Heartiest congratulations to Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum, who has been included in Prospect magazine’s top 50 thinkers 2020 list.
As we move into the future and face a variety of environmental and health challenges, the old ways of thinking about architecture will simply no longer do. That is why it is so inspiring to see a Bangladeshi architect pave the way for the sort of designs we need to see in order to build a sustainable future.
Tabassum’s work focuses on the creation of buildings in harmony with their natural environments. The design challenges posed by our lower riparian environment should not be ignored, but embraced, and this is particularly true for an economically vulnerable nation like ours.
It is wonderful to see her work receive praise from the international community for her exhibition of lightweight houses made from locally-sourced material, which perch on stilts and can be moved around water rise. Her lightweight houses, as well as the Bait Ur Rouf mosque which she also designed, are all built on raised platforms which are effective against frequent flooding in the country.
Year after year, our country is brought to its knees from the adverse effects of flooding, but we are yet to formulate a plan to deal with this problem sustainably. The amount of rainfall cannot be controlled, but the designs for our homes, schools, and places of worship can certainly become more sustainable.
After all, design should not just be about aesthetics, but should speak to the specific needs of the environment. We are a flood-prone country -- that is our reality. Our buildings should reflect this fact.
