Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, High Commission of India in Dhaka hosts workshop on "Conceptualizing Architectural Projects: A South Asian Perspective"
Dhaka, August 6
The Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, High Commission of India in Dhaka, hosted a workshop titled "Conceptualizing Architectural Projects: A South Asian Perspective" on Thursday at its premises on Gulshan Avenue.
Led by master architect Rafiq Azam, the session aimed to foster a deeper understanding of context-driven architectural design rooted in South Asian culture and environment.
Azam, a distinguished architect and educator, is widely recognised for his contributions to architecture and his efforts to promote cross-cultural exchange between India and Bangladesh. A Guest Professor at Jadavpur University since 2006, he consistently emphasises ecology and contextual design, inspiring students to reconnect with their environment.
Having recently visited India under the ICCR's Academic Visitor Programme 2026, Azam shared his insights and encouraged stronger academic and professional collaboration between Indian and Bangladeshi architects.
The event brought together students from several participating institutions, including BRAC University, DUET, NSU, AUST, and AIUB. It provided an engaging platform to explore how site, climate, landscape, culture, and society shape architectural ideas across both nations.
A key takeaway from the workshop was that every meaningful project originates from a careful reading of place, well before determining form, structure, or material.
Rafiq Azam guided participants through analysing physical and environmental factors, such as orientation, topography, vegetation, water systems, the sun's path, wind patterns, and rainfall. These were examined alongside cultural and social dimensions drawn from history, literature, cinema, anthropology, sociology, and local economies.
Working in groups, participants investigated selected sites across Bangladesh and India. Through observation, mapping, sketching, and analytical drawing, they developed architectural concepts that were rooted in place, responsive to climate, and reflective of South Asia's rich cultural diversity.
The core focus remained on the design thinking process, inspiring students to generate ideas that respect and celebrate local contexts.
Ann Mary George, Director, IGCC, highlighted the importance of embedding local context into architectural practice. She emphasised that architecture must resonate with the cultural and environmental fabric of South Asia, urging young students to create sustainable, culturally sensitive, and context-rooted designs.
She expressed confidence that such initiatives would spark innovative ideas and strengthen regional cooperation in the field.
The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to advancing sustainable, culturally sensitive, and contextually meaningful architectural practices that contribute to regional development and cultural identity.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As an architecture student from NSU, I was lucky enough to attend this workshop and it was honestly transformative. Rafiq Azam sir's approach of reading the land before drawing a single line really opened my eyes. We spend so much time obsessing over software and renders that we forget the fundamentals—climate, culture, community. So grateful to IGCC for hosting this! 🙏
Happy to see India-Bangladesh collaboration beyond just trade and politics. Cultural diplomacy through education is the way forward. Jadavpur University's connection with Rafiq Azam is a good example—academic ties that build mutual understanding. Wish more such initiatives would happen in other fields too.
Interesting to see how architecture education is evolving in South Asia. The focus on sustainability and local context is something we should adopt more in our own programs back home. The idea that a building should "grow" from its environment rather than being imposed on it is a lesson for all of us.
The emphasis on ecology and contextual design is so crucial, especially in a region like ours that faces climate challenges. But I do wish the workshop had included more female architects as speakers or mentors. Representation matters in these spaces, and young women students need to see themselves in leadership roles too. Otherwise, the initiative itself is commendable. 👏
Architecture in India has often been criticized for ignoring our own traditions in favor of Western styles. This workshop seems to address that gap. The idea
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