Co-creation with Human and Non-human Communities: Kabir Khondakar + Suhailey Farzana

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3835 Campus Drive
Architecture Building (145 ARC)
College Park, MD 20742
United States

Architecture Building Auditorium
Zoom
Children sitting on the ground pointing at a community plan
Image courtesy of Co.Creation.Architects, Bangladesh.
People sitting by the Nabogranga river
The Naboganga River in Jhenaidah city, Bangladesh. Image courtesy of Co.Creation.Architects, Bangladesh.
Khondakar Kabir showing an architecture model to people
Image courtesy of Co.Creation.Architects, Bangladesh.
Woman showing an architecture model to a community
Image courtesy of Co.Creation.Architects, Bangladesh.
PART OF THE FALL 2023 ARCHITECTURE LECTURE SERIES.

"Co-creation with Human and Non-human Communities" with:

Kabir Khondaker
Principal Architect, Co.Creation.Architects, Bangladesh
Aga Khan Award for Architecture winner 2022

Suhailey Farzana
Architect Partner, Co.Creation.Architects, Bangladesh
Aga Khan Award for Architecture winner 2022

 

The September 20th lecture will be live streamed on:

Youtube    Facebook 

 

September 19 - 21

September  19

  • 11:00 - 12:15 p.m.  |  ARCH 270* Design in Practice, with Professor Adam Ainslie [Workshop / Talk]

  • 3:30 - 4:45 p.m.   |   ARCH 458* Intro to Creative Placemaking, with Professor Ronit Eisenbach [Workshop / Talk]


September 20

  • 2 - 3:30 p.m.  |  MAPP Auditorium + Zoom [Public Lecture]

  • 4 - 6 p.m.  |  ARCH 403* Architecture Design Studio IV, with Michael Ezban and others  [Workshop]


September 21

  • 5 - 5:45 p.m.  |  URSP 708* Community Planning Studio, with Clara Irazabal Zurita [Workshop / Talk]

  • 6 -7:30 p.m.  |  Discussion with students on International Practice (Great Space) [Public Talk]

 

*Course workshops are held for the students in those courses only. 


ABOUT THE LECTURE

Nature co-creates. We all co-create whether we are aware about it or not. It makes a difference when we are conscious about it. Cities are designed and planned through different methods or processes. Overall development and its sustainability depend on which process is followed. Co-creation with people and nature is an emerging method and process that considers people and nature as driving forces. People co-create cities whether architects, planners or other professionals are present or not. Professionals’ embedded presence in this process can empower all the parties to own, design and sustain the city in a better way. Jhenaidah, a secondary city, located in the southwestern part of Bangladesh, was established on the both sides of Naboganga river. Since 2017 the city has been experiencing a citizen-led co-creation process to make the city better for all living beings. This sharing session will discuss the co-creation process of the city in the fields of architecture, landscape and planning. 


biographies

Khondaker Kabir headshot
Kabir Khondaker introduces himself as a community architect. He prefers to work with disadvantaged human communities and spontaneously grown plant communities. He tries to understand how professional designers can engage in people’s everyday design process and be more useful. Kabir is the co-founder of Co.Creation.Architects that works with human and non-human communities to co-create better built and natural habitats. He is a core team member of Platform of Community Action and Architecture (POCAA) that works in Bangladesh and Community Architects Network (CAN) that works in 19 Asian countries. Kabir is the co-chairperson of Foundation for Architecture and Community Equity (FACE). He teaches landscape and architecture at BRAC University, Bangladesh. Kabir has a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and a Master’s in Architecture in Landscape Design from the University of Sheffield, UK. His research and practice focus on Ecological Landscape, community-led housing and people-led city planning. 

 

Suhailey Farzana
 Suhailey Farzana is a community architect. Her interest is to understand and explore the “co-creation” process with people; be it housing, craft making, or city planning. Empowering herself and others through this process is the excitement of her work. She is the co-founder of Co.Creation.Architects and Platform of Community Action and Architecture (POCAA). Suhailey is also closely involved with Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR) and Community Architects Network (CAN). She pursued her Bachelor of Architecture and Masters in Development Studies from BRAC University, Bangladesh. She studied leadership at University of Vermont in the USA as a part of a learning exchange program.

Kabir and Suhailey received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and the UIA (International Union of Architects) Award in 2022 for their works by the river, Naboganga, in Jhenaidah city, Bangladesh.  

 

View the videos below to learn more about the process and products of Co.Creation.Architects's work:

Program / Center Affiliation
Architecture