is named world’s best new building appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

while growing up in dhaka, bangladesh, marina tabassum watched her father—a doctor—attend to a line of patients every morning before he went to work. the same compassion informs the work of tabassum, an award-winning architect and founder of marina tabassum architects MTA, whose projects include modular mobile homes for victims of flooding and rohingya refugee camp housing.

while expected to become a doctor or engineer, tabassum broke from family convention to study architecture in the late 1980s. she describes the ‘immediate connection’ she felt to the subject and her ‘first lesson in daylight’ from louis kahn’s national assembly building in dhaka. it was these early years as an architecture graduate in the 1990s that also shaped her work today with MTA. tabassum saw the rise of the ‘starchitect’ and profit-driven architecture but decided to reject it entirely for a more rooted approach that attends to the human condition as well as environmental responsibilities. an approach which she describes as ‘the architecture of relevance’.

‘I chose to resist, to deny temptation and to search within; within the land I grew up in, the place and country I call home,’ said tabassum.

bait ur rouf mosque, image by sandro di carlo darsa (also main image)

Bait ur Rouf Jame Mosque

tabassum’s early lessons on light came full circle with bait ur rouf mosque in dhaka, MTA’s first commission that opened in 2012. the project was also a personal one for the architect as it came a few years after her mother’s death in 2002 and it was her grandmother that donated the plot of land for the mosque. the architect explained, ‘it was a moment in time when grandmother and granddaughter both sought healing and designing the mosque became our process. my grandmother passed away within a few months of the ground breaking at bait ur rouf mosque in december 2006.’

the design concept for bait ur rouf mosque was to find the essence of islam. built from humble brick, light itself becomes the decoration as rooflights create dappled patterns on the floor. ‘clarity of space, devoid of hierarchy, is tantamount. instead of glorifying symbolic features such as domes or a minaret, it felt right to focus on the spirituality of the space that would heighten one’s sense of being in communion with god,’ added tabassum.

bait ur rouf mosque, image by hasan saifuddin chandan

Rohingya Refugee Camps

as a child of second-generation immigrants, it’s no surprise that tabassum quickly turned her attention to the rohingya refugee crisis. since myanmar’s violent military crackdown in august 2017, nearly one million rohingya have fled to cox’s bazar–teknaf peninsula in bangladesh, which is now the largest refugee camp in the world. the influx of refugees has raised both humanitarian and environmental issues. 

tabassum said her current work ‘is focused on the twin crises of bangladesh: the plight of refugees, and the heightened threat to our population of flooding, exacerbated by global warming. both factors have led me to focus on prototyping low impact, mobile housing which can be delivered at the lowest cost possible for those in need. our goal is to make it an open source knowledge that can help people build their own houses, with the help of a manual with detailed instructions.’

rohingya refugee camps in ukhiya, image by F. M. faruque abdullah shawon

KHUDI BARI

these crises and the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, which slowed down work in the MTA office, led to the development of ‘khudi bari’, a self-build bamboo structure that costs just £300 and accommodates a family of four. by june 2023, the dhaka-based studio aims to house 100 families in khudi bari structures. the lightweight mobile homes exemplify tabassum’s core belief that architecture can empower communities and safeguard the environment without compromising on spatial experience. 

‘architecture can reinstall pride in the age-old wisdom of living symbiotically with nature. architecture can empower communities to secure better lives and living conditions. and I firmly believe all this can be achieved without sacrificing the innate objective of space and place-making. every site has a story,’ said the architect.

she added, ‘architecture adds to the narrative by building upon the ingredients sought out from these stories. therefore, before we ask the brick what it wants to be, the conversation must begin with the question: ‘who are you, brick? what is your story?’’

khudi bari: modular mobile house for the climate victims of bangladesh, image by asif salman

marina tabassum awarded the 2021 soane medal

tabassum has been recognized for her work with the 2021 soane medal, awarded on tuesday 16 november. previous recipients of the accolade are rafael moneo, denise scott brown, and kenneth frampton.‘I am honoured to have been chosen to receive this recognition from such a distinguished institution as the soane museum,’ said tabassum about the award. ‘winning the soane medal means a great deal to me’

you can watch marina tabassum’s soane medal lecture in full here below.

marina tabassum, image by sounak das

The post marina tabassum: architecture that attends to the human condition appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

image © kurt hoerbst | video by the obel award

anna heringer’s ‘anandaloy’, which means ‘the place of deep joy’ in the local dialect of bangla/bengali, has now received the obel award 2020. the international prize for architectural achievement is presented annually by the henrik frode obel foundation, with the winner receiving €100,000 and an artwork by tomás saraceno. the 2019 award was given to ‘art biotop water garden’ — junya ishigami’s earthwork landscape that is nestled among the foothills of japan’s nasu mountains.

image © kurt hoerbst

‘to all of us in the jury, anandaloy is an outstanding project,’ says martha schwartz, chair of the obel award jury. ‘anna manages to integrate all of her values: she is building sustainably, using the materials that are there, having people involved, so that they can learn to build for themselves, and creating more opportunities for women and for people with disabilities. you can feel that she has a real respect for the culture, for the people, for the land.’

image © kurt hoerbst

‘anandaloy does not follow a simple rectangular layout,’ explains anna heringer. ‘rather, the building is dancing, and dancing with it is the ramp that follows it around. that ramp is essential, because it is the symbol of inclusion. it is the only ramp in the area, and as the most predominant thing about the building, it triggers a lot of questions. in that way, the architecture itself raises awareness of the importance of including everyone. diversity is something beautiful and something to celebrate.’

image © kurt hoerbst

the building’s therapy center improves the lives of those with disabilities through dedicated training, massage techniques, and technical equipment. on the level above, dipdii textiles is a clothes-making project for local women that anna heringer and veronika lang launched with the NGO dipshikha to support local textile traditions and to improve work opportunities in the village.

interview with anna heringer | video by the obel award

‘we wanted to give the women a chance to earn their own living in the village,’ heringer continues. ‘we have to bring the work where the people are, where they can make use of their own resources, building their own houses with their hands, growing their own food, and taking care of their families. normally, as an architect, you build the vessel, and what goes on inside is not your business. but for us, it is very much our business. the project pushes the boundaries of my work. I see myself very much as an architect, but also as a social worker and as an activist.’

the site under construction | image © stefano mori

using a particular mud technique called ‘cob’, no formwork was needed. this meant that curves were just as easy to make as straight walls. working with mud also made it possible to include users and clients directly in the building process. consequently, the construction site was managed by the local contractor, montu ram shaw, and a team of mud and bamboo workers from the village that included people with disabilities.

the site under construction | image © stefano mori

‘with this building, everything comes together: local materials, local energy sources, and global creativity,’ says anna heringer. ‘first of all, it is important to me to show that you can create something out of existing materials. the material below our feet and the things that grow around us are enough to make something beautiful. secondly, anandaloy is completely run by solar energy, and human labor and craftsmanship were also very important sources of energy in the project.’ see other projects by the german architect on designboom here.

the site under construction | image © stefano mori

the site under construction | image © stefano mori

the site under construction | image © stefano mori

the site under construction | image © stefano mori

slideshow of images from the site | video by the obel award

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project info:

name: anandaloy
timeline: 2017-2020
location: rudrapur village, dinajpur, bangladesh
typology: community center, workshop
size: 253 sqm / 2,723 sqf
creator / team: studio anna heringer
client: dipshikha bangladesh
awards: obel award 2021

The post anna heringer’s ‘anandaloy’ is a mud and bamboo community center in bangladesh appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

all images by rizvi hassan

the project, designed by rizvi hassan, offers young women and girls of the rohingya refugee camp an opportunity to gather and retreat with the ‘beyond survival’ safe space. the project comprises a socially engaging design and build process which served to benefit participants of all genders. the team took note that male participants from the camp were eager to involve their family members — wives, daughters, mothers, and sisters — with the center’s activities. rizvi hassan comments: ‘we have heard stories, how women of the community went through brutality and sacrifices to save their family. and then it is relieving to see their men working with love to make safer spaces for them.’ the ‘beyond survival’ center becomes more vibrant and personalized with colorful patterns painted by the community. 

with the ‘beyond survival’ safe space, the architect favored simple materials which were locally available. as the project had been constructed quickly and on an emergency basis, the structure was built using untreated bamboo — a material which will decay in few years and will be replaced with treated bamboo. the roofing material is made up of straw and waterproof tarp, a composite which must be changed in one year and replaced with alternative durable materials for longer use.

while the project’s interior is expressed with vibrant, cheerful colors, the exterior appears more ‘ragged’, visually integrating with its natural and built surroundings. its texture and color palette draw influence from the ‘paner boroj,’ or betel leaf, often seen in the surrounding rice fields. the designer elaborates: ‘it is also very near to an asian elephant habitat and one can often see elephants getting down from the hills at the backgrounds. the material and exterior scheme avoids disturbance for elephants. however, red and yellow colors don’t distract elephants either so was used for interior court and several openings.’

project info:

project title: beyond survival: a safe space for rohingya women and girls

architecture: rizvi hassan

location: rohingya refugee camp, alikhali, teknaf

design team: shah alam, rizvi hassan (architect), saad ben mostafa (architect), biplob hossain (engineer), hasan tarek (engineer), shahidul islam khan, tahrima akhtar, sheikh jahidur rahman, abdullah al mamun, abdur rahman, kala hossain, anwar, and others

client: forcefully displaced myanmar nationals (supported by unicef & BRAC)

photography: rizvi hassan

The post rizvi hassan’s ‘beyond survival’ safe space hosts women and girls of rohingya refugee camp appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

all images by rizvi hassan

rizvi hassan designs the integrated hindupara community center in the kutupalong refugee camp with consideration for the unique environmental and material concerns of the context. while the building language of the camp is comprised primarily of bamboo structures, the total national supply of bamboo is diminishing over time while demand continues to grow. structural bamboo requires nearly three years for re-growth while other non-structural bamboo requires only one year. unless appropriate measures are taken to harvest and safely treat ‘borak’ bamboo — large and suitable for posts and beams — in nearby areas, alternative schemes will play a vital role in the development phase of the camp.

although hassan sought to use as much bamboo as possible, the architect also makes use of structural steel. this building strategy presents a sustainable alternative solution as the material is locally available with the steel industry in bangladesh based in the nearby port city chittagong. with steel members and flat-pack modules, the scheme ensures less resource waste, easy transport and reuse, and a clean, simple construction process. the scheme consists of a basic foundation, steel skeleton, and modular partitioning of slender, fast growth bamboo. a simple double-pitched roof works as an umbrella in the sub-tropical monsoon climate. the thin bamboo skin offers a contextual element and makes the structure relatable to rohingya refugees as well as local villagers.

in the creation of the project, hindupara refugees organize and work together with members from adjacent hosting community. through the process, the collaborators each benefit from psycho-social support, on-site training, and knowledge sharing. the team generated artful patterns which were then painted throughout their center. the project engaged its occupants to open up and show tolerance toward one another, engaging craftsmen and users in the design and construction processes. after construction, hindu-para community member rajpoti shil apa and her team curated a landscape of trees and plant life which are integrated into the complex and are used during many of the center’s ceremonies.

project info:

project title: integrated community center in hindu-para rohingya refugee camp

architecture: rizvi hassan

location: rohingya refugee camp, kutupalong, cox’s bazar, bangladesh

project team: shah alam, rizvi hassan, saad ben mostafa, biplob hossain, hasan tarek, mostafizur rahman, sagor mondol, abdul latif, shahidul islam khan, tahrima akhtar, sheikh jahidur rahman, kamal bhai, rubel bhai ,rajpoti shil apa, md. syedullah, and others.

clients: forcefully displaced myanmar nationals & bangladeshi host community in kutupalong (supported by UNHCR and BRAC)

collaborators: UNHCR, BRAC

built area: 221 square meters

completion: 2019

photography: rizvi hassan

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