Brac University school of architecture, Dhaka, BD, BArch, Architecture

SPIRIT OF NAZRUL - competition, 1st Place

Our National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam (25 May 1899 – 29 August 1976) is a man who enriched Bangla literature and music with his extraordinary genius. Popularly known as Nazrul, he produced a large body of poetry and music with themes that included religious devotion and rebellion against oppression. His activism for political and social justice earned him the title of “Rebel Poet”. Nazrul explored a synthesis of different forces in a rebellion, expressing rage as well as beauty, love and sensitivity.

In this design competition, participants had to create an architecture as inspiring as this renowned personality, deciding which aspects to focus on and how the influence should be interpreted. This was an opportunity to translate the mind of a true pioneer into a physical architecture, which has the potential to serve as a beacon for Nazrul, signalling his presence.