Md. Rafiq Azam Profile Page | World Architecture Community

Md. Rafiq Azam is one of the internationally acclaimed architects from Bangladesh practicing for the last 27 years and developed a remarkable style of his own. His architecture is a fusion of tradition, nature, and mysticism with significant harmony. The use of plants and roof gardens, blending of various materials with simplicity in expression, reviving traditional elements from old Dhaka, for example, elimination of boundary walls that segregates human from buildings are distinctive features of his designs. Tiny elements of nature are adorned in his building with poetic beauty and HOUSE to him is not just an abode for humans but a nest for butterflies and birds too. Rafiq’s mastery in using light and shadow, water, and air inside and outside the building is influenced by such mysticism as cited by Lalon and Tagore. His green architecture is not a mere mechanism of energy saving rather it seems like an inspiring process of energy gaining.

Rafiq Azam is a 1989 graduate from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). His practice name is “SHATOTTO architecture for green living” since May 1995. In 2004, Rafiq Azam participated in “Glenn Murcutt Master Class” and selected as one of the ten emerging designers of the world by “Urban Land”, USA in 2008.

As a visiting faculty, he taught at the National University of Singapore, NED Karachi, Jadavpur University India, BRAC University, University of Asia Pacific, North South University Dhaka, and Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Dhaka.

He won a line of national and international awards for his architectural contribution such as ARCASIA Gold Medal 2017, World Architecture Festival (WAF) Award 2017, Four times Cityscape global Award, Berger Excellence Award, Leading European Architecture Award (LEAF) 2009, Malaysia Property Award, The Edge PAM Green Excellence Award 2015, Five times World Architectural Community Award, A R Emerging Architecture Award, Finalists for AGA Khan Award 2004 and 2007, IAB Award and The South Asian Architecture Award for six times to name a few.

He served as an international juror and attracted to media all around the world.

Projects by Md. Rafiq Azam