Khudi Bari, a modular, scalable bamboo structure designed by Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA) to address climate displacement in Bangladesh, has been named a winner of the esteemed 2023-2025 Cycle Aga Khan Award for Architecture. The award jury recognized the project for its deep ecological and social commitment, specifically highlighting its contribution to the global advancement of bamboo as a material.
Conceived as a solution to the increasing frequency of climate-driven disasters, the Khudi Bari is an affordable, lightweight, and mobile structural system. Its simple space frame, constructed from bamboo and steel connectors, can be rapidly assembled, disassembled, and relocated by just three people using basic tools.
Despite its simplicity, the design exhibits some robustness. The rigid frame is engineered to withstand high lateral wind and water pressure, while its lightweight nature means it requires only a shallow foundation. A corrugated metal sheet roof ensures ease of transport and maintenance, and the façades can be filled with any locally sourced materials, allowing the design to echo vernacular architectural styles.
The structure is designed on two levels: a lower floor for social and private living spaces, and an upper level for sleeping that doubles as a safe flood shelter.
Initially developed as potential housing for landless communities living on the shifting sand beds of the Meghna River, the Khudi Bari has been successfully deployed across various climatically challenged regions of Bangladesh to provide shelter during floods.
Beyond immediate disaster relief, MTA has scaled up the design’s impact by working directly with communities to share construction knowledge. The system has been adapted to build aggregation centers for women farmers and community centers for women in Rohingya refugee camps, demonstrating its versatility as a tool for social and economic empowerment.
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture is given every three years to projects that set a new standard of excellence in architecture, planning, and community development while addressing the needs and aspirations of societies in which Muslims have a significant presence.
