Salman Fazlur Rahman, the private industry and investment adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has congratulated architect Kashef Mahbub Chowdhury for winning the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Award.
“Kashef Mahbub Chowdhury has uplifted the image of Bangladesh to the outside world as the Friendship Hospital of Shyamnagar Upazila in Satkhira, architected by him, has been recognised as the 'Best New Building in the World' in 2021,” Salman was quoted as saying in a press release on Sunday.
In a congratulatory message, Salman F Rahman also mentioned Kashef Mahbub Chowdhury as an architect with unique creative ability who always thinks of doing something different.
He hoped that other architects will follow Kashef’s footsteps and come forward to construct new eco-friendly buildings at a comparatively low cost.
The adviser to the prime minister also said that Architect Kashef, who has already won many accolades, including the Aga Khan Award, would upright the country's flag many more times with his extraordinary creativity.
The RIBA Award is given to organisations that set example around the world and can have a positive impact on the society.
The Friendship Hospital in Satkhira, a cyclone-prone district in the country's south, was announced winner of 2021's prestigious RIBA International Prize on Tuesday, with its architects praised for putting "care and humanity at the heart of its design."
Constructed from locally-made bricks, the 80-bed hospital was built around a series of courtyards lined with tranquil, shaded walkways. An angular canal cuts through the center of the site to separate inpatient and outpatient wings.
The canal cutting through the center of the complex helps with "micro climatic cooling" during hot Bangladesh summers, according to the Royal Institute of British Architects.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), which organises the award, commended the hospital's design for blending in with the surrounding countryside and creating an "uplifting and inviting experience for visitors, patients and healthcare professionals."
Designed by architect Kashef Chowdhury and his Dhaka-based firm, Urbana, the hospital was commissioned by sustainable development NGO, Friendship.
