Architect of BracU campus shares vision for sustainable design
The School of Architecture recently hosted its 148th ANGAN Lecture on 20 November, titled “Redefining Values: Towards a Sustainable and Equitable Future”.
The guest speaker, Wong Mun Summ, co-founder of the internationally acclaimed architecture firm WOHA and the architect behind BracU’s iconic new campus, shared his vision for sustainable design and its social impact.
Wong emphasized that architects must focus on balancing societal values, pointing to BracU’s new campus as a prime example of architecture designed to foster human connections.
He humorously remarked, “How many of you became a couple comparing the old campus to the new campus? ” He explained that the horizontal layout encourages interaction by allowing students to see and connect with one another, building a sense of community.
Reflecting on his collaboration with BracU’s founder, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, Wong shared how Sir Abed envisioned the campus as a model for the future of Dhaka. He recalled how he first visited the site in 2011 when it was nothing more than a wasteland.
Wong expanded on WOHA’s global contributions, such as a groundbreaking project in Jakarta which is powered entirely by renewable energy—and a university campus in Singapore that scaled up the principles used in BracU’s design. He described WOHA’s approach to self-sufficient urban planning as a “horizontal stratum,” comprising four interconnected layers that address energy, water, food, and mobility.
In response to questions from students, Wong remarks, “This campus is not just a beautiful piece of architecture but an infrastructure where you can build on and express yourselves freely, as a university should be,” he said.
The event drew an overwhelming crowd, with students filling every seat and even sitting on the stairs to hear him speak. Dean Fuad H. Mallick gave the closing remarks and thanked Wong for his contribution to BracU’s transformative journey.
The lecture left a lasting impression on the audience, highlighting how thoughtful design can shape sustainable and equitable futures.
