Architecture

The students of the first year first-Semester, Department of Architecture, AUST, under the guidance of studio teachers, Design Studio-I, went on an educational trip to the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD), Comilla, as part of their Fall 2023 Semester curriculum on June 6, 2024. This insightful visit aimed to explore the dynamic interplay between context-specific architecture and nature by renowned Architect Doxiadis. This institution was the East Pakistan Academy for Rural Development. It was established in 1959 in Comilla as EPARD under the initiative of Dr Akhtar Hameed Khan, who became the institution's founder-director. After the Bangladesh War of Independence, the institution was renamed to its present form.

Facilitated by the studio teachers, the excursion provided students with numerous opportunities to delve into various facets of BARD. Students were very curious about the architecture's scale – both intimateness and vastness. The blended relationship of architecture and nature made the fresh minds thoughtful. Besides the BARD visit, studio teachers also arranged a short visit to an international archaeological heritage of Bangladesh, Shalban Bihar, Mainamati, which was built in the 7^th century by Bhava Deva, the fourth ruler of the Early-Deva dynasty. This visit gave the excursion another dimension.

The initiative was led by the class teachers of Design Studio I, including Dr. Ayasha Siddiqua, Ar. S. M. Arafat Hossain, and Ar. Shahriar Mahmud from the Department of Architecture, AUST. Special thanks were extended to Mr. Benajir, the high official of BARD, for his support during this enlighten visit.