Bangladeshi architect Rizvi Hassan presents the lecture “Presence for a Wider Spectrum”

New Delhi – The Embassy of the Dominican Republic in India invited the Bangladeshi architect Rizvi Hassan to present an on-line lecture on his practise on 26th July 2023. Titled “Presence for a Wider Spectrum”, Rizvi intervention was introduced and moderated by the Dominican architect Jesus D’Alessandro, Director of the School of Architecture at the Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) in Santo Domingo. The presentation was attended by architects, designers and students from the Dominican Republic.

Rizvi Hassan presented his contextual research based methodology. While sharing images of his travels around the varied landscapes of Bangladesh, he reflected on the need of an architecture sensible to the ecological challenges of his country and in touch with its built traditions. With examples from his recent projects, he illustrated how a resilient, contextual and affordable architecture can be inspired by vernacular and local design solutions.

Since the beginning of his practice, Rizvi Hassan has been exploring various roles of a design professional in unconventional fields. He has worked in Cox’s Bazar, Ukhiya, Teknaf, Sylhet, Jhenaidah, Chandpur, Sirajgonj, Kurigram Char area and Mirsharai for various Bangladeshi communities and Rohingya refugees. Contextual response, local identity, culture, and learning through collective making has been the key features in his works that tries to reflect on the construction process and final spaces.

He has been working with CSF Global, Sajida foundation, IOM-UN Migration, ICRC, BRAC and other organizations. Among his recent works- Rohingya Cultural Memory Centre, Health Facility for Konapara, Hindupara Community Center, Safe Space for Women & Girls, Bhalukiya Community Centre etc. are notable. For his contribution, UN-OCHA recognized him globally in 2020. He also won the ASF Award 2021 and Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2022.