Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum has once again brought international recognition to her country, securing the 2025 Aga Khan Award for Architecture for her innovative project Khudi Bari. The award ceremony was held at the Kyrgyz National Philharmonic in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday.
Khudi Bari, meaning “small house,” is a modular, lightweight structure created by Marina Tabassum Architects to provide safe housing for communities displaced by river erosion and flooding in Bangladesh’s riverine “chars.” Built primarily from bamboo with specially designed steel joints, the homes are easy to assemble, dismantle, and relocate as land and water shift. Beyond individual shelters, the system has been scaled up into community facilities, such as women-led centres in Rohingya refugee camps.
The project was praised for blending sustainability, affordability, and social responsibility, showing how architecture can respond directly to humanitarian crises. Through the Foundation for Architecture and Community Equity (FACE), Tabassum’s team worked directly with residents to co-create these structures, ensuring that design met lived realities.
This marks Tabassum’s second Aga Khan Award, following her 2016 recognition for the Bait Ur Rouf Mosque in Dhaka, celebrated for its play of light and contemplative spatial design. She also received the prestigious Soane Medal in 2021, further establishing her as one of the most influential architects in the Global South.
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, one of the most significant prizes in the field with a total fund of USD 1 million, is awarded every three years to projects that redefine excellence in design, sustainability, and cultural impact.
Other 2025 Aga Khan Award for Architecture Winners
Alongside Marina Tabassum’s Khudi Bari, six other projects were honored in the 2025 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. These include the West Wusutu Village Community Centre in Inner Mongolia, China, a reclaimed-brick hub for cultural exchange; the Revitalization of Historic Esna in Egypt, which revived heritage markets and local enterprises; and the Majara Residence on Hormuz Island, Iran, a cluster of colorful domes built with local techniques to boost community tourism.
Also recognized were Jahad Metro Plaza in Tehran, transforming a metro entrance into a vibrant public square; Vision Pakistan in Islamabad, a vocational training facility for disadvantaged youth; and the Wonder Cabinet in Bethlehem, Palestine, a cultural hub celebrating craft and artistic production. Together, these projects reflect architecture’s power to blend tradition with innovation while addressing social and environmental needs.
For more insights into the winning projects and their design approaches, explore the 2025 Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
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