AIA Japan — Rafiq Azam: Modernism Renewed from the South

When: Thursday 14 May 2026, @5.30 (Eastern US Time)/18:30 (JST)
Where: ONLINE/ TBD (venue will be announced shortly)

Speaker: Rafiq Azam, Shatotto architecture for green living founder

CES Credits: TBC

Description

Born and raised in Bangladesh, the "land of water," Rafiq Azam, an architect, creates poetic and powerful spaces that integrate natural elements like water, sky, wind, and earth into a modernist framework. Influenced by Japanese architecture, especially Tadao Ando, his recent projects focus on urban regeneration and enhancing the welfare of Old Dhaka's living environment. An Aga Khan Award nominee, he's a leading figure in contemporary global architecture. In 2016, Dhaka South City Corporation launched the "Jol Sobujer Dhaka Project" to revitalize 19 parks and 12 playgrounds with a 2 billion Bangladeshi Taka ($24M) budget. Azam and his team at Shatotto Architecture redesigned the 1.3-acre Shahid Abdul Alim Playground, removing the boundary wall to improve accessibility and discourage illegal activities. They planted trees and added a 500-cubic-meter underground rainwater reservoir to alleviate flooding and maintain greenery during dry seasons. The project's success led to continued public realm improvements.