Architect, Principal
Kashef Chowdhury/URBANA

Kashef Mahboob Chowdhury was born in Dhaka, the son of a civil engineer, growing up in Bangladesh and the Middle East before graduating in architecture from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 1995. In 2006, he attended the Glenn Murcutt Masterclass in Sydney.

After working with architect Uttam Kumar Saha, he established the practice URABANA in partnership in 1995 and from 2004 has continued as the sole Principal of the firm. Chowdhury is married to Rajrupa Chowdhury, an Indian classical musician of the instrument Sarod. They have a son.

Kashef Chowdhury has a studio based practice whose works find root in history with strong emphasis on climate, materials and context - both natural and human. Projects in the studio are given extended time for research so as to reach a level of innovation and original expression. Works range from conversion of ship and low cost raised settlements in 'chars' to training centre, mosque, art gallery, museum, residences and multi-family housing to corporate head offices.

Chowdhury has been a visiting faculty at the North South University and BRAC University, both in Bangladesh and has been a juror in final year crits in universities in Dhaka. He was twice finalist in the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and has won first prize in Architectural Review's AR+D Emerging Architecture Award 2012.

Kashef Mahboob Chowdhury takes an active interest in art and in 2004 presented a lecture series 'Aspects of Contemporary Art in Germany' at the Goethe Institut, Dhaka. He has worked as a professional photographer and has held seven solo exhibitions. He has designed and published three books: Around Dhaka, 2004; Plot Number Fifty Six, 2009 and The Night of Fifteen November, 2011 - a photographic and recorded account of some survivors of the cyclone SIDR in the coastal areas of Bangladesh.

Catherine Slessor and Rob Gregory, writing in 'Emerging Architecture and Creative Resilience' (Architectural Review, December 2012) notes: "In his studio, time is held in high regard, so much so that until recently he deliberately resisted using any form of artificial light, choosing instead to operate the business during daylight hours. This was done to enforce a natural pattern to the working day, and to encourage people not to work excessively long hours, and while changes to this routine were perhaps inevitable, Chowdhury maintains his respect of time, stating his desire to separate his studio from the influences of ‘the passing world’ to avoid ‘rushing through the design process’, and to always remember that ‘time is of the essence’."

Recognition

1. Winner, Architect of the Year Award (AYA) for Focus Countries, India, 2013 
2. Winner, AR+ Emerging Architecture Award, UK, 2012
3. Winner, Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) Design Award, Bangladesh, 2010
4. Finalist, The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Switzerland, 2010
5. Honorary mention, Institute of Architects Bangladesh Design Competition, Bangladesh, 2007
6. Second prize, Nishorgo Visitor’s Center, Bangladesh, 2006
7. Finalist (with Marina Tabassum), The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Switzerland, 2004
8. First prize (with Marina Tabassum), National Independence Monument Design Competition, 1996

Exhibitions, Lectures & Publications

1. An Architecture of Responsibility: un-poor spaces for the most needful, Fondation de l’Architecture, Luxembourg, 2014
2. To live is to be slowly born, An architectural exhibition on Kashef Chowdhury/URBANA, Bengal Art Lounge, Dhaka, 2013-14
3. Plot Number Fifty Six, Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, Dhaka, 2009
4. Impressions 0505, Drik Gallery, Dhaka, 2005
5. Places, Spaces, Goethe Institute, Dhaka, 2005
6. 748 (installation), Goethe Institute, Dhaka, 2004
7. Louis I Kahn, In celebration of birth centenary of, South Plaza, National Assembly Building, 2001
8. This is Bangladesh, solo photography exhibition in Istanbul and Ankara, 1996
9. Take Two, photography exhibition, La Galerie, Dhaka, 1993

Books

1. The Night of Fifteen November Two Thousand Seven, Dhaka, 2011
2.  Plot Number Fifty Six, Dhaka, 2009
3. Around Dhaka, Dhaka, 2004

Projects

Museum of Independence and Independence Monument of Bangladesh, Dhaka (1996-2013)
Towfiq Rahman Khan, Project Atchitect
Ahmed Khalid, Project Architect
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant
Matiur Rahman, Structural Designer

Chandgaon Mosque (2005-2007)
Md. Faysal Kabir, Project Architect I
Anup Kumar Basak, Project Architect II
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant
Matiur Rahman, Structural Designer
SM Hafizur Rahman, Engineering In-charge

Bank in Savar (2007)
Anup Kumar Basak, Associate Architect
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant
Matiur Rahman, Structural Designer

Mosque in Keraniganj (2011-)
Anup Kumar Basak, Associate Architect
Sabbir Wadud, Project Architect
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant
Zayedur Rahim, Structural Designer
KMA Bari, Chief of Engineering
Amrul Hasan, Supervising Engineer

Friendship Centre (2008-2011)
Anup Kumar Basak, Associate Architect
Sharif Jahir Hossain, Project Architect
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant
Matiur Rahman, Structural Designer
SM Hafizur Rahman, Engineering In-charge
Amrul Hasan, Supervising Engineer
Ahasanul Haque, Supervising Engineer
Nahidur Rahman, Site Engineer

Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) Centre, Dhaka (Competition) (2007)
Anup Kumar Basak, Architect
Sabbir Wadud, Architect
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant

Cyclone Shelter, Coastal Belt of Bay of Bengal (2009-)
Anup Kumar Basak, Architect
Sabbir Wadud, Architect
Irfat Alam, Architect
Suriya Zabin, Architect
Khandoker Tariqul Islam, Architect
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant

Bengal-Friendship Boat Museum and Research Centre, Savar (2012-)
Anup Kumar Basak, Architect
Sabbir Wadud, Architect
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant

House in Alipore (2011)
Anup Kumar Basak, AssociateArchitect
Sabbir Wadud, Project Architect
Kaneez Fatema Huzifa
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant

Bengal Art Lounge (2011)
Anup Kumar Basak, Associate Architect
Sabbir Wadud, Project Architect
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant
Amrul Hasan, Supervising Engineer

Pavilion Apartment, Dhaka (1999-2002)
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant
Sultan Ahmed Patwary, Supervising Engineer

EHL Premium Apartments in Gulshan, Dhaka (2010-2013)
Anup Kumar Basak, Associate Architect
Sabbir Wadud, Project Architect
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant
KMA Bari, Chief of Engineering
Amrul Hasan, Supervising Engineer

Beximco Central Head Quarters, Dhaka (2010-)
Anup Kumar Basak, Associate Architect
Sabbir Wadud, Project Architect
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant
KMA Bari, Chief of Engineering
Amrul Hasan, Supervising Engineer

Ittefaq Bhavan, Dhaka (2010-)
Anup Kumar Basak, Associate Architect
Sabbir Wadud, Project Architect
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant
KMA Bari, Chief of Engineering
Mohammad Ali, Supervising Engineer

Office Tower in Mohakhali (2013-)
Anup Kumar Basak, Associate Architect
Sabbir Wadud, Project Architect
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant
KMA Bari, Chief of Engineering
Amrul Hasan, Supervising Engineer

Mosque in Halishahar (2012-)
Anup Kumar Basak, Associate Architect
Sabbir Wadud, Project Architect
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant
KMA Bari, Chief of Engineering
Mohammad Ali, Supervising Engineer

Gulshan Society Mosque (2010-)
Anup Kumar Basak, Associate Architect
Sabbir Wadud, Project Architect
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant
KMA Bari, Chief of Engineering
Amrul Hasan, Supervising Engineer
Osman Goni, Supervising Engineer

Friendship Hospital Satkhira (2013-)
Anup Kumar Basak, Associate Architect
Sharif Jahir Hossain, Project Architect I
Jumana Chowdhury, Project Architect II
Fazla Rabbi, Project Architect III
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant
KMA Bari, Chief of Engineering
Mohammad Ali, Supervising Engineer

House in Baridhara (2006-2007)
Javed Hossain Khadem, Project Architect
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant

Liberation War Museum (2009)
Anup Kumar Basak, Architect
Sabbir Wadud, Architect
Irfat Alam, Architect
Suriya Zabin, Architect
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant

Plinth Raising (2006, 2012)
Javed Hossain Khadem, Project Architect
Suriya Zabin, Project Architect
Sharif Jahir Hossain, Project Architect
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant
Amrul Hasan, Supervising Engineer

Friendship Rongdhonu (2012)
Anup Kumar Basak, Associate Architect
Jewel Dewan, Architectural Assistant

• Chandgaon Mosque
• Gulshan Society Mosque
• Friendship Center