SHATOTTO architects visit the Aga Khan Academy Dhaka

Architects from SHATOTTO stood together for a team brief during the visit.

On 13 January 2024, a group of architects from SHATOTTO Architecture for Green Living, a leading architectural firm in Bangladesh, visited the Aga Khan Academy Dhaka for a professional field trip.  

Mr Muhammad Rafiq Azam, one of the chief architects and part of the landscape design for the Academy in Dhaka, led engineers and fellow architects on this tour. During the visit, Mr Rafiq explained the unique insights of the Academy’s design that ensures harmony and synergy of nature and construction.  “You need to learn empirically from practical infrastructures, such as this magnificent academic facility,” Mr Rafiq told his colleagues.      

Architects from SHATOTTO visited the commons building which is still under construction.

After the tour of the newly built academic facilities, the group viewed the Commons building, currently under construction, to explore how the buildings are being meticulously made and curated. Mr Rafiq explained the importance of the detailed approaches used to create the building, ensuring the quality of the goods used.  

The team of architects were also amazed to see how natural light and wind were used as resources across the campus. In addition, they explored the water management system of the Academy and understood the philosophy behind the construction.   

A visual of the under construction commons from the Academy.

"The ground and floors of the basement were built in such a way that water management serves in the best way possible,” the chief architect said. “If there's heavy rain, the water level of the floors will stand in such a way so that students experience how rainwater feels like. For a drizzle, the level of water will be almost null. However, the destination of the surface water is the underground.” 

The Academy has received a few awards due to its design and architecture, such as the award for best ‘Future Education’ project at the World Architecture Festival 2017. Learn more about this here.