Arcadia Education Project, which received Aga Khan Award for Architecture, was celebrated and recognised for excellence in architecture at a ceremony held in Dhaka Saturday.
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), Aga Khan National Council, and Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) in collaboration with the Institute of Architects Bangladesh, hosted the event and paid tribute to architect Saif Ul Haque – one of the winners of the 2019 Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
Arcadia Education Project in South Kanarchor is an amphibious structure, anchored to the site that could sit on the ground or float on the water, depending on the seasonal conditions.
It is made of bamboo and all other elements were waterproofed by applying liquid made from boiled local gaab fruit – a traditional Bangladeshi method.
Most of the joints use a rope-tie technique rather than steel wire which would corrode, says a press release.
The classrooms’ bow-arched bamboo roofs, allowing the spaces to remain column-free, required some prototyping to perfect. Aside from a few battery-powered drills, only hand tools were used for the construction.
Together with the Award’s Steering Committee members present – Emre Arolat, Hanif Kara, and Maria Tabassum, Farrokh Derakhshani, Director of the AKAA, presented the Award Certificates to the architects and sponsor of the winning project.
In addition to a panel discussion on stage with the winning architect, Jalal Ahmed, President of the Executive Council, Institute of Architects of Bangladesh, Munir M. Merali, AKDN Resident Diplomatic Representative and Sulaiman Ajanee, President, Aga Khan National Council, addressed the august gathering.
Ambassador of Germany Peter Fahrenholtz and Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates Saed Mohammed Saed Hmaid Almeheiri were also present, among others.
The guests were entertained with performance by Sharmila Banerjee, Director Choreographer and Dancer, Nritya Nandan.
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) is one of the oldest and most prestigious awards in architecture. It was established by Aga Khan in 1977 to identify and encourage building concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of communities in which Muslims have a significant presence.