The project won Asia Young Designer Award (AYDA) 2017 (Bangladesh chapter). Launched in 2008, the award program currently spanning across 15 countries in Asia with an objective to inspire architecture and interior design students to develop their skills through cross-learning opportunities and networking with industries in the region. The winner will compete internationally for platinum at March,2018.

Zainul Abedin is the name of a  great maestro of arts in Bangladesh. He played a pioneering role in the modern art movement in this region that began with the setting up of  Institute of Fine Arts  in 1948 in Dhaka. Designed by Architect Muzharul Islam, the institute building is also considered as a masterpiece which basically laid the foundation to modern movement in architecture of Bangladesh as well.  In tribute to Zainul Abedin and his contribution to Bengal art, a new institute is envisioned  at Mymensingh, the birth place of the Master Artist. Total site area is about 6 acre and there is an existing  museum in the site.  The Bramhaputra river is situated on north side of the site. The approach road is from the East side; west and south sides are surrounded by green fields .

Nature, folk life, and daily struggles of  man are the common subject matters of Zainul’s works. His works represent a combination of styles which is realistic in essence but modernist in appearance. The project embraces the ideas of Bengal folk features like pavilion like structures and courtyard as key design elements to articulate the functional spaces of the proposed institution.  Public and institutional domains are clustered  around two large courtyards. The public courtyard is open towards the river and facilitated with ‘Ghat’ – flight of steps leading down to river so that people can celebrate the space with better view. This public court cum open display area can transform itself into a festival ground  and can host diverse cultural events and festivals namely Pohela Boishakh ( Bengali New Year) etc.

For pavilion like structure,  climate responsiveness is one of the key considerations. Voids are introduced for better linkage with the rural surroundings and for better air circulation. This also breaks the monotony of continuous building masses.  Academic  blocks are placed around the rare court fairly segregated from the public arena. Ground floor of the academic block on the riverside  is left open to allow the river breeze and the view. All studios are north-south oriented and of full height windows for natural light and ventilation.

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