Marina Tabassum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marina Tabassum
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Tabassum in Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich (2023)
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| Born | 1968/1969 (age 55–56) Dhaka, Bangladesh
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| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Alma mater | Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Awards | See full list |
Marina Tabassum is a famous architect from Bangladesh. An architect is a person who designs buildings. She is the main architect at her own company, Marina Tabassum Architects.
She is known for creating buildings that fit well with the environment around them. In 2016, she won the important Aga Khan Award for Architecture for designing the Bait-ur-Rouf Mosque in Dhaka.
In 2020, Prospect magazine named her one of the world's top thinkers for her ideas on how to design buildings in a world changed by events like the COVID-19 pandemic. She was the first person from South Asia to win the "Lisbon Triennale Lifetime Achievement Award" in 2022. In 2024, TIME magazine included her on its list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Marina Tabassum was born in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. Her father was an oncologist, a doctor who treats cancer. Her family moved to Dhaka from India in 1947 during the Partition of Bengal, when the region was divided.
She went to Holy Cross Girls' School and College in Dhaka. After high school, she studied architecture at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and graduated in 1994.
Career in Architecture
In 1995, Tabassum started an architecture company called URBANA with another architect, Kashef Chowdhury. They worked together on many projects for about ten years. In 2005, she decided to open her own firm, Marina Tabassum Architects, where she is the lead designer.
Teaching and Sharing Knowledge
Besides designing buildings, Tabassum is also a teacher. Since 2005, she has been a visiting professor at BRAC University, teaching students about modern architecture in South Asia. She also teaches design classes at the University of Asia Pacific.
She has been the Director of the Academic Program at the Bengal Institute for Architecture, Landscapes and Settlements since 2015. She is also a professor at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, where she teaches students how to design buildings that can handle climate change.
Famous Projects
Tabassum designed the Bait-ur-Rouf Mosque in Dhaka, which was finished in 2012. The building is famous for its clever use of natural light and air, creating a peaceful space for prayer. This project won her the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2016.
In 2024, she was recognized as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine.
Notable Works
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Tabassum has designed many important buildings. Here are some of her most well-known projects:
- 1997–2006: Museum of Independence, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- 2001: A5 Residence, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- 2006-2011: Comfort Reverie, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- 2009: Vacation House at Faridabad, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- 2012: Baitur Rouf Mosque, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- 2018: Panigram Eco Resort and Spa, Jashore, Bangladesh
- 2020: Khudi Bari, small, movable houses for people in the coastal areas of Bangladesh
- 2025: 24th Serpentine Pavilion in Kensington Gardens, London
Awards and Honors
Throughout her career, Marina Tabassum has received many awards for her amazing work.
- First prize for the Independence Monument and the Liberation War Museum, given by Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (1997)
- Architect of the Year Award, given by Indian Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat (2001)
- Anannya Top Ten Awards (2004)
- Finalist for the Aga Khan Award for a pavilion apartment called A5 (2004)
- Second runner-up in the Nishorgo Architectural Competition (2006)
- Aga Khan Award for Architecture (2016)
- Arnold W. Brunner Memorial Prize (2021)
- Soane Medal (2021)
- Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lisbon Triennale (2022)
- TIME list of 100 Most Influential People of 2024
Exhibitions
Tabassum's work has been shown in art and architecture exhibitions.
- Marina Tabassum Architects: In Bangladesh (2023)
See also
In Spanish: Marina Tabassum para niños
