Urbanism

The Making of Publicness | Spring 2025

A two-week immersive workshop exploring how to assess, understand, and enhance the publicness of urban spaces in Dhaka. Through practical exercises, site visits, and engaging discussions, participants will learn to analyze public spaces and publicness.

Spring 2022: Dhaka Studio: Dwelling in the Delta

A collaborative studio of Bengal Institute with Global Housing Studio of TU Delft

Spring 2021: In the Flow: Hydro-logical Housing in Dhaka

A collaborative studio of Bengal Institute with Global Housing Studio of TU Delft

A Workshop in Nilphamari: Exploring Strategies for Future Physical Development

Niklaus Graber and Saif Ul Haque led a hands-on workshop in Nilphamari on urban transformation.

Architecture as Drama: March 2019 Session

Seminar at the Bengal Institute with Holger Kleine, HSRM, Wiesbaden/Germany, and Timmy Aziz, MICA, Baltimore/USA

Space is Society – October 2018 Session

A two week long academic session on how we think about space, its relationships with society.

Fall 2017: September – November Session: Scale Is Everything: LARGE/MEDIUM/HUMAN

A seven week long special session brought renowned architects, landscape architects and academics for a fantastic series of design workshops, seminars and other special events.

Fall 2017: August Session: Scale is Everything ‘LARGE’

From house compounds to neighbourhoods, and from villages to rice-fields and regions with rivers and rivulets, we organize our surroundings in shifting scales and scopes...

Spring 2017: March Session: How to Read the City and Other Things

The March Session offered a brilliant, diverse lineup of global faculties.

Fall 2016: October – November Session: A for Architecture, C for City

The upcoming academic session at Bengal Institute is 'unmissable,' as Peter Buchanan, Balkrishna Doshi, Juhani Pallasmaa and several other important faculties are joining us at the classroom, design-studio and public events.

Spring 2016: May Session: Landscape Forms and Formations

Theories, designs and techniques were presented for working with a hydro-geographic landscape as the Bengal delta. Seminars, design workshops and forums addressed various scales of operation.

Spring 2016: April Session: House, Cluster, Matrix

The theme of “House, Cluster, Matrix” addressed the range of rural and urban housing forms

Spring 2016: March Session: Place/Form

The month of March was very special to us. Along with our academic programs we organised a three-day long international symposium “Architecture Now/Next,” the first of its kind event in Bangladesh. Renowned local and international speakers and panelists.

Spring 2016: February Session: Tropical Topics

The tropical climate is unique in its own diverse way and it has a direct impact on the design of our built environment; thus ‘tropics’ as a topic is in the discussion of design, architecture and situated place making ever since the modernism and beyond.

Fall 2015: September Session: Cities and Settlements

This session explored the fundamentals of human settlements, large scale designs and cities. The discussion also brought in topics of how funding organizations and local community get involved in a project like designing new villages from scratch.

The Screening of “The Seeds of Vandana Shiva” — A Feature-Length Documentary

A documentary “The Seeds of Vandana Shiva” was screened on March 17 by No Voice Passport in association with Bengal Institute.

Two Talks and a Conversation: Rupali Gupte and Prasad Shetty

Conversation with Tahmeed Ahmed and Kazi Khaleed Ashraf—BI Between 05

Tahmeed Ahmed and Kazi Khaleed Ashraf talk on various aspects of how we can take charge of our well-being and the health of our environments.

Conversation Between Rahul Mehrotra and Kazi Khaleed Ashraf—BI Between 02

In the second video of the BI Between series, Rahul Mehrotra and Kazi Khaleed Ashraf discuss the scope of the city, especially in South Asia, and the agency of the architect in this critical time.

Conversation Between Kongjian Yu and Kazi Khaleed Ashraf—BI Between 01

In an original and timely conversation, Kongjiyan Yu and Kazi Ashraf discuss the realities of the time as shaped by the pandemic, and how landscapes, cities and architecture can be shaped.

Public Presentations: New Urban Topologies

Three members of Färgfabriken speak about the urban transformations around the world through political, architecture and social perspectives.

নগরনামা – বসবাসের ভবিষ্যৎ | Nogornama – The Future of Our Habitats

Following the four years of activities, Bengal Institute is putting up an exhibition of its works for the first time. The exhibition will run from 2nd November to 15th December 2019 at Bengal Shilpalay, Dhanmondi

Bengal Institute at the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism 2019

What Is Good Architecture?

A public presentation and discussion with Professors Timmy Aziz and Holger Kleine and the participants of their academic program at the Bengal Institute.

Making City 2050 – A Lecture by Anne Feenstra

A lecture by Anne Feenstra on 6th March 2019 at EMK Center, Dhanmondi, Dhaka

Redevelopment of Cities – A Lecture by Rob Robinson

Ng Sek San: Off-Grid: Making in the Tropics

Ng Sek San is the principal of Seksan Design Landscape Architecture and Planning. He was invited to speak about his projects and give his unique perspective on design and planning.

A Conversation Between Kazi Khaleed Ashraf and Adnan Morshed: The Future is the City but what will it be?

If the future is the city, and the city the future, what kind of a city do we want? How do we make the city civic again?

Next Sylhet Exhibition

Next Sylhet: : Visions for a New Urban Future

Peter Buchanan: Reflection on Human Settlements and Water

According to Peter Buchanan, one must think about housing typology of small towns.

“Next Dhaka” Exhibition at Bengal Art Lounge

"Next Dhaka" was the first public exhibition of Bengal Institute's Research and Design Program's works. It featured some new thoughts and designs on and around Dhaka City.

Understanding Cities, Making Cities – Panel Discussion at Bengal Architecture Symposium 01: Now/Next

Bengal Architecture Symposium 01: Now/Next – Peter Buchanan

Peter Buchanan at Bengal Architecture Symposiums: Now/Next

Bengal Architecture Symposium 01: Now/Next – Panel Discussion: “What Next?”

Discussion: "What Next" at Bengal Architecture Symposium: NOW/NEXT

Bengal Architecture Symposium 01: Now/Next – Syed Manzoorul Islam

Syed Manzoorul Islam at Bengal Architecture Symposium: NOW/NEXT

Bengal Architecture Symposium 01: Now/Next – Adèle Naudé Santos

Adele Santos at Bengal Architecture Symposium: NOW/NEXT

Bengal Architecture Symposium 01: Now/Next – Byoung Soo Cho

Byoung Soo Cho at Bengal Architecture Symposium: NOW/NEXT

Bengal Architecture Symposium 01: Now/Next – Marina Tabassum

Opening remark at the Bengal Architecture Symposium by Marina Tabassum

Bengal Architecture Symposium 01: Now/Next – Kazi Khaleed Ashraf

Opening remarks by Kazi Khaleed Ashraf at the Bengal Architecture NOW/NEXT Symposium

Bengal Architecture Symposium 01: Now/Next – Abul Khair Litu

Opening remarks by Abul Khair Bengal Architecture NOW/NEXT Symposium

James Timberlake: “Alluvium: Dhaka, Bangladesh, in the Crossroads of Water”

“City States” A Public Lecture by Michael Sorkin

A Conversation with Michael Sorkin and James Timberlake: Re-fabricating Cities & Architecture

Discussions about the present and the future of our cities between two maestros of the theories and the practice...

A Conversation with Gary Hack: Five Points of Solving Traffic Congestion of Dhaka

Professor Hack came to teach at Bengal Institute for Architecture, Landscapes and Settlements. Professor Kazi Khaleed Ashraf conducted this conversation with him at the Institute, focusing on several aspects of contemporary cities and their future...

Public Lecture 05: Gary Hack: “Disrupting Change and Pattern of Cities”

A New Urban District for Rasadnik, Skopje, in Macedonia Competition Entry 2022 (competition canceled)

Surma Riverbank Project

Bengal Institute/BAU Design Ltd's proposal to convert the Surma riverbank into a vibrant public space.

Central Park in Rajshahi

Bengal Institute/BAU Design Ltd developed a concept plan for an existing 33 acres public park situated at the heart of Rajshahi city by the bank of the Padma

Hazrat Shahporan Mazar Complex

Bengal Institute's proposal for the design of a complex of one of the most visited and spiritually significant places in Sylhet.

Hafiz Complex Intersection

Bengal Institute's proposal for a commemoration of an important and historically significant node in Sylhet

বেঙ্গল সুরক্ষা স্টেশন – Bengal Shurokkha Station

A cost effective device for sanitisation in public places

Mahmud Nagar Field and Canal Bank Development

Bengal Institute's proposal for creation of recreational park and development of canal at Mahmud Nagar, Narayanganj.

Reside Mumbai, Seaside Mumbai

Hypothetical Scheme for a Seaside Housing in Mumbai, India

Mongla Townscape

Proposal to develop a city in harmony with nature

Kakoli Intersection

Design proposal to solve a critical traffic node

Gulshan Park

Research and design project to create public open space in Dhaka

Footpath Design Guideline

An initiative to create better walkable environment for cities in Bangladesh

Design for Preservation and Renovation of Dhaka Central Jail

Proposal for the open architectural design competition for preservation and renovation of Dhaka Central Jail premise.

Narayanganj Townscape

A comprehensive development plan for Narayanganj

Manikganj Townscape

Manikganj Development Project

Dhaka Circular Light Rail (LRT)

A 40 km LRT connecting major areas of the city

Residential Campus for a University

Proposal to bring back the memory of a place

Gulshan Civic Corridor

The initiative is to create active civic spaces across the neighbourhoods | A project with the Dhaka NLTA (Non-Lending Technical Assistance) program of the Sustainable Development Department of The World Bank.

Sylhet Townscape

Design through investigation on Sylhet's unique characteristics

Dhaka Nexus

An active and coordinated planning net for the greater neighborhoods

Buriganga Riverbank

An example of appropriate riverside development connecting both banks | A project with the Dhaka NLTA (Non-Lending Technical Assistance) program of the Sustainable Development Department of The World Bank.

Participant Works from Nilphamary Workshop 2020

Niklaus Graber and Saif Ul Haque led a workshop in Nilphamari on urban transformation, where participants imagined and visualised how Nilphamari could continue to grow and remain a livable city.

Participant Works from “Architecture as Drama” Workshop by Timmy Aziz and Holger Kleine

A comprehensive hands-on design workshop on the Drama architecture can deliver.

Designing Small Towns: Kazi Khaleed Ashraf-Ehsan Khan-Michael Sorkin Studio

Focusing on designing small towns, Kazi Khaleed Ashraf and Ehsan Khan explored new possibilities for Mymensingh town with the participants.

সিলেটের নগর উন্নয়ন

Kazi Khaleed Ashraf spoke at a program on developing Sylhet with Abu Taher Muhammed Shoeb moderated by Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed.

From Central Beheer to Willis Faber: Reflection on a Transitional Moment

Kenneth Frampton speaks on a special talk as part of the Bengal Institute-TU Delft joint studio.

Dwelling in a Time of Flux: Looking at Housing Issues in India Clips

Rahul Mehrotra gave a special talk as a part of Bengal Institute’s joint studio program with TU Delft.

Housing is the Fabric of the City

From the Ashraf Archives: In March 1999, The Daily Star published a writeup on housing challenges in Dhaka and the strategies behind successful housing complexes, written by Kazi Ashraf.

Balkrishna Doshi in a conversation with Kazi Khaleed Ashraf

Kazi Ashraf and Balkrishna Doshi converse about the connections that bind us culturally and architecturally and where we go from here.

Dhaka Food Flow and Dynamics

An article written by Mohammad Arfar Razi on the state of food-security in Bangladesh.

Cities Are Changing Faster Than You Think!

Farhat Afzal writes about the evolution of cities based on the Bengal Institute lectures by Gary Hack in, April 2017

Nogornama: Panel Discussion on the Future of Cities

Kazi Khaleed Ashraf. Nobonita Chowdhury, Syed Manzoorul Islam, Saif Ul Haque and Khandaker Rakibur Rahman discuss the future of Dhaka.

Thinking Density Differently

Mohammad Tauheed defends the densification of cities and explores its benefits while also questioning the narratives opposing it.

Kabir: An Architect of the Life-world

Kazi Khaleed Ashraf writes on the work process and methodology of Khondaker Hasibul Kabir, the article is to be published in the upcoming issue of Vas.

Bengal Institute at the “10 Actions for Urban-Rural Bengal” organised by ETH Global

A workshop organised by ETH Global on 30th May to shared research works on the Bengal region.

Global Housing Studio in Dhaka with graduate students from TU Delft

Bengal Institute hosted a studio of TU Delft by Marina Tabassum in Dhaka as part of their masters program.

An Urbanism for Dhaka

An article by Kazi Khaleed Ashraf on The Daily Star 10th February 2019

নগর নবায়নের বয়ান

নতুন ও পুরোনর সংমিশ্রণে বসবাসযোগ‍্য আধুনিক ঢাকার পরিকল্পনা নিয়ে দৈনিক জনকন্ঠে প্রকাশিত কাজী খালিদ আশরাফের লেখা

Bengal Institute on The Daily Star’s Supplement “Rethinking urban spaces: Dhaka and beyond”

Bangladesh's most celebrated English daily The Daily Star published three articles that were contributed by Bengal Institute in their supplement "Rethinking urban spaces: Dhaka and beyond" to be published on print on February 24th 2018

Studio by Gautam Bose: Film-making using Mobile-Phones

"The Lived City" is a short-doc shot with mobile-phones about some of the neighbourhoods of #Dhaka City, it was a classroom assignment as part of Bengal Institute's academic program.

যেমন শহর দরকার “The Cities We Need” – A Keynote Presentation by Kazi Khaleed Ashraf for SmartCity Campaign

‘স্মার্টসিটি ক্যাম্পেইন' এর জন্য ধারণকৃত কাজী খালিদ আশরাফ এর মূলানুগ বক্তব্য; এখানে তিনি আধুনিক শহর এবং এর আনুষাঙ্গিক ধারণা, সেই সাথে ঢাকা এবং বাংলাদেশের অন্যান্য শহরের বর্তমান ও ভবিষ্যৎ নিয়ে আলোকপাত করেছেন।