Architecture

Dhaka, July 2, 2026: A day-long design charrette titled “Threads of Time: Designing for an Intergenerational Community Space” was organized by the Department of Architecture, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST), on July 2 as part of the department’s 30 Years Celebration. Held under the broader theme “Bridging Generations: The Future We Build,” the charrette brought together architecture students from IAB-accredited universities across Bangladesh for an intensive exercise in design thinking, creativity, and collaborative learning.

The charrette focused on the role of architecture as a social catalyst in responding to the changing social dynamics of Bangladesh. Against the backdrop of rapid and often unplanned urbanization, social fragmentation, and a shortage of inclusive public spaces, participants were challenged to envision environments that could foster meaningful interaction among different generations and strengthen community cohesion.

The brief invited students to explore how architecture could connect the wisdom of the past, the realities of the present, and the aspirations of the future. Participants were encouraged to consider spontaneous and planned intergenerational interactions, shared activities, local culture and climate, and the potential of small-scale tactical interventions to generate wider community impact. Proposed interventions could range from a building block to an urban block within a practical urban context.

The event began with the arrival of participants and the setup of computers, laptops, and network facilities, followed by a briefing session. Teams then worked through two intensive design sessions, separated by a lunch and prayer break. Each team was required to develop its concept and communicate its diagrams, architectural drawings, and experiential perspectives on a single A0 presentation sheet in PDF format.

The competition attracted teams representing IAB-accredited architecture schools from different parts of the country. The event overview reported participation from 27 teams representing 13 IAB-accredited universities, while the subsequent official declaration of the winning entries recorded 26 participating teams representing 11 IAB-accredited architectural schools. Each participating team comprised three students.

A distinguished jury panel comprising Ar. Nahas Ahmed Khalil, Ar. Syed Monirul Islam, and Ar. Neeman Karim evaluated the submitted projects.

Ar. Nahas Ahmed Khalil is a renowned Bangladeshi architect and educator, recognized for his context-responsive approach to architecture and his significant contribution to contemporary architectural practice in Bangladesh.

Ar. Syed Monirul Islam is an architect, educator, and researcher with extensive experience in sustainable architecture, housing, urban development, and climate-resilient built environments.

Ar. Neeman Karim is an architect, urban designer, and Co-Founder and Managing Director of Chinton Architects Ltd., recognized for her work in architecture, urban design, and master planning, with professional experience in Bangladesh and Canada.

The projects were evaluated based on conceptual strength and site selection, problem resolution, design innovation, and presentation, with design innovation receiving the highest weightage.

Winning Entries

Following evaluation and deliberation, the jury declared the following winning entries:

Champion — Team ADC003, Bangladesh University

Faria Tanjim, Md. Zobayer Hossain, and Md. Hasibul Hasan

The jury praised the team’s underlying concept, emphasizing that simply creating shared spaces does not automatically guarantee meaningful interaction. The strength of the proposal lay in its strong conceptual foundation and its approach to addressing this challenge.

Figure 1.Champion Teams Presentation Sheet

1st Runner-up — Team ADC018, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology

Mehjabeen Arobi, Farjana Kabir Prity, and Tanzia Nusrat Suha

The jury highlighted the team’s innovative concept of transforming a bus into a shared environment that could encourage interaction among different generations during a journey.

Figure 2. 1st Runner-up Teams Presentation Sheet

2nd Runner-up — Team ADC012, University of Asia Pacific

Nafisa Nawal, Rahul Kumar Dev Pritom, and S.M. Rahatul Islam Fahim

The jury noted that the proposal built upon existing patterns of community interaction and successfully explored the creation of a shared, pedestrian-oriented space. The jury also emphasized that the effectiveness of the proposal depended on restricting vehicular movement within the space.

Figure 3. 2nd Runner-up Teams Presentation Sheet

Special Mention — Team ADC005, Khulna University

Md. Ashifur Rahman Omee, Nawmi Zarin Zayma, and Tasnim-E-Zannat

The project received special recognition for its thoughtful approach to repurposing unused space beneath a flyover as a communal environment where people from different generations could meet, interact, and engage in shared activities.

Figure 4. Spacial Mentioned Teams Presentation Sheet

The jury members also shared their feedback and observations with the participants, discussing the strengths of the winning and shortlisted projects and offering constructive comments on conceptual development, contextual thinking, and architectural communication. Their feedback provided students with an opportunity to reflect on their design approaches and the challenges of developing strong architectural ideas within a limited timeframe.

The winning teams received commemorative crests and certificates, while certificates were also presented to individual team members and their respective departments. The Special Mention team was similarly recognized with certificates.

The Champion, 1st Runner-up, 2nd Runner-up, and Special Mention awards were formally presented by the jury members during the closing ceremony, bringing the day-long event to a celebratory conclusion.

The charrette organized by the Charrette Committee of 30 Years Celebration of Department of Architecture AUST. The convenor was Ar. Sheikh Itmam Soud, Co convenor Ar. Habib Ibrahim Rahmatullah and Member Ar. Md Iftekhar Rashid Rafat and Ar. Afif Rakeen.

The “Threads of Time” design charrette formed an important part of the Department of Architecture’s 30 Years Celebration at AUST. By bringing together students, educators, and architectural professionals, the event created a platform for exchange, collaboration, and creative exploration. Its central theme emphasized architecture’s ability to weave together memories, identities, and aspirations across generations, while encouraging the next generation of architects to imagine more inclusive, connected, and resilient communities for the future.