Students explore North Bengal’s heritage, community, and landscape
From 17th to 21st April, a group of architecture students from the Department of Architecture took their sketchbooks and cameras on a transformative journey through North Bengal’s rich architectural history. This enriching educational tour was held as part of their courses, exploring the history of Bengal and further comprehending how rural architecture transpires in line with our landscape. Under the supervision of Dr. Sajid Bin Doza (Associate Professor, SoAD), the study tour was coordinated by Upama Das Nitu (Lecturer, SoAD) and Ahnaf Shakil Millat (TA, SoAD).
Students visited more than 14 historic and culturally significant sites. Captivated by the breeze of ancient soil, the students sketched the timeless monuments such as Mahasthan Ghar, Gokul Medh, Choto Sona Masjid, and the courtyards of Puthia Rajbari. Each terracotta tile was whispering stories of rulers, craftsmen, and saints. The sites stand as the silent witnesses of Bengal’s golden history.
The final two days of the study trip featured a community-based learning session in Mundumala, Tanore, Rajshahi, led by noted Bangladeshi landscape architect Khondaker Hasibul Kabir (Associate Professor, SoAD and co-founder, Co.Creation.Architects). Collaborating with BRAC NGO, Professor Kabir guided architecture students through hands-on design and documentation exercises within a diverse community comprising Muslims, Hindus, Christians, and Santals. Students worked in groups to document rural houses, capturing their spatial, cultural, and material characteristics, and collaboratively created a comprehensive neighbourhood site map. Professor Kabir’s expertise, illustrated by socially responsive projects like the internationally acclaimed METI Handmade School, significantly enriched the students’ academic journey and reinforced the value of sustainable and community-centric design.
Initiatives like this set apart the architecture program at Brac University, where students adopt a community-first approach to learning and practice. This tour revealed a core truth: ‘Architecture is not built within the isolation of four walls, rather it is shaped by people, time, and place.’
