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Muzharul Islam (1923-2012) is widely acclaimed as the most influential architect of

Bangladesh. His pioneering work from the 1950s onwards not only signalled the advent of
Modernism in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan), but almost overnight introduced a fresh
culture of architecture in the contemporary scene hitherto populated by lesser examples of
international style. Teacher, Architect Activist, and Politician, Islam set to course
architectural practice in the country not only through his own many varied works, but
contributing to the architectural education in the country and also through being
instrumental in inviting the likes of Louis I Kahn, Stanley Tigerman and Paul Rudolph to
work in Bangladesh. The summation of his oeuvre is impossible without an understanding
of Muzharul Islam’s deep seated concern and commitment to societal change and the
strength of ethics of practice, which results in his work and thinking being considered as a
vehicle for transformation rather than as an end in itself.
The present this web site offers a comprehensive documentation of the man and his work.
Selected projects and works help trace a career spanning more than fifty years and give
appraisal to a masterly production which has come to transgress history, boundaries and
styles.

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, 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. On returning to his country he took it
upon himself not only to establish a modernist language of architecture in this region
that was sensitive to our social, cultural, climatic and economic context, but also to
organise the practise and education of architecture in the country. Muzharul Islam was
a true modernist and fought to establish a Bengali modernity free from any kind of
strains of superficial regionalism. In his own words “You have to be a world man and a
Bengali. It’s impossible otherwise…. When I mention standing on one’s own soil… it is to
find oneself, but not to find oneself and become stagnant. What I am seeking is to
stand on one’s own feet and then to proceed forward. If for that reason I have to take Muzharul islam as a juror of the First Aga Khan
two steps backward to go one step forward. I have no problem with that. I think that Award, Geneva (1980)
there is no other way of moving forward (1992)”.

He knew that in order to achieve a true Bengali modernity he could not allow any kind of
notions of sign and symbol and through his work he demonstrated how one can achieve
a situated modernism, sensitive to context in a more thoughtful and lasting way. On thy
subject of signs and symbols he comments “Symbol for what? Symbol of what? Symbol
of whom?.... The hesitation in my mind has deep roots. I feel that human society has
been kept in darkness for thousands of years by the use of symbols. I revolt against it.
By raising the issue of symbols, in the name of symbols, my perspective has been kept
limited (1992).”

Muzharul Islam also says the responsibility of architects as a totalitarian one. He

Muzharul Islam Receiving the
Independence Day Award (1999)
stressed on the need of architects to develop their consciousness in not just the scope
of his site but in the context of the city. In his own words “Cities should provide the
environment for civilized life within the context of our own culture… The city can
develop only as a part of the physical environment of the country- with the ultimate aim
of abolishing all differences between the city and the rural areas. The traditional
relationship with nature (still existing to a certain extent in the village of Bangladesh)
should be continued in the cities. (1968).”
Muzharul Islam dedicated his whole life not only to demonstrate through his own work
the issues that architects of the region should be concerned with, but also to talking
writing demonstrating on environmental and urban issues, political issues and social
issues. His profound love for his country and respect for it and its people motivated him
to continuously better the environment that his fellow citizens lived in, and to
consciously try to change social and political viewpoint to achieve a greater social
order.
Muzharul Islam was given the work to design the national parliament building of which
he had even started work. But then he decided that if the work is given to a master
architect it would work as a continuous source of reference for the future generation of
architects. He then instrumented Kahn’s coming to Dhaka to design the parliament
 building Thus his sacrifice of his own work to Louis I Kahn remain his greatest gift to
the architects of this region.

He became the President of the Institute of Architects of Pakistan in 1968-1969 and he was the creator and the first President of the
Institute of Architects Bangladesh.
He was a member of the Academic Council on the first School of Architecture of Bangladesh and his contribution to the education of
Architecture in the country is yet to be equalled.
Besides being the most gifted architect of the country Islam has always been a strong social activist and has tried not only to shape the
city but also address how physical planning can be used to provide a better environment for all walks of life. He has constantly fought
Muzharul policies
against Islam, BV Doshi and Shamsul
that would haveWares
lead to social discrimination and would have been detrimental to our physical environment. It is
because of his foresight and efforts that the Physical Planning ministry was created in Pakistan.
He was awarded the IAB gold medal for his unparallel contribution to the architecture in the region in 1993.
He was awarded with one of the most prestigious award of the nation the ‘Independence Day Award’ in 1999 for being an outstanding
son of the nation.
His work and thoughts also brought him international recognitions. He was invited to be the juror of the Faisal Mosque competition in
Islamabad.
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.

He has been inspiration to all the following generation of architects, and has set the course, of the concerns to be addressed, in
architecture, planning and environmental planning in a country such as Bangladesh.
His work and life is not only a legacy for Bangladesh but a well of knowledge of direction to the Architects of the region. His contribution
to architecture, the education of architecture, and the directions in how architects can and should contribute to change society and
environment, makes him the most revered Architectural “Guru” of the region.
Patriot, politician, social activist, thinker, architect, Muzharul Islam on the question of what his words would be for the young and future
generation of architects, says, “The artistic qualities are essence of architecture. The practical aspects of architecture are measurable –
such as, the practical requirements, climatic judgements, the advantages and limitations of the site etc. – but the humanistic aspects
are not measurable. This depends on the talent, sensitivity and creativity of the architect. Only some bookish knowledge is not a
sufficient tool in this regard. One has to be creative. One has to love his own land, its people and its culture and think profoundly about
these. The love of one’s own land is the eternal source of creative power, which in turn, makes a proper architect.”

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