1. Marina Tabassum
At her eponymous studio in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where she was born and raised, Marina Tabassum is pioneering a new generation of architectural thought, calling for a focus on ‘architecture of relevance’. She says, ‘The market-driven building industry must focus on social and economic equity instead of solely profitdriven practice. We must rethink and re-evaluate our living habits and demands. Small changes can be powerful tools to influence major changes in the world.’
Pioneering architect Muzharul Islam inspired Tabassum to found her practice in 2005, and her ten-strong studio now has a portfolio that includes museums, community centres and private residences. There is a consistent focus on the relationship that contemporary architecture has with local materials, climate change, culture, history and the community.
In 2016, Tabassum received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture for one of her most notable projects, the Bait ur Rouf mosque (above). Situated in a dense neighbourhood on the outskirts of Dhaka, the onestorey building poetically weaves light and vernacular materials, creating modest communal spaces within the busy landscape. Characterised by its raised plinth, light wells and intimate courtyards, the structure provides a humble place of worship where the local community can host events and gatherings.
Tabassum is currently working in the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, in south-east Bangladesh, and designing mobile modular houses for ultra-lowincome people in the country’s coastal areas. ‘These days, I am more drawn to projects that help to elevate human conditions for a dignified living,’ she says.
Beyond her humanitarian work, she is a leading advocate for a more environmentally responsible architecture industry. ‘To make a better world, the first step is to realise that we are heading towards extinction as a species because of our actions of the past century and our inaction to change our ways,’ she explains.
Tabassum’s work is human, refined and wellconsidered. However, what sets her apart from fellow architects is her critical thinking and holistic approach. She isn’t interested in bold, aesthetically pleasing forms but in ways in which she can better the lives of others. ‘A work of architecture may not always result in a building or an object that is visually pleasing,’ she says. ‘Depending on the context, it could mean the wellbeing of the human condition and environment.’ mtarchitekts.com