At the Bengal Foundation's conference, EngageDhaka 2015, ArchDaily learned of the newly launched Bengal Architecture and Design Institute. With a focus on the pursuit of innovation in the lived environment with a focus on human interactions, the forum will enable open dialogue on improving our environments through the lens of architecture, landscape, and settlement for better livability. Bringing together local and international professionals and educators, the Institute will provide a series of lectures, discussions, workshops, and exhibitions to better understand the possibilities within these areas, especially when unified.
The Institute's efforts will focus on two interconnected regions of Bangladesh- the Delta and Dhaka- to best undertake interdisciplinary design practices, combining built design and the landscape. These regions are representative of global socio-economic trends, and the Institute aims for cohesive designs within Bangladesh, but with principles that can also be applied in a broader context.
Faculty members include Kenneth Frampton, Rahul Mehrotra, Juhani Pallasmaa,Michael Sorkin, Bille Tsien and Tod Williams, Bashirul Haq and Kashef Mahboob Chowdhury.
The academic program is divided into two sequences and will explore several topics, including ecology, environment, technology, and theories related to the formation of our surroundings. Registration for the first sequence (August to November 2015) will take place this month, with a second sequence from January to June 2016. For more information, visit www.bengalfoundation.org