Samira Marzia

Research and Design Associate

Samira Marzia, currently working as a Research and Design Associate at Bengal Institute, focuses on urban and environmental design with the best utilisation of sustainable Architecture. With an academic background in Architecture and Urban Design, she believes in the ability of the space to shape cities.

After completing her B. Arch from Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology in 2014, she started her professional career with System Architects, and worked as an Assistant Architect for one and a half years. Samira relocated to California, USA in 2016, and during her stay, she volunteered at ‘Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County’, participated in community development projects, and put her domain of knowledge to use in post-wildfire community re-organization.

Balancing harmony between people and urbanity inspired Samira to pursue Master of Urban Design from The City College of New York in USA. During her graduate studies in New York, as a Research Assistant, she was involved in Urban Research projects with renowned Professor Michael Sorkin, and worked on urban issues of New York city untill she moved back to Bangladesh in 2019. On a Design Studio Trip to Havana, Cuba, She researched the impression of the city and developed design strategy based on the city’s political resilience, economic prosperity and social infrastructure focusing Havana Harbour. Samira received a Graduate Award for ‘Acute Urban Analysis & Action’, and was awarded Scholarship for ‘Design Excellence’ by The Spitzer School of Architecture at The City College of New York.

Her travelling, living, working and volunteering experience enabled her to explore cultural diversity and community development and how social issues contradict these developments both in the USA and Bangladesh.