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Award-Winning Architect Marina Tabassum’s Stunning Designs

David Davidson05 mins

Innovative Architecture by Marina Tabassum

Sustainable Designs for Vulnerable Communities

In the low-lying river deltas of Bangladesh, annual monsoons and tidal swells leave millions of people vulnerable to flooding. To help them, Dhaka-based architect Marina Tabassum has created a two-story “tiny home,” called Khudi Bari, which is light and portable. This project exemplifies how innovative architectural solutions can provide safe housing options for at-risk populations.

In the low-lying river deltas of Bangladesh, annual monsoons and tidal swells leave millions of people vulnerable to flooding. To help them, Dhaka-based architect Marina Tabassum has created a two-story 'tiny home,' called Khudi Bari, which is light and portable.
In the low-lying river deltas of Bangladesh, annual monsoons and tidal swells leave millions of people vulnerable to flooding. To help them, Dhaka-based architect Marina Tabassum has created a two-story “tiny home,” called Khudi Bari, which is light and portable.

Her Journey in Architecture

Tabassum established her eponymous architecture firm in 2005, with her first commission being the Bait Ur Rouf Mosque. This project holds a “special place in her heart,” as it was commissioned by Tabassum’s grandmother, Sufia Khatun. Khatun was given 20 acres of land as part of a resettlement initiative after fleeing India in 1947, symbolizing a deep connection to community and heritage.

Tabassum established her eponymous architecture firm in 2005, and her first commission was the Bait Ur Rouf Mosque, which she said has a 'special place in her heart.'
Tabassum established her eponymous architecture firm in 2005, and her first commission was the Bait Ur Rouf Mosque, which she said has a “special place in her heart.”

Innovative Designs in Architecture

While distinctly modern in its minimalist style, the Bait Ur Rouf Mosque uses terracotta brick as its principal material, tapping into a centuries-old Bengali architectural tradition. The mosque employs natural ventilation methods, including skylights and gaps in the brick walls, offering a cool refuge during the sweltering summer months.

While distinctly modern in its minimalist style and form, the mosque uses terracotta brick as its principal material, drawing on a centuries-old Bengali architectural tradition.
While distinctly modern in its minimalist style and form, the mosque uses terracotta brick as its principal material, drawing on a centuries-old Bengali architectural tradition.

Furthermore, the mosque’s design avoids typical mosque architecture features like domes and minarets. Instead, it utilizes light as a form of decoration. A constellation of holes in the ceiling creates an intricate pattern of light that changes throughout the seasons.

Steering clear of typical mosque design features, such as domes and minarets, Tabassum instead uses light as ornamentation in the Bait Ur Rouf Mosque.
Steering clear of typical mosque design features, such as domes and minarets, Tabassum instead uses light as ornamentation in the Bait Ur Rouf Mosque.

Continuing Impact Through Architecture

Her other project, the Alfadanga Mosque, shares design similarities with the Bait Ur Rouf Mosque. Set next to a historical home in the Faridpur district, it harmonizes with its surrounding architecture while offering functional and aesthetic appeal.

With its red brick exterior, the Alfadanga Mosque bears many similarities to the Bait Ur Rouf Mosque.
With its red brick exterior, the Alfadanga Mosque bears many similarities to the Bait Ur Rouf Mosque.

Additionally, light continues to play an important role in her designs, enriching the prayer halls within the Alfadanga Mosque with an inviting ambiance.

Light plays an important role in the prayer halls of the Alfadanga Mosque.
Light plays an important role in the prayer halls of the Alfadanga Mosque, again acting as decoration in an otherwise simple interior.

As her portfolio grows, Tabassum’s focus remains on sustainable and resilient architectural solutions to address the challenges faced by communities in Bangladesh. Her latest project, Khudi Bari, embodies this commitment by providing safe and affordable housing options for low-income families threatened by flooding.

Tabassum's latest project, Khudi Bari, is designed to help low-income communities impacted by flooding.
Tabassum’s latest project, Khudi Bari, is designed to help low-income communities impacted by flooding.


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