Marina Tabassum wins second Aga Khan Award for Architecture

In a moment of immense pride for Bangladesh, architect Marina Tabassum's groundbreaking housing solution, "Khudi Bari", received the 2025 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. This prestigious award recognises the project's innovative and sustainable approach to addressing the housing challenges of communities displaced by climate change in Bangladesh.

Tabassum previously received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2016 for the Bait-ur-Rouf Mosque, located in Dhaka.

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, established in 1977 by His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, recognises building concepts that successfully address the needs and the aspirations of communities in which Muslims have a significant presence. It seeks to identify and reward architectural works that not only meet people's physical, social, and economic needs but also stimulate and express their cultural and spiritual aspirations.

The Award emphasises architecture that catalyses pluralism, community resilience, social transformation, cultural dialogue and climate-responsive design. The $1 million prize, shared by all the winners, is one of the largest in architecture.

Held every three years, the prize-giving ceremony for the 16th cycle of the Award took place in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. His Excellency Mohammad Monirul Islam, the Bangladesh ambassador to Uzbekistan and accredited to the Kyrgyz Republic, represented the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh at the event.

- LS Desk