Architect Marina Tabassum has once again brought Bangladesh global recognition by winning the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture for the second time.
She was honoured for Khudi Bari (“Tiny House”), a portable, climate-resilient shelter built from bamboo and steel for families displaced by river erosion and flooding. The project provides an affordable, replicable solution for vulnerable communities, while advancing bamboo as a sustainable construction material.
Muhammad Yunus, chief of Bangladesh interim government, congratulated Tabassum, describing the achievement as “a source of great pride for Bangladesh.” He praised her work for demonstrating that architecture can embody dignity, resilience and compassion.
Tabassum first received the Aga Khan Award in 2016 for the Bait ur Rouf Mosque in Dhaka, a landmark that celebrated simplicity, spirituality and community. Her dual recognition places her among a rare group of architects with multiple wins.
In addition to her design work, she chairs the Bangladesh National Museum Governing Council and serves as a consultant for the July Uprising Memorial Museum, further strengthening her cultural legacy.