Muzharul Islam(1923-2012)

LIFE HISTORY :

In 1957 a post Graduate Certificate in Tropical Architecture from The A.A. School of Architecture in London, and in 1961 he received his Master Degree in Architecture from Yale University, USA.

Muzharul Islam was born in December 1923 and the first Bangladeshi architect, urban planner, educator and activist.In 1942 Islam received his Bachelor of Science from Calcutta University, in 1946 Bachelor of Engineering from Calcutta, in 1952 Bachelor of Architecture from University of Oregon,USA.

He is considered as Grand Master of regional modernism in South Asia. Islam is the pioneer of modern architecture in Bangladesh and father of Bengali modernism.

 Islam's style and influence dominated the architectural scene in Bangladesh in the 1960s and 70s, along with major US architects he brought to work in Dhaka.

His commitment to societal changes and his ethics for practicing architecture is visible in his work. These thoughts are more like a means of progress towards transformation and changes rather than drawing a conclusion by themselves.

He died on 15 July 2012.

He was also a member of the Master Jury of the First Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Geneva in 1980. He was awarded with the honorary fellowship of the AIA in 1999.Also in 1999.he was awarded the J. K. Cement Grand Master Award.

Works of Grand MasterThe Institute of Arts and Crafts:

This masterpiece was Muzharul Islam’s first architectural endeavor.

Muzharul Islam decided to come up with a design scheme that will retain all the trees on the site .His scheme was also climate responsive and had large continuous verandahs shading the inner walls and windows of the classrooms and studios.

One enters into the front pavilion, a wonderful structure that houses galleries on the ground floor and teachers and common rooms etc.

A wonderful sculptural stairs connects the two levels around a wonderful internal courtyard. Past the pavilion are the classrooms and studios and in the far end encircling the round depression are the print studios.

A lotus pond and sitting area becomes the open heart of the whole institute.

The clustered red brick masses with their wonderful brick details, their interplay with the lash green foliages, the wonderful internal courts all create a complementary dialogue of built form and nature.

Jaipurhat Lime Stone ProjectIt was another of his outstanding creations. Standing side by side the buildings speak for themselves.

The walls and the form together give a sculptural quality to the masses. Keeping the comfort of the user in mind he created an indoor environment which was both shaded  and well ventilated. He created a double layer exterior to all the buildings to prevent from heat and radiation.

Chittagong University Chittagong

In every building the circulation areas are set in this dialogue with nature and the setting. All the buildings are connected in a wonderful geometry of angular lines passing between the hills through the valleys.

Muzharul Islam again chooses brick as the main material because of our rich heritage of brick architecture and also it’s color and texture would play beautifully with the lash green setting.

All the buildings in the campus are designed in a clear modern language, compositions of planes, solids and voids in sculptural geometric order. 

Drawings: Chittagong University, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Jahangir Nagar University, Dhaka

Bangladesh National Archive, Bangladesh

Some other works:

Conclusion:Play of geometry.

Simplified and clear forms.

Truth to materials.

Climate responsive architecture.

Rational and Thoughtful design

He considered the Spirit of land while designing

He worked for the progress of society