Nuzhat Nabila

I have the unique responsibility to lead the nation with long-​term, practical design solutions in a sustainable and environment-friendly way.

Realizing the dream to be a designer Since my childhood, I have always been profoundly fascinated to create something innovative and original. It started when I designed cardboard houses for my dolls and pets, or when I decorated my room with crafts and artworks as a child. The dream to be a designer in life was incepted back then even before I realized. I conquered the first step to fulfil that dream in 2008 by getting the opportunity to study at Bachelor of Architecture at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), the top university in the country.

Understanding the responsibility of a profession that comes with the dream My Bachelor study in Architecture made me realize that as an architect, I have the unique responsibility to lead the nation with long-​term, practical design solutions in a sustainable and environment-friendly way. I started focusing on one of my country’s biggest prospects, the rich natural and cultural heritage, with respect to the existing problems underlying. The tourism sector is a growing sector in Bangladesh. By choosing Resort Design at Teknaf (Figure 01) as my thesis project, I tried to contribute to flourishing sensitive and responsive tourism, preserving and reviving the natural heritage of Bangladesh.

Exploring the skills to fulfil the responsibility as a professional During my B.Arch., in my Internship at ‘Tanya Karim NR Khan and Associates’, I was a part of the design team for a sustainable housing project for KEPZ which made me more thoughtful about conservation aspects related to the area. In May’ 2015 my participation in a 15-days workshop at ‘Laurie Baker Centre for Habitat Studies’, Kerala, India was the first step for me to be more familiar with regional and international styles of design, and gather ideas about contemporary urban and conservation solutions from different nationalities.

Determining Focus Area as a Designer My experience as a designer in the larger field started with working as an architect in ‘Vitti Sthapati Brindo’-one of the most renowned and largest firms of the country.

By then, I established my specific interest to work on urban design and heritage conservation projects which I developed previously in my thesis project in order to support tourism in my country. Subsequent to setting a footprint in professional practice and being acquainted with recognized architects, I decided to be engaged in advanced courses in Urban Design and Heritage Conservation from an internationally distinguished university.

I believe that conservation does not mean simple preservation of existing buildings. Instead, in conservation projects in Bangladesh, by engaging with history, the task is to provide value to building owners, visitors and cultural bodies, all of which have a shared interest in understanding, adapting and preserving heritage.

Revealing thyself to the global standard of research and integrating with the home country Recently, the Year 2019, I have returned to Bangladesh after completing my two-years Masters in Urbanism (Heritage Conservation) from the University of Sydney, Australia, and now I am working as a Project Architect in several urban projects at the Department of Architecture, Bangladesh.

In 2017, achieving the prestigious Australia Award Scholarship for pursuing my Masters was a milestone to spread my wings. While my Bachelor degree in Architecture from BUET and professional experience for three years have established a focused interest in urban design and heritage conservation, my research-based Master’s Degree has expanded my research capability to a great extent in that area. Bangladesh is a land of culturally significant places- including buildings, sites and cultural landscape which require proper conservation by assessment, interpretation, management, formulation of policy, and documentation.

To plan the new urban area, it is essential to make an equilibrium with the historical buildings with new settlements. My aim is to introduce new methods and practices of conservation, designing and building new buildings in old settings, and blending the history, theory, law and policy of this unique area with its urban context. I believe that conservation does not mean simple preservation of existing buildings. Instead, in conservation projects in Bangladesh, by engaging with history, the task is to provide value to building owners, visitors and cultural bodies, all of which have a shared interest in understanding, adapting and preserving heritage.

Selecting Focus Area- Adaptive reuse: The thesis question of my Masters’ final report was: ‘Is the Adaptive reuse practice in NSW a successful approach towards Heritage?’ Apart from the thesis, I have worked on different projects where a new use or new architectural style blends with the old setting giving it a new life. I believe, when a building’s original form or function becomes inadequate or redundant, altering it or adopting it in a contemporary way is the best approach to conserve it for the future generation. Therefore, for my home country Bangladesh, my take away message from Australia is the sympathetic knowledge to incorporate new design in old settings in order to save the cultural heritage of the country.

I am particularly enthusiast about the idea of adaptive reuse of heritage sites. The concept of new functional use of historical buildings is largely absent in Bangladesh which can bring practical solution in the existing condition of abrupt heritage destruction.

Understanding the constraints in my knowledge Unfortunately, no particular course in Bangladesh is dedicated to studying heritage conservation. Even though I consider myself fortunate to bring back home advanced knowledge from Australia, I will be careful enough to keep in mind the contextual difference.

Engaging in relevant policy level and blend into existing expertise: In developing countries like Bangladesh, the hardest challenge is to get into the appropriate channel where I can share my ideas and views with policymakers. I wish to maximise my communication and leadership skill to reach the interest of decision-makers in authorities. I wish to link myself to the appropriate resources in Bangladesh to utilise my already skills and knowledge developed.

Promoting modern and practical concepts I am particularly enthusiast about the idea of adaptive reuse of heritage sites. The concept of new functional use of historical buildings is largely absent in Bangladesh which can bring practical solution in the existing condition of abrupt heritage destruction. Contributing to Educational level: Right after coming back to Bangladesh, I was invited as a guest tutor in the Architecture Department in several Universities where I endeavoured to create awareness about the importance of heritage study. Moreover, in future, I wish to establish proper courses dedicated to heritage conservation in the architecture curriculum.

Creating an Identity for Dhaka: I believe the unique architectural style of heritage buildings in Old Dhaka is the greatest strength to create a unique identity of Dhaka during city planning. Over the years, the uniqueness of old Dhaka had been overlooked and destroyed abruptly which I wish to recover as my primary target area to work on.